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Learn how to get started with the International Gem Society’s guide to gemstone identification.

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A Guide to Gem Classification
2024-04-12

How are Gemstones Created?

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How to Use the Gem Price Guide

1.What are these prices based on?

The values listed are based on a variety of sources, including primary and secondary gemstone dealers, jewelers, miners, and wholesale suppliers.

A faceted gem's price is based on an evaluation of its physical and optical properties. These are often referred to as the Four Cs — color, clarity, cut, and carat (weight). However, despite well-established grading systems for color, clarity, and cut, any evaluation of these properties is inherently subjective. Even gemologists and appraisers may disagree about the quality of a specific stone, so disagreements regarding gem prices do occur.

Ultimately, the price of a gem is what one willing buyer and one willing seller can actually agree upon. Our gem price guide is just that — a guide. Keep in mind that gems are sold outside these price ranges every day. See our article on pricing faceted gems for more information.
2.Why do I see such large price ranges?

When you first select a gemstone, the price range depicted includes all the variations of a gemstone. Variations include, but are not limited to, color grade, clarity grade, origin, and shape. To narrow down the price ranges, select a filter like “color” and you will see the price ranges for the gemstone in that color. Keep in mind that colored gemstones vary in price, often dealer-to-dealer, so these prices are only a guide.
3.Are these prices for mined or lab grown gemstones?

The prices in this guide are for mined gemstones. We do not include prices for lab grown gemstones.

4.Why don’t you include prices for white diamonds?

There are many retail websites dedicated to prices for white diamonds, so we suggest you visit a retailer like James Allen for white diamond prices.
5.What do clarity grades like "VVS," "VS2," and "SI2." mean?

Some of the gems listed below have prices for specific clarity grades. Clarity describes how any inclusions within a gemstone affect the passage of light through it. Some gems have simple descriptions, such such as "clean" or "eye clean." Other gems have coded clarity grades, such as "VVS, VS2," etc. See emerald and sapphire, for example. Those codes are from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) clarity grading system. Read this article on GIA clarity grading codes for a brief introduction. Consult our longer article on clarity types and grades for colored gemstones for more information.

When shopping for gems, you may find that a vendor isn’t using the GIA clarity grading system. Familiarize yourself with the vendor's system, then try to find the closest approximation to a GIA grade for any specific gemstone.

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