Question 1

What is the difference between precious and semi-precious gemstones?

Accepted Answer

Precious traditionally refers to four stones, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald, while semi-precious covers everything else, including amethyst, garnet, aquamarine, topaz, peridot, and tourmaline. The distinction is a historical trade convention rather than a measure of quality or beauty. A fine, richly colored tourmaline can be rarer and more valuable than an ordinary emerald. What actually drives a colored stone's value is the quality of its color, its clarity, its cut, and its rarity. That is why we encourage you to see stones in person rather than judging them by category.

Question 2

Can I buy a loose gemstone and have it set?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can browse our loose gemstone selection, choose a stone that speaks to you, and work with our design team to set it in a piece made specifically for it. This is a wonderful path for an engagement ring with a colored center stone, a milestone gift, or a piece built around a stone you already love. We will guide you through metal choice, setting style, and how best to protect the stone for the way you plan to wear it.

Question 3

How do I care for gemstone jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Colored gemstones vary widely in hardness and durability, so care depends on the stone. Sapphire and ruby are quite hard and hold up well to daily wear, while emerald, opal, pearl, and tanzanite are more delicate and need gentler handling. As a rule, remove gemstone jewelry before swimming, cleaning, or any activity where it could take a knock, and keep it away from lotions, perfume, and household chemicals. Store pieces separately so harder stones do not scratch softer ones. Bring your pieces in for complimentary six month cleaning and inspection and we will check the settings and advise on the specific stone.

Question 4

How do I care for pearls specifically?

Accepted Answer

Pearls are organic and softer than most gemstones, so they need particular attention. Put them on last, after perfume, hairspray, and lotion, and wipe them with a soft cloth after wearing to remove skin oils. Never soak pearls or use an ultrasonic cleaner on them. Store them flat in a soft pouch rather than hanging, and keep them away from other jewelry that could scratch the surface. Strung pearls should be restrung periodically, since the silk thread stretches and weakens over time. We offer pearl and bead restringing at both locations.

Question 5

What is a gemstone consultation?

Accepted Answer

A gemstone consultation is a one on one appointment where our team shows you stones in person and helps you understand what you are looking at. Color is the single hardest thing to evaluate on a screen, and two stones with similar descriptions can look nothing alike in natural light. During a consultation we discuss what you want the piece to do, walk through options in your budget, and let you compare stones side by side with no pressure to decide that day. Consultations are available at our Decatur and Champaign showrooms.

A World of Color. A Legacy of Brilliance.

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