Colour - The more pure and vivid the colour, the more valuable the coloured gemstone will be. There are literally thousands of shades to choose from. Make sure you base your selection on personal taste and what looks best on you.

Cut - The cut of a coloured gemstone is of extraordinary importance. Quality cutting maximises the brilliance and scintillation of the stone and emphasises the beauty and richness of the gemstone's inherent colour.

Clarity- Completely flawless coloured gemstones are very rare. Indeed inclusions in a stone provide proof that it is of natural origin, but should not be so visible as to detract from the beauty of the gemstone. However they have less impact on the value of a coloured gemstone than they do on the value of a diamond.

Carat Weight - Obviously larger stones are rarer, but some gemstones such as amethyst and tourmaline occur more in larger sizes, whilst ruby and sapphire are rarely found in sizes above two or three carats.

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