Creating a custom bracelet, ring, or necklace is a fantastic way to treat yourself or show a loved one how special they are. To complete this project, you’ll need to take a few steps. These include finding the right jewelry casting expert and purchasing the precious stones you want in the piece. The team at Frank Billanti Casting in New York, NY, says specialists often require customers to complete the latter task, so they are completely aware of the size and quality of the gems. Below, they explain what to look for while shopping.

4 Factors to Consider When Purchasing Precious Stones

Cut

For a beautiful result, jewelry casting experts recommend paying close attention to the cut of a gemstone. You should be able to see most of the stone when it’s set in the piece; additionally, it should have as few inclusions as possible, and the hue should be even-looking.

Color

A high-quality stone will not have more than one color in it (for instance, if an emerald seems to have traces of red, it’s likely of low quality). Instead, it will be one hue that slightly varies in terms of shade throughout the stone. For rubies, emeralds, and other, similar gems, the colors should be deeply saturated; the opposite is true for diamonds, which are valued more highly if they are pale.

Clarity

This concept refers to how many inclusions, or mineral traces, a precious stone has. Experts recommend setting reasonable expectations with this characteristic since only the most expensive stones have few to no inclusions. Browse the selection to see which ones have the least, and keep in mind that darker colored stones, like rubies, naturally tend to have more.

Carat

This term loosely refers to how big a stone is. The more carats a gem has, the more expensive it will be. Some stones are denser than others: For instance, a ruby weighing 1 carat will be smaller than a diamond that receives the same rating. However, you should still inquire about this measurement to ensure the gem is noticeable once it’s set into the piece you have created.

While choosing the right gemstone can be a painstaking process, for New Yorkers, selecting the perfect jewelry casting expert is easy. Frank Billanti Casting offers a wide variety of services. Their team will listen carefully to your needs and work with you to ensure you receive the piece you envisioned. To learn more, call them at (212) 221-0440 or visit them online.