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Beauty is everything. More than a thousand years of civilization and education have proven this saying false. However, in the case of selecting, collecting and donning gemstones, while beauty isn't the only factor considered, it has a very large role. Although gemstones are subjected to several examinations and scientific standards, the eyes remain to be the best judge.

These pretty things, no matter how small, can be the price of one laptop, or even a car. Yes, they can be expensive sometimes. But a lot of work and preparation goes in to the development and finish of a gemstone that is used to build fashion Jewelry in top quality.

Gemstones are actually rocks or minerals which are cut and polished before distributed commercially. They may also be petrified materials, meaning they are made of organic material and are transformed to stones or other similar materials. Other gemstones, which are of organic material, do not undergo petrification, thus they remain organic.

Gemologists are scientific experts who evaluate gemstones using a set of procedures. They assess the gemstones based on several standards such as their chemical composition, value and presence of flaws.

The chemical composition of gemstones plays a significant role in evaluating them as there is a different chemical composition from one gemstone to another. Diamonds, for instance, largely contain carbon, which may not be present in other gemstones.

Value is another factor considered in the evaluation and pricing of gemstones. The rarity of gemstones is a large contributing factor in their value. The rarer the gemstone, the higher is its value. Most of the features of gemstones which contribute to their beauty are also factors of value. Such features of beauty are their color, form, visual appeal and also rarity. Again, the rarer the features of these gemstones, the higher usually are their price. For example, although there are colored diamonds distributed commercially, the colorless ones are the most expensive as they rarely occur in nature or are rarely harvested. Other gemstones may be more expensive when they have bigger sizes if smaller ones are usually the ones harvested.

The presence or absence of flaws in gemstones is, needless to say, very significant. Collectors, jewelers and other consumers prefer those with no flaws. However, in some cases, the presence of flaws usually confirms the authenticity or naturalness of gemstones. One considered flaw of gemstones is blemish. Blemish is a flaw or defect which is present at the surface of gemstones. This may be a scratch, a chip or a pit. Another flaw is inclusion which probably is a testament to the adage saying that beauty is skin deep. It is a defect within gemstones and may be in the form of a cloud, bubble, fracture or grain. Gemstones undergo various treatments to enhance their beauty, particularly their color and clarity. They may be subjected to heat, radiation, waxing or coating. Some treatments are effective in enhancing the value of certain gemstones, while others are not stable, therefore are not widely accepted.