Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike diamonds, coloured gemstones have no single, universally agreed grading system. We grade at eye level, in the manner most respected within the coloured stone trade, and disclose our findings honestly rather than favourably.
We use five working grades: Eye Clean (no inclusions visible to the unaided eye), Very Very Slightly Included, Very Slightly Included, Slightly Included, and Included, where inclusions are visibly present and may affect brilliance. Opaque material, such as cabochon-cut cat’s eye or moonstone, is marked Not Applicable.
We describe colour intensity as Vivid (the finest, most saturated expression of a hue), Medium, Light, or Faint. Vivid is considered the standard collectors seek first, though personal taste in colour is, and should be, entirely your own.
Sapphire and ruby (corundum) rate 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and tolerate daily wear extremely well. Spinel and chrysoberyl follow closely behind. Softer stones in our collection, such as moonstone, reward a little more care - we recommend removing any gemstone jewellery before sport, swimming, or household chemicals, regardless of hardness.
Clean gemstone jewellery with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush, avoiding harsh chemicals and extreme heat. We recommend having any piece professionally inspected once a year, to check that settings remain secure - a loose prong is far easier to prevent than a lost stone.
We invite you to experience the beauty, heritage and craftsmanship of Sri Lanka through gemstones chosen with knowledge, integrity and care.
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