Twenty natural-material reference categories.

Natural material reference

Ruby

Rough parcels

Quoted after origin documents, parcel sorting, crystal condition, weight distribution, treatment risk and estimated cutting yield are reviewed.

Polished market

Fine vivid-red solitaires command the strongest premiums. Size, transparency, cutting, origin opinion and treatment status can move a stone far beyond ordinary commercial levels.

Quality standard

Prioritise vivid red to slightly purplish red, balanced tone, strong saturation and attractive transparency. Heat, filling and other treatments require clear independent disclosure.

Indicative market band

Commercial to exceptional · quotation after inspection

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Natural material reference

Sapphire

Rough parcels

Parcels are separated by colour potential, transparency, crystal size, fractures, shape, origin evidence and expected recovery before a lot quotation is considered.

Polished market

Value rises with attractive blue saturation, transparency, size and a cut that avoids excessive darkness or windowing. Rare colour categories require separate assessment.

Quality standard

Hue, tone and saturation lead the review, followed by clarity, cut, size, treatment and origin opinion. Natural, heated, diffused and synthetic material must be clearly separated.

Indicative market band

Broad market · colour, origin and treatment sensitive

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Natural material reference

Emerald

Rough parcels

Crystal size, colour distribution, fissures, transparency, origin evidence, enhancement risk and usable cutting yield determine whether a parcel can be quoted.

Polished market

Rich green colour with lively transparency and balanced cutting receives the strongest interest. Origin and the degree of clarity enhancement can materially affect value.

Quality standard

Assess colour, transparency, fissure visibility, cut, carat weight and treatment. Natural inclusions are expected; oil, resin or other enhancement must be disclosed.

Indicative market band

Commercial to rare · enhancement disclosure essential

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Natural material reference

Diamond

Rough parcels

International rough trade requires documented legal origin, eligible shipment records and applicable Kimberley Process documentation, followed by model, shape, colour and yield assessment.

Polished market

Value is driven by carat weight, colour, clarity, cut performance, proportions and fluorescence, supported by an appropriate independent grading report.

Quality standard

Natural, laboratory-grown and treated material must be kept separate and clearly disclosed. A grading report supports identification and quality assessment but is not a price guarantee.

Indicative market band

Stone-specific · documented and independently graded

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Natural material reference

Amethyst

Rough parcels

Parcels are evaluated for usable crystal size, colour consistency, zoning, fractures and the percentage of transparent cutting material.

Polished market

Generally accessible in price, with premiums for saturated purple, bright flashes, good transparency and precision cutting.

Quality standard

Deep but lively purple is preferred. Excessive darkness, strong zoning, visible fractures and dull cutting reduce commercial appeal.

Indicative market band

Accessible to fine · colour saturation led

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Natural material reference

Citrine

Rough parcels

Quoted by weight distribution, clarity, colour potential, fracture level and expected clean yield from the parcel.

Polished market

Brighter, evenly coloured yellow-to-orange stones with good clarity and lively cutting receive stronger prices.

Quality standard

Assess colour evenness, transparency, inclusions and cut. Natural colour and heat-related colour should be represented accurately where determinable.

Indicative market band

Accessible · colour and clarity dependent

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Natural material reference

Aquamarine

Rough parcels

Colour depth, transparency, crystal size, internal fractures, shape and likely yield are the main rough-parcel considerations.

Polished market

Strong blue to blue-green material with high transparency, attractive cutting and larger clean sizes commands a premium.

Quality standard

Colour intensity is the leading value factor, followed by clarity, cut and size. Pale or greyish material normally trades below saturated blue stones.

Indicative market band

Commercial to premium · saturation sensitive

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Natural material reference

Opal

Rough parcels

Rough is judged by visible play-of-colour, pattern potential, colour-bar thickness, body tone, cracks, hydration stability and anticipated recovery.

Polished market

Brightness, spectral range, pattern, coverage and body tone create an unusually wide market. Exceptional material can exceed broad references.

Quality standard

Confirm type, natural or composite construction, stability and any smoke, dye, impregnation or other treatment. A photograph cannot establish these factors.

Indicative market band

Very broad · pattern, brightness and stability led

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Natural material reference

Tanzanite

Rough parcels

Parcels are assessed for crystal size, blue-violet potential, pleochroism, clarity, fracture orientation and recoverable polished weight.

Polished market

Larger, strongly saturated, well-cut and eye-clean stones occupy the premium end of the market.

Quality standard

Judge depth and balance of blue-violet colour, transparency, pleochroism, cut and size. Heat treatment is common and should be addressed in transaction documents.

Indicative market band

Commercial to investment quality · size sensitive

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Natural material reference

Garnet

Rough parcels

Species and variety must be established before pricing. Colour, inclusions, crystal size, fractures and clean yield then determine parcel level.

Polished market

Common red garnets are broadly available, while selected green and rare varieties can command substantial premiums.

Quality standard

Use variety-specific criteria and assess hue, tone, saturation, clarity, cut and size. A single generic garnet price is not commercially reliable.

Indicative market band

Variety-specific · broad commercial spread

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Natural material reference

Peridot

Rough parcels

Rough value reflects crystal size, clean areas, fractures, brown or yellow modifiers, transparency and expected finished yield.

Polished market

Bright, saturated green stones with minimal brown, strong transparency and larger clean sizes receive the best prices.

Quality standard

Colour saturation and eye cleanliness lead the assessment. Dark inclusions, excessive yellow-brown tone, windowing and weak polish reduce value.

Indicative market band

Accessible to fine · colour purity led

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Natural material reference

Tourmaline

Rough parcels

Variety, colour zones, crystal dimensions, clarity, fractures, cutting direction and recoverable colour determine parcel pricing.

Polished market

The market spans accessible material to exceptional copper-bearing and vivid-colour stones that trade in distinct premium categories.

Quality standard

Colour is paramount, followed by clarity, cut and size. Rare trade descriptions should be supported by independent identification rather than visual assumption.

Indicative market band

Very broad · variety and colour sensitive

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Natural material reference

Topaz

Rough parcels

Most rough is quoted by colour category, clarity, crystal size, cleavage risk, treatment history and usable yield.

Polished market

Common treated blue topaz is accessible; natural pink, red and fine imperial colours can command far stronger prices.

Quality standard

Confirm colour variety and treatment status, then assess saturation, clarity, cutting, carat weight and durability-related cleavage considerations.

Indicative market band

Accessible to rare · variety dependent

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JADEImage available on request

Natural material reference

Jade

Rough parcels

Boulders and slabs require specialist inspection of windows, skin, internal colour, translucency, texture, fractures and the uncertainty of usable recovery.

Polished market

Commercial material and fine untreated jadeite occupy very different markets; important pieces may be valued by object rather than per carat.

Quality standard

First identify jadeite versus nephrite and disclose polymer, dye or other treatment. Then assess colour, translucency, texture, structure and workmanship.

Indicative market band

Specialist quotation · identification essential

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Natural material reference

Turquoise

Rough parcels

Colour, hardness, porosity, matrix character, nodule size, origin documentation and stability determine parcel interest.

Polished market

Some buyers favour even robin’s-egg blue; others value distinctive natural matrix. Market preference varies by region and jewellery style.

Quality standard

Natural material must be separated from stabilised, dyed, reconstructed and imitation products. Treatment disclosure is essential to any comparison.

Indicative market band

Commercial to collector · matrix and treatment led

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Natural material reference

Pearl

Rough parcels

Pearls are not traded as conventional mineral rough. Loose lots are matched by type, size, shape, body colour, overtone, lustre and surface condition.

Polished market

Fine individual pearls and matched strands can vary dramatically in price. Matching quality and rarity may matter as much as individual size.

Quality standard

Assess natural versus cultured status, mollusc type, size, shape, lustre, orient, nacre quality, surface, colour, matching and any treatment.

Indicative market band

Lot or piece-specific · matching and lustre led

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Natural material reference

Quartz

Rough parcels

Abundant commercial rough is valued by variety, transparency, inclusions, colour, crystal aesthetics, size and suitability for cutting or collecting.

Polished market

Most polished quartz is accessible. Exceptional clarity, unusual optical effects, collector inclusions or highly skilled cutting can add value.

Quality standard

Identify the variety and any treatment or synthetic origin, then assess transparency, colour or phenomenon, inclusions, cut and finished size.

Indicative market band

Accessible · exceptional specimens priced separately

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Natural material reference

Moonstone

Rough parcels

Orientation, visible sheen, transparency, fractures, body colour and cabochon yield are critical when selecting rough.

Polished market

A strong, centred blue sheen on a near-colourless body is highly prized, while diffuse or weak sheen trades lower.

Quality standard

Judge the strength, colour and centring of adularescence, plus body transparency, inclusions, durability and cabochon proportions.

Indicative market band

Commercial to fine · optical effect led

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Natural material reference

Spinel

Rough parcels

Colour potential, crystal size, transparency, fractures, inclusions, origin documentation and clean recovery guide rough pricing.

Polished market

Fine vivid red, selected pink and cobalt-blue material can command strong premiums; ordinary colours occupy lower commercial bands.

Quality standard

Prioritise vivid hue, saturation, transparency, attractive cutting and size. Origin and colour-cause opinions should be independently supported when commercially material.

Indicative market band

Commercial to exceptional · colour sensitive

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Natural material reference

Zircon

Rough parcels

Rough is assessed for colour potential, size, transparency, abrasion, internal stress, fractures and cutting orientation needed to maximise brilliance.

Polished market

Well-cut zircon is valued for strong dispersion and brilliance. Blue, warm red-brown and selected natural colours have different market levels.

Quality standard

Confirm natural zircon rather than cubic zirconia. Assess hue, tone, clarity, cut, size, treatment and facet-edge condition.

Indicative market band

Accessible to fine · colour and cutting led

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