Natural gemstones and diamonds take millions of years to form naturally inside the earth’s crust, but synthetic stones are mass-produced by humans in a laboratory within a few hours/days with chemical and physical properties exactly the same as natural gemstones. Synthetic gems and diamonds lack the super-natural powers & energy of Natural Gemstones therefore they are not recommended for astrological purposes.

The most important factor which is the cause of the difference in prices is the rarity factor. Natural Gemstones are very rare to find and as the natural resources deplete, it becomes even rarer. Whereas synthetic gemstones' production increases at a reducing cost as the technology advances. Therefore even though synthetic gems have improved color and clarity than natural, they are inexpensive.

Inclusions are naturally formed minerals, fingerprints, fissures, or any other feature which are within the gemstone and are usually sculpt at the time formation under the earth's crust. These inclusions might sometimes reach the surface of the gemstone in the form of cavities, inverted crystals, etc. 

The Four C's - Color, Clarity, Cut & Carat Weight are the most important factors which determine the value & quality of a gemstone.

Absolutely Yes! There's much more than 4C's in gemstones & diamonds which are looked at by a Gemologist to grade & value a gem. Few of them are as follows:

>Enhancements: Most of the gemstones and diamonds are treated or enhanced by humans to improve the color and clarity of a gemstone. Treatments might improve the appearance of a gemstone, but Untreated gemstones win over the rarity factor. Therefore un-enhanced gemstones dominate the market price of any gemstone. 

>Characteristics: This is one of the most important factors which differentiates colored gemstones from Diamonds. "Beauty is in the eyes of its Beholder" - The character of every gemstone is different and unique. A gemstone that might appeal to someone might not appeal to another person. 

>Certification: A gemstone needs to be certified as there are many synthetics & natural imitations which closely resemble their natural counterparts. Moreover, most natural gemstones are also enhanced with treatments that are difficult to identify by a layman. Only an authentic certificate can assist a customer with all the details required.

>Origin: The origin of a gemstone also plays an important role many times. Few origins have a premium "Brand Value" compared to others due to many factors. Example: Kashmir Sapphire, Columbian Emeralds, and Burmese Rubies are priced way higher than similar-looking gemstones from other origins.

Unfortunately, you'll not. Only an experienced gemologist or diamantaire can distinguish genuine gemstones from synthetics, imitations, or fake ones. For a layman, certifications & trust are important factors that you must look for while buying gemstones from any merchant. 

Gem mines are not found all over the world, but they are discovered only in few locations. It might take millions of years for gemstones to form under the earth's crust. Moreover, it might take another million years to discover gemstone and diamond mines around the world. Out of the total gemstones extracted from these mines approximately 1/100th are of Gem Quality and out of these less than 5% are more than 3 carats.
Thus finding a clear-transparent and beautifully colored gemstone is extremely rare.

Gemstones travel a long journey before they reach us. How much are you paying for such a precious gemstone? Are they really expensive? Prices are mere numbers and can never define the real value of a natural gemstone.

Carat is the standard unit of weight around the world in which a gemstone or diamond is measured. Carat originated from the Latin word "Carratus" which relates to Carob Bean (seed).

1 Carat = 200 milligrams = 0.200 grams

No, it is not related to the purity of a gemstone. Carat only defines the Weight of a gemstone or diamond. It is often confused with the Karat of Gold or other precious metals that defines the purity of the metal.

Carat (0.200mg) is the standard unit of weight measurement for gemstones and diamonds around the world. Whereas Ratti (0.1215mg / 0.182mg) is a traditional unit of measurement in India based on Ratti Seed, which was used a long time ago when accurate weighing scales did not exist. Ratti is still used by many astrologers in India to recommend gemstones. 

We often recommend our customers to get the required gem weight in carats as there are few variations in Ratti (Sunari ratio & Pakki Ratti). Astrologers from different regions of India use different calculations for recommending gemstones.

1 Carat = 0.200 milligrams

1 Ratti = 0.1215 milligrams (Sunari Ratti)

1 Ratti = 0.1822 milligrams (Pakki Ratti)

Absolutely Yes! You can be 100% sure when you buy a gemstone or diamond from Nine Gems. Our buying & testing offices are well equipped with all gem testing resources and experienced Gem-A / GIA qualified gemmologists & diamantaires for efficient gem testing. It is only because of these standards & sophisticated environment, that we can guarantee the authenticity of every gemstone & diamond merchandise. 

Our gemstones are tested on bulk size. We can show you that certificate. For your product,, you can test it on any of the testing labs and compare it with our certificate.