Did you know that an opal's pattern is one of its value factors? One of the most sought-after patterns is harlequin, where an opal has large, angular, closely-set patches of play-of-color. This pattern must cover the entire surface of the opal for it to be called harlequin, as seen in this black opal ring by Oscar Heyman. Image 2 shows a black opal with a pinfire pattern. Image 3 shows a peacock opal with blue and green play-of-color. Its pattern also resembles pinfire. As a general rule, opals with larger patches of play-of-color are more desirable than those with smaller patches. But an opal's bodycolor and the color of its play-of-color are also important value factors. The opal in image 3 has much stronger play-of-color than the opal in image 2, even though they have similar patterns. Click the link in our bio to learn more about opal quality. (1) Courtesy: Oscar Heyman (2) Photo: Orasa Weldon/GIA, Dr. Eduard J. Gübelin Collection (3) Photo: Robert Weldon/GIA. Courtesy: Cody Opal

Sold! The Infinite Blue was auctioned off today at Sotheby's Hong Kong for over US$25,000,000. This extraordinary 11.28 carat diamond has been graded by GIA as Fancy Vivid blue with VS2 clarity. The Infinite Blue was also designated as type IIb, a classification that only applies to 0.1% of all diamonds, making this diamond one of the rarest in the world. The Infinite Blue has been expertly crafted into a ring, adorned with brilliant-cut and trapeze-shaped colorless diamonds, as well as pink-tinted brilliant-cut diamonds that elegantly enhance its blue radiance. This breathtaking blue beauty is truly one of nature’s masterpieces. Image 3 Courtesy: @sothebysjewels

Metal color matters! When it comes to showcasing the brilliance of your precious diamond, the metal you choose plays a starring role. If you're going for a classic, warm look, yellow gold can beautifully complement diamonds with lower color grades and make your diamond’s yellow tint less noticeable (image 1). For colorless or near-colorless diamonds (grades D through J), white metals like platinum or white gold will highlight the absence of color and enhance your diamond's cool, icy appearance (image 2). Each metal color offers a distinct personality to your ring, so it’s all about finding the perfect match for your style and your diamond. Learn more about finding the ideal metal to pair with your dream diamond - link in bio. Courtesy: @kobellijewelry (Image 1) @catbirdnyc (Image 2)

Celebrate October with its colorful birthstones! Opal's play-of-color creates mesmerizing rainbow flashes, while tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any gem. The ring seen here showcases both October birthstones, featuring a 6.52 carat oval black opal surrounded by 1.15 carats of round Paraíba tourmaline. Follow along to learn more about these two October birthstones! Courtesy: @OmiPrive

A blue-tiful gem! The Blue Belle of Asia is an unheated cushion-shaped sapphire weighing an astounding 392.52 carats. Discovered in 1926 in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), this gem is just one example of the many stunning gems found on the island. Sri Lanka, known as the "jewel box of the Indian Ocean," has produced numerous record-breaking sapphires. Learn more about September's birthstone - link in bio. ©2014 Christie's Images Limited

Parti-color sapphires are like gemstone rainbows! These parti-color gems display more than one color because they contain different trace elements in different parts of their crystal structure. Parti-color sapphires are sure to add a colorful pop to any wardrobe! The image shows heated parti-colored sapphires discovered in Montana. How many colors can you spot in this sapphire "parti"? Courtesy: Jeffrey R. Hapeman

Did you know that sapphires were first discovered in Montana in 1865? These sapphires from Yogo Gulch, Montana, have an attractive natural blue color with even coloring and very few inclusions. Yogo sapphires are typically small in size, with faceted gems rarely exceeding one carat. Courtesy: Don Baide, The Gem Gallery, Bozeman, Montana. Photo: Robison McMurtry/GIA.

A diamond's "fire" is the dazzling display of colorful flashes that occurs when pure white light passes through the diamond and gets refracted into a brilliant spectrum of colors. These bursts of red, blue, yellow, and orange resemble vibrant natural firecrackers, illuminating the diamond with a captivating radiance! Photo: Harold & Erica Van Pelt/GIA. Illustration: Peter Johnston/GIA

Dive into the breathtaking world of Montana sapphire, where the rugged beauty of Big Sky Country meets the brilliance of gemstones. Montana is home to some of the most exquisite sapphire, which comes in a range of colors, including blue, green, yellow and pink. These rough crystals and faceted gems from Rock Creek demonstrate the array of colors Montana sapphire can achieve after heat treatment. Which color is your favorite? Photo: Jeffrey A. Scovil. Copyright: Robert E. Kane. Courtesy: Fine Gems International

How do experts assess a diamond’s color? Although many diamonds appear colorless, GIA gemologists can detect even the slightest presence of yellow or other hues. GIA established the color grading standard, called the GIA Color Scale, to indicate the absence or presence of color. The scale begins with the letter D, representing colorlessness, and continues with the increasing presence of color to the letter Z. Diamond graders use color-comparison diamonds, called masterstones, to determine a diamond’s color grade. Masterstones have been meticulously chosen and graded as reference points to ensure consistency and accuracy. Learn more about how our experts grade diamond color - link in bio. Courtesy: @gemmologyobsession

Did you know that sapphire comes in all the colors of the rainbow, except red? While blue sapphire is simply called sapphire, other colors of sapphire (called fancy sapphire) are known by their color names, such as pink sapphire or orange sapphire. Sapphire is a variety of the gem species corundum, which also includes ruby, the red variety. However, ruby is so special that it gets its own name. Seen here is a rainbow assortment of sapphires. Hidden among them is a ruby and a color-change sapphire. Can you spot them? Courtesy: Phoebe Shang

This vintage, old European cut diamond weighs 10.51 carats and has been graded N color and VS2 clarity by GIA. The old European cut evolved during the 19th century and features a smaller table, higher crown, and larger facets. These distinctive proportions maximize a diamond’s fire, particularly in candlelight settings, and give diamonds a “chunkier” pattern of light instead of the smaller, more distributed light and dark pattern of modern brilliant cuts. If you’re searching for an engagement ring with a distinctive look, the old European cut diamond is a great place to start - link in bio. Courtesy: @sothebys