The hue of a gemstone

What is the hue of a gemstone?

Definition

Hue refers to the colour of a gemstone that is immediately apparent, that is to say, the overall chromatic appearance that is evident upon observation. It enables the identification of a gemstone’s dominant colour, regardless of its saturation or tone, and is one of the key criteria for describing colour in gemmology.

Yellow hue of a sanidine gemstone
Yellow hue of an 11.97-carat sanidine, Madagascar, © Arvernes-Gemmese