Precious stones are more popular and, therefore, more expensive, so if color matters most to you, there are less expensive but just as beautiful options. A semi-precious gemstone may be rarer and of a higher quality than a precious stone you’re considering. Instead, choose something you find meaningful or beautiful. Many people shop specifically for precious or semi-precious jewels, but these descriptions are determined by demand, not science, and do not need to be a priority in your gemstone selection. They are the tried-and-true gemstones with universal appeal. The four precious stones are the hardest and have the most longevity. Buying a precious stone is important if you’re interested in an investment piece. These gems are precious by popular demand and tradition, not because they are any rarer or more special than semi-precious stones.
Precious stones vs semi-precious stones There are only four precious stones: diamond, sapphire, emerald, and ruby. Organic gems are easy to distinguish by their softness, which makes them less durable than inorganic gems.
Organic gems: These come from living organisms-tree sap that produces amber or a mollusk that makes a pearl. Rocks: Rocks are inorganic gems, but they are not “precious.” Many rocks, like the lapis lazuli, were once highly valued for healing, but their abundance makes them less valuable in the current market where rarity is significant. There are many more beryls and corundums than these examples, but they aren’t as well-known. The sapphire and ruby are also in the same species, called corundum. A mineral species may include more than one type of gem.īeryls, for example, are a species that consists of two common gemstones-the emerald and aquamarine. Gemstones are classified by their mineral species with distinguishable characteristics in composition and structure. Minerals: Most gems are minerals or a combination of minerals, which means they come from the earth’s surface as inorganic material. It’s difficult to clarify what characterizes a gemstone, especially to the untrained eye, but gems can be grouped into one of the following three categories. Types of gems There are over 2,000 natural gemstones, but fewer than 100 of them are worn as jewels, and even fewer are common and easy to purchase. “Gem” rather than “stone” may be a more suitable term for a pearl since it does not come from the earth’s surface. Pearls come from living organisms and are very soft, unlike most gems. It is considered a gem even though it does not have a crystalline structure. However, you would not call a polished but uncut gemstone a jewel.Ī stone can refer to different solids from the earth in different contexts (i.e., landscaping), but in the context of gemology, “stone” is just a shortened form of “gemstone.” Is a pearl a gem? A pearl is an ocean gemstone, like coral. There’s not much difference between a gem and a jewel, and the terms can be used interchangeably. That doesn’t make them less beautiful, just less like a gemstone and less valuable in the gem market.Ī jewel is an individual gemstone within a piece of jewelry or fashioned to fit in jewelry. Gems are fashioned to enhance their beauty and desirability, but crystals are left in their natural form. Many, but not all, gems are crystals since they’re made up of a crystalline structure of atoms and molecules. Stones, crystals, and jewels are other names for gemstones but with slight variations. Today, gemstones are more accessible and limited in their medicinal use, so they’re often selected based on personal significance. Ancient gemstones were treasured as a symbol of status or wealth or used in healing. Certain qualities, like vibrancy or uniqueness, however, are timeless. A gemstone must be beautiful, but beauty is subjective and may be determined by trends or the buyer’s preference. Gemstones are difficult to define since the term is more descriptive than scientific. What is a gemstone?Ī gemstone is a precious or semi-precious rock, mineral, or organic material selected for its beauty, cut, and collected or worn. Whether you’re looking to add a stunning statement to your gem collection, find your birthstone, invest in an heirloom, or purchase a nugget of wisdom, we’ve created a guide with pictures to help you recognize the stones and their color variations, and understand the meaning and value behind some of the most popular gemstones and their colors. They still hold symbolic significance today. Gemstones were once considered little pieces of heaven on earth-either specks of starlight or teardrops of a god-with names inspired by the solar system. For over 10,000 years, humans have collected and worn gems. 
There’s something about a sparking stone that stops us in our tracks and compels us to claim it.
Gemstones are pieces of nature’s beauty captured and kept.
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