GEMSTONES
Something to catch your eye
Precious and semi-precious gemstones have been treasured by ancient and modern cultures, though their value is not determined in the same manner as a diamond.
Gemstones come in a vast variety of colors, shapes, and sizes therefore they form beneath the earth’s surface over many years and are mined for various purposes. Meanwhile, gemstones have been valued for their beauty, their perceived metaphysical and healing powers, similarly at times specific famous gemstones were also feared for the perception of a curse being attached to them.
With gemstones, the richer and purer the color, the more valuable the stone becomes. As a gemstone becomes larger, while maintaining a rich and pure color, it becomes progressively rarer and thereby more expensive.
Gemstones can be set in any type of jewelry and can also be used in engagement rings. The hardness level of a gemstone will affect the practical use of the stone in jewelry. For instance, rubies and sapphires are more practical for engagement rings since they are quite hard and therefore they are better suited for everyday wear on the hand. Softer gemstones are more prone to being damaged if subjected to certain impacts.
There is a common distinction between precious gemstones and semi-precious gemstones which began during the mid-1800s and has become more prevalent over the years. The precious stones being Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald but the semi-precious stones comprising pretty much all else.
As the term denotes, the precious stones are generally rarer, more prized, and more valuable. However, this does not mean that semi-precious stones are not beautiful and valuable in their own right. In fact, there may be instances in which a semi-precious stone could be rarer and more valuable than a precious stone. An example is Alexandrite, which can be as expensive as a fine Ruby or Sapphire.
The Diamond Source carries an exceptional supply of precious and semi-precious stones, including:
