Gemstones
Looking for a pretty, shiny, colored rock? You've come to a good place. The world of gemstones can be mighty tricky, but we have it all decoded for you. Below is a general guide to buying colored gemstones. If you'd like to learn about diamonds, please read our Diamond Buying Guide. Learn about pearls in the Pearl Buying Guide. Don't know what shape to get? Read our Gemstone Shape Guide.
"Precious" Stones
Recently the term "semi-precious" has fallen out of favor with gemologists. Now, all gemstones are referred to as "precious stones."
Traditionally, however, precious stones meant diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts. Today, the abundance of amethyst sets it apart price-wise from the other four.
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Diamonds are so popular that there is a separate buying guide all about them. - Usually clear, but some may be yellow, blue, or pink. Diamonds with good-quality colors are called "fancy" diamonds and are very expensive.
- Buying an engagement ring? Read up.
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Sapphires  are usually blue but may lean towards a green or purple tint; they can also be clear (white), yellow, orange, pink, brown or black. - The padparadscha is a rare, prized pink and orange variation.
- Star sapphires, like the Star of India, have a star-shaped inclusion and are usually polished into cabochons.
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Rubies vary from an orange-red to a purple-red, all valuable. - Garnets are generally distinguished by a deep red color closer to that of a pomegranate and are less valuable than rubies.
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Emeralds are usually green stones when they are of premium quality. - Stones of lesser value range in hue from yellow-green to blue-green.
- Emeralds are among the most fragile of the precious gemstones.
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Amethysts range from light lilac to deep purple. - Deep purple varieties are the most valuable.
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Colorful Gemstones
Precious stones are not limited to the five featured above -- they come in every color of the rainbow! To help you find what you're looking for more easily, stones in this section are grouped by color.
Clear/White Stones
Red/Pink Stones
Yellow/Green Stones
Blue Stones
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White Opal (although called white, usually appear bluish) |
Turquoise (various shades of opaque green-blue) |
Lapis lazuli (deep, opaque royal blue with golden flecks) |
Brown Stones
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Agate (translucent banded stone in several colors; blue lace agate is also popular.) |
Tiger's Eye (banded, shimmering golden-brown) |
Tourmaline (translucent and sometimes dichroic; wide variety of colors) |
Smoky Quartz (clear brown) |
Black Stones
Organic Gemstones
Several of the most popular gemstones are created by plants or animals rather than by the earth alone. These stones are known collectively as organic gemstones, but this is where the similarities end. Each is formed by a unique process. The most popular organic gemstones are pearls, amber, jet, coral and ammolite. Fossilized bones or ivory may also be made into jewelry, along with teeth and claws of various animals, but these are not considered gemstones.
One thing all organic gemstones have in common (except for jet, which is relatively hard) is that they are soft, delicate, and easily scratched. You should never put any of these gems into an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner; use only a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth to clean them. Store them away from anything that might scratch them. Pearls and jet beads should be strung with a knot between each bead; if you wear them often, have them restrung yearly.
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Pearls
Pearls are formed by oysters or other molluscs. The animal deposits layers of nacre, or mother of pearl, when it is irritated by a small particle. Natural pearls are very rare and very valuable; cultured pearls vary in value depending on the type of pearl. The most common types are akoya (white with rosy overtones), South Sea (deep golden color), Tahitian (black or grey), and freshwater (any color, many shapes). Freshwater pearls are the least expensive; akoya are the most expensive, particularly for large pearls.
You can learn a lot more about buying pearls from the Pearl Buying Guide. |
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Amber
Amber is the fossilized resin of a coniferous tree. It is lightweight and usually a honey yellow or golden brown color. You can also find amber in green, blue, white, red and yellow. It can be cloudy or clear; clear pieces often have visible inclusions such as pieces of leaves, flowers, or even insects. The best amber is Baltic amber; it is between 40 and 60 million years old and is usually of excellent quality.
Amber can be easily imitated with glass or plastic. True amber has a negative electric charge and will always feel warm to the touch.
Amber is very soft and scratches easily; take good care of your amber and store it away from other stones. |
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Coral
Coral used in jewelry is usually red or red-orange, although it can also be black or pink. It is not fossilized; coral is made of the skeletons of thousands of tiny creatures. It is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, the same compound found in pearls. The red color comes from other trace chemicals.
Coral has been used in jewelry for thousands of years and is especially valued in India. Most beads are small, since it takes a long time for a coral to grow. Pure red fire coral is the most expensive and the rarest; other types are still fairly pricey since coral is not easy to grow. |
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Jet
Jet is primarily composed of fossilized, decomposed remains of prehistoric plants. It is coal that has gone to the next level; it is harder and shinier but nowhere close to being a diamond. It has been used in jewelry for over 10,000 years. Jet was especially popular during the late Victorian era, as Queen Victoria adopted it as part of her mourning garb. It was the stone of choice for flapper girls, who wore long strands of jet beads.
Although it has declined in popularity, jet jewelry can still be found for sale. Additionally, jet has permanently contributed the phrase "jet-black" to our lexicon, even if most people are not familiar with the source material. |
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Ammolite
Ammolite is made of fossilized mother-of-pearl from extinct nautilus-like creatures called ammonites. Its beautiful, opal-like play of colors make it a valuable gemstone for jewelry.
Since it was only recently discovered, there is little standardization in grading ammolite; quality is therefore more subjective than with many other gemstones. Good quality ammolite has bright colors and strong iridescence.
Ammolite is extremely rare and very difficult to process; even a small amount may be expensive. Ammolite is also very soft and easily damaged; it is frequently prepared with protective coverings and backings. Always protect ammolite jewelry as you would any other organic jewelry; keep it away from anything that might scratch it. |
Birthstones
"The Four Cs"
Just like with diamonds, you're still judging your stones based on color, cut, clarity, and carat.
Cut (and Shape)
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Don't know what shape to get? Read our Gemstone Shape Guide. The same shapes that are used for diamonds can be found in other gemstones as well. Non-diamond gemstones have another shape available to them: the cabochon.
A cabochon is a stone that has been polished but not cut. (That is, it doesn't have facets.) Cabochons are frequently domed stones. They often have flat backs set in rings or pendants. Although usually used for opaque stones, a few of the translucent stones, especially members of the quartz family and amber, also look good as cabochons. Star sapphires must be polished as cabochons to make the asterism visible, and amber is often polished to show off any interesting inclusions. |
Color - Color is another value-inducing factor of a gemstone. It is not the color itself that matters, but the quality of the color, including hue (color), tone (lightness or darkness), and saturation (purity).
- To accurately judge the hue of a gemstone, look at it in bright light against both black and white backgrounds. You want the gemstone to be even in hue without any cloudiness or brown or gray spots. The center should not look pale or washed out in any way.
- Ideally, a quality gem will be darker rather than lighter, but it should not be darker than medium dark. Sometimes gemstone manufacturers use heat treatment to intensify or change the color of a gemstone. This will decrease its value and cost.
Clarity - As with diamonds, clarity is measured on a scale of VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, I1, I2, I3, with VVS1 being flawless and I3 being badly flawed.
- Spots, cracks, and inclusions (flaws) are all negative factors of clarity.
- Clarity and transparency is often fixed by oils, resins, and chemicals used by gemstone manufacturers.
- Some gemstones are more likely to possess and show flaws than others. Gemstone will tell you more about your stone of choice.
Carat - Most gemstone weights are measured in carats.
- Keep in mind that because of the different densities of different stones, a carat of one might not be the same diameter as a carat of another.
- When comparing many stones, use the length and width or the diameter (depending on the shape) to figure out the size of the stone.
What Else Should I Know?
Natural or Genuine?
- Natural gemstones are considered those that have been taken from the ground and brought to the store cut and polished without undergoing any other alterations.
- Genuine gemstones may have been treated.
- Natural and genuine gemstones are considered to be most valuable.
Synthetic - Two kinds of synthetic gemstones exist.
- Some are made to look like another stone but do not have the same physical or chemical properties,
- Cubic zirconia and moissanite are diamond look-alikes, but lack diamond's properties.
- Synthetic amber is made of a plastic resin. (But amber isn't all that expensive much of the time anyway.)
- Some jewelry may use colored crystal, glass, or even plastic to imitate gemstones.
- Some are identical in chemical makeup to the stone they imitate.
- Synthetic emeralds, rubies and sapphires are nearly physically and chemically identical to natural stones.
- Synthetic carborundums (the type of mineral including rubies and sapphires) are very common and inexpensive.
- Cultured pearls are not as expensive as natural pearls and are made using oyster colonies in a lab.
- Most citrine is made by treating other forms of quartz.
- Blue topaz is made by irradiating yellow topaz.
- They have been manufactured in labs and claim to hold up longer, however some can cloud prematurely. These are not as valuable as natural or genuine gemstones, but they are an affordable alternative.
Gemstones and the Zodiac
According to astrologers, there is a gemstone associated with each zodiac sign.
Aries
An attractive enthusiast, a leader, an Aries is very brave, persistent, energetic, passionate and full of ambitions individual.
One of the most appropriate gems for Aries is amethyst that brings luck and success, incarnates open-heartedness and sincerity, gives energy and protects from bag luck.
Taurus
Taureans are warm and friendly, tender and passionate people. They are patient, reasonable and persistent. They are always ready to help.
Their stone is turquoise ; it incarnates prosperity, well-being and courage. It's a stone of faithfulness and happiness in love.
Gemini
Energetic and many-sided people, matchless intellectuals that can easily cope with several tasks at the same time, they are pleasant and communicative.
Topaz symbolizes prudence and good deeds, faithfulness, sincerity and soul purity.
Cancer
Cancers are very careful and stay-at-home people deeply faithful to their family and friends. They carefully plan their future and love comfort.
Despite their external gravity, they are always young in mind. And it is no wonder green emerald -- the symbol of spring and youth, hopes and recollections, life, harmony and pacification -- is great for people born under the sign of Cancer.
Leo
Unique, bountiful, loyal, elegant, cordiality, gratefulness and intelligence are only a handful of the traits ascribed to Leos. A Leo is too generous to remember offences.
Proud Leos don't like conflicts. As for their gem -- it is chrysolite that accentuates self-esteem, saves from melancholy and dissipates fears.
Virgo
Virgos are distinguished by amazing logic and mild nature. They are t crossers and i dotters.
In difficult situations Virgos try to be thoughtful and cool-headed. They always have a desire to help others.
The best stone for them is citrine. It is a symbol of light, joy and great mood; its energy is sun-like, giving warmth and life.
Libra
Libras are harmonious, impartial, diplomatic peacemakers that look for truth, beauty and ideal partners.
They are funny and charming dreamers. Libras certainly believe that ideal exists. And they do everything possible to find it.
Their stone is aquamarine -- a symbol of youth, hope and health. It personifies beauty, sincerity and faithfulness.
Scorpio
Scorpios are mysterious and self-confident. They are enthusiasts who can obtain success in any sphere. It's not to wonder that ruby is their stone. It symbolizes power and royalty, interest and passion that give its owner power, fearlessness and wisdom.
Sagittarius
Communicative, honest, merry fellows, adventure and traveling lovers, optimistic philosophers -- it's all about people born under Sagittarius sign.
A Sagittarius thinks that it is necessary to enjoy life in all its manifestations. One of the stones appropriate for a Sagittarius is zircon. It helps in intellectual development, makes its owner more powerful and brings him success in creative work and luck in trade.
Capricorn
Capricorns are hardy and diligent people with a sense of duty, excellent taste and style. They are strong but a little shy; they have a very businesslike character.
The gem of Capricorns, tourmaline , symbolizes tender love and hope, is considered to be a talisman that gives inspiration and acknowledgement.
Aquarius
A self-confident idealist, an individualist who has a calm and just relation to everything -- an Aquarius is a great thinker who sees his/her future bright and usually knows how to turn it into the real present. Sapphire , the stone that incarnates constancy and inner harmony, is the stone for Aquarius.
Pieces
Clairvoyants, thinkers, contemplators who greatly feel the emotional state of any person and mankind as a whole. Pieces are romantic and full of love.
The essence of people born under the sign of Pieces is reflected in pearl that promotes longevity, prosperity and success.
External Links- Wikipedia -- this article on gemstones includes a list of the most popular gemstones and some rare stones.
- Gemstone -- Detailed articles all about 30 different stones.
- Gemstone Meanings -- not only meanings but alternative lists of birthstones and lots of shopping links. Great images of many popular stones.
- American Museum of Natural History -- Its hall of gems.
- Dixonil.com: Building a colored gemstone wardrobe.
- AstroJewelry.com: Interesting info for those, who believe in astrology and the power of gem stones
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