What are precious gemstones?

Precious gems are gemstones that are considered valuable and rare. They are typically used in jewelry and are highly sought after by collectors. The four traditional precious gems are diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. These gemstones have been highly valued for centuries due to their rarity, beauty and durability.

Diamonds are known for their exceptional brilliance and sparkle, and are considered the most valuable of all precious gemstones. They are also the hardest naturally occurring mineral, making them very durable.

Rubies are known for their deep red color and are considered the second most valuable of all precious gemstones. They are also durable and have been treasured for centuries.

Sapphires come in many colors but blue is the most well-known, and are considered the third most valuable of all precious gemstones. They are also durable and have been highly prized for centuries.

Emeralds are known for their deep green color and are considered the fourth most valuable of all precious gemstones. They are relatively soft compared to the other precious gemstones and they are also highly regarded.

These four traditional precious gemstones are often used in high-end jewelry and are highly sought after by collectors. However, it's important to note that the value of a gemstone can be affected by many factors such as rarity, color, clarity, cut, carat weight and treatments.

Non-precious gemstones, also known as semi-precious gemstones, are gemstones that are not considered as valuable or rare as the traditional precious gemstones (diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds). They are still sought after for their beauty, durability and versatility, but they are generally less expensive than precious gemstones.

Examples of non-precious or semi-precious gems include: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Garnet, Citrine, Topaz, Peridot, Opal, Turquoise, Tourmaline, Moonstone, Lapis Lazuli  & Onyx.

These gemstones come in a wide range of colors, sizes and shapes and they can be used in various types of jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants. They are also used as decorative items, such as in carvings, statues and figurines.

It's important to note that the value of non-precious or semi-precious gemstones can also be affected by many factors such as rarity, color, clarity, cut, carat weight and treatments. The classification of a gemstone as precious or non-precious is not always clear-cut and it can vary depending on the source and the context.

Semi-precious gemstones are considered to be less valuable than precious gems because they are more abundant and therefore less rare. Additionally, they often have less desirable physical properties, such as a lower hardness and less brilliance, than precious gemstones. This results in a lower demand and lower prices for semi-precious gemstones.