Sparkling-tinted gem minerals are perennially popular throughout the world. From the humblest jewelry novice to the experienced royal families around the globe, gemstones are valuables worth collecting. But what are the precious gemstones? Is there a gemstone hierarchy? While these coveted stones go by several monikers, like a fine gem, precious stones, or jewel, they all refer to a natural mineral crystal that is beautiful, durable, and desirable.

A Brief Overview of Precious Stones

Precious gemstones must be cut and polished to exploit their highest beauty. Lately, collectors also admire uncut gemstones in the rough crystal shape—as they come from the earth. Some precious stones get a cabochon finish— smoothly polished into a flat bottom and rounded top. Depending on the crystal, that polish can reveal a 4 or 6 rayed star effect. The source of these rays appearing atop cabochon cut stones are minute natural inclusions within the stone.

With so many types of precious stones, we can only scrape the surface in trying to understand them. But let’s review the best gemstones.

While modern jewelry fans are super enthusiastic about many precious gems, they may not be able to name a precious gem. A list of precious gemstones appears in ancient writings—from the scriptures written thousands of years ago. Also we find them referenced in books from the ancient Romans, like naturalist Pliny the Elder. He was fascinated by precious gemstones and wrote extensively on the subject.

From early potentates of Asia and the Far East to modern regal families in Europe and Asia, gemstones have played a prominent role in royal ceremonies.

Now that we know their deep history and cultural importance, let’s discover some characteristics of precious stones that separate them from simple rocks.

The Six Precious Gemstones

Diamond

Of all the gemstones ever found, the most dazzling gem is the diamond. It is unique in the world of gems for its colorless condition (except for fancy color diamonds) and also that it consists of just one element. And that is carbon. No other gemstone boasts of being from a single element.

Colorless diamonds were first discovered in India centuries back. Their unique characteristics set them apart from all other stones.

They are the hardest known natural substances with a hardness ranking of 10 on the Mohs scale.

Their other characteristics form what is called the 4Cs. It’s a universal language that expresses the quality components of diamonds so professionals can compare and contrast them against other diamonds.

The 4Cs are Clarity, Color, Carat Weight, and Cut. Uniform methods of assessing each of these traits help jewelers and consumers understand their relative value.

• Clarity refers to the lack of or number of blemishes in the crystal.
• Color describes the absence or presence of body color in a diamond.
• Carat Weight is the uniform weight of a diamond—it doesn’t refer to the size.
• Cut is a bit more complex. It examines the quality of the cutting and polishing that the crystal displays.

Uses in Jewelry

Diamonds have been desirable gemstones for centuries. They are most often regarded as gemstones for jewelry use due to their beauty, rarity, and ‘goes-with-everything’ colorlessness.

As consumers develop a better understanding of business ethics, both shoppers and vendors insist that diamonds have a verifiable paper trail going back to the source. That way, all parties are assured that the stones were ethically sourced and have been recovered by the most sustainable methods. Diamond suppliers also insist on fair working conditions for everyone along the supply chain.

Sapphire

Sapphire is an old gemstone and one of the most beloved of the rare colored gems. This stone is the next hardest stone to diamond, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale for hardness. So you know that a sapphire gemstone will look sparkling decades from now, just as it did on the day you acquired it.

Centuries ago, aristocrats and royals fought over large sapphires for their crown jewels. Today, it’s almost the same thing, but feuding takes place on the bidding floor at great auction houses.

Famous Precious Stones

The Star of India is a famous cabochon-cut star sapphire. This impressive 56.3-carat precious gem is the size of a golf ball!

Historians say the most sought-after sapphires in the world are the now-extinct Kashmir sapphires found in the latter part of the 19th century high in the Himalayas. By the early part of the 20th century—they were all gone. Today, if a collector is looking for a Kashmir sapphire, they must seek out old stones that go to auction.

Such Varieties

If a stone is called a sapphire, it means the rich, saturated blue variety. But there is also another type of sapphire called a ‘fancy color sapphire’. These may be yellow, pink, green, black, orange, or violet. Fancy color sapphires are highly collectible and stunning.

But for some collectors, only the rich cornflower or cobalt blue will do. This striking precious stone can cost a king’s ransom to acquire.

Sapphires are a popular precious stone for rings. Princess Diana’s engagement ring was a sapphire. Sapphires also make stunning pendant necklaces and are perfectly suited for placement on tiaras.

Ruby

The color red is associated with power and vitality (like blood!) and, of course, passion. That’s why ruby gems have been adored for centuries.

Rubies are from the mineral corundum, the same species as sapphire. In the case of ruby, its vibrant hue is due to trace amounts of chromium. And like sapphire, it’s a hard, precious stone, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale.

Fine rubies can be much rarer than diamonds and often more costly than diamonds of a similar grade and size. The finest rubies come from Burma, which is today called Myanmar. The best of these stones are the so-called “Pigeon Blood” red, a rich scarlet with blue undertones. 

Because of their durability, rubies can be used for rings, earrings, and many other popular jewelry types.

LEIBISH Burmese Marquise Ruby and Heart Diamond Three-Stone Halo Ring

Emerald

There’s something refreshing about the crisp fresh emerald gemstone. This popular green stone has ancient roots, harkening back to early Egypt and other civilizations.

We have the elements chromium, vanadium, and iron to thank for the emerald’s lively green hue. 

Often, emerald crystals are embedded in hard, difficult-to-extract host rocks. So, concussive equipment is needed to extract the green sparkly bits. In doing so, the emerald stones incur cracks in the crystals. So, every emerald that is ‘clean’ and free from such inclusions is a rare, priceless treasure.

Just because emeralds had a rough start, that doesn't mean they can’t receive the royal treatment in beautifying them later on for jewelry. It is a trade-accepted procedure for emeralds to be treated with oils and green resin fillers in inclusions so they look their best. This is disclosed, of course, and it’s a traditional practice when needed.

Historical Background

In ancient times, other green stones could be mistaken for emeralds. It has only been in recent times that sophisticated gemological instruments could make separations of similarly colored gemstones.

In Cleopatra’s time, she loved emeralds so much she owned several ‘emerald mines’. It turns out, many of those ancient Egyptian mines produced peridot.

Nowadays, we can identify an emerald from other stones. Emeralds are not as hard as diamonds, but they are suitable for earrings and necklaces—and with careful wearing—rings and bracelets.

 

Tanzanite

Some precious stones are valued not only for their beauty and rarity but also for their difficulty in accessing them. Tanzanite is one such stone. Gem-quality blue-violet translucent tanzanite is found only in a small radius around the Manyara region of Tanzania.

The transparent to translucent Tanzanite has a Mohs hardness ranking of 6-7, making it suitable for all jewelry types. Today, larger carat sizes are becoming more difficult to acquire since they have been mined for several years. Tanzanite is a relatively new discovery—having been found in the mid-20^th century. It came to public attention in the late 1960s and thrilled jewelry fans with its unique color and exotic story of discovery.

While some people call Tanzanite a generational gemstone owing to its limited sourcing, others think it may be around for a while. Collectors are avidly gathering Tanzanite jewelry in all its forms so they can wear an entire collection. Rings are a popular jewelry type with Tanzanite, but the precious gemstone is equally suited for stud earrings, bracelets, and neckpieces.

Aquamarine

Those who flock to the cool light blue of aquamarine probably also appreciate the seas. After all, the name aquamarine means sea water. The many pastel blue shades of aquamarine look like the waters of the Caribbean and elsewhere in the tropics, where clear blue lagoons are found.

This stone is a variety of beryl minerals. One of the unique features of aquamarine is its ability to change color when heat treated. Many aquamarines naturally display a prominent green tint. Since jewelry lovers often prefer the pale blue variety, this can be achieved through heat treatment. Some gemstone insiders say we should leave the crystals as nature intended and allow consumers to appreciate the many shades of this beautiful gemstone.

Aquamarine is a popular gemstone. There’s something universally appealing about this pale blue precious stone, which is even popular in bridal jewelry these days. Other uses are bracelets and earrings, among the other jewelry types available.

Precious -v- Semi-Precious Gemstones

We’ve all heard the phrase “semi-precious gemstones” when talking about gems. But what’s the difference? Today, we’re discovering that many so-called semi-precious gems have enormous value—especially when certain rare varieties come to market. Garnet, tourmaline, kunzite, amethyst, spinel, topaz and zircon are popular semi-precious stones.

Discovering Rarity & Value

Paraiba tourmaline for example is a rare Windex blue variety of tourmaline. That species is normally plentiful. But with this unexpected color—prices go through the roof!

The same is with Padparadscha sapphire. Fancy color sapphire sell at affordable prices—but when the peachy-pink Padparadscha variety appeared, the prices were phenomenal.

The Dazzling History

Historically speaking, precious gemstones have always been these four-- diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.

Traditionally speaking, the rest are semi-precious gems. But as we can see, when new varieties with rare colors turn up---they should be called precious gemstones too!

The rarity of colored gemstones is closely tied to their popularity and driven by their beauty and availability. So the values go up and down as supplies become more or less plentiful and tastes change.

Care for Precious Gemstones

General Care Tips

Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies are the most durable gemstones, so their care is pretty straightforward. They can be cleaned at home using anything from warm soapy water with a soft toothbrush—to having the jeweler give them a deep cleaning in a professional ultra-sonic machine. These 3 gemstones are so hard that they can provide owners with a lifetime of enjoyment.

There’s one exception to the ruby cleaning method if the ruby is a fracture-filled stone. These were sold abundantly over the last 15 years at major retailers. These stones have had solution injected to fill in natural fractures in the ruby. This filling can be destroyed in ultra-sonic cleaners or by a jeweler's torch. Gently cleaning with warm soapy water and a baby toothbrush is the only recommended method for cleaning fracture-filled ruby.

Fragile Stone’s Care

Fragile gems like emeralds are a precious gemstone too. They are softer stones and frequently oiled or filled with resin to make them more beautiful. While this is completely trade appropriate, extra care is needed to keep them looking their best.

Minute particles can be safely removed with a micro-fiber cloth. Placing the emerald jewelry in a bowl of warm water with a mild soap helps loosen particles. Using a soft toothbrush, look for any remaining flecks of dirt and carefully brush it loose. Rinse the solution off with warm water, allowing it to air-dry on a clean cloth.

Clean and Store

To be sure your jewelry is free from scratches, store them away from each other in a jewelry tray with dividers. That way, your items won’t unintentionally brush against each other and get scratched.

Some stones like Kunzite or Morganite are advised to be stored in a cool dark place to protect their color.

Incorporating Precious Gemstones in Jewelry

Today we have access to gemstones from every corner of the globe. Whatever color and type you dream of can be found without too much trouble. Since more retailers are carrying precious gemstones now, the prices are attractive.

Trends in Gemstone Jewelry Design

Many brides today opt for a more personal engagement ring by using colored stones as the main stone in their ring or as an accent to their diamond. Also, look for artistic cuts rather than the classic round brilliant or oval cuts on gemstone jewelry.

Customization Options and Personalizing Jewelry with Different Stones

Artistic gemstone cutters create imaginative free-form shapes or use creative facet patterns to design one-of-a-kind precious gemstone jewelry. It’s another way to show one’s individuality while wearing jewelry. Stones available in larger rough crystals like quartz, sunstone, and various colors of garnets are favored by adventurous gemstone cutters today.

Popular Combinations and Settings for Precious Gemstones

Innovative jewelry designers approach the design process much like an artist does with their paint. In other words, look for original designs where the designer pairs unusual color combinations for a spectacular effect. One blend is the analogous color combination—using colors of gemstones found next to each other on the color wheel. Another trend is combining opaque and transparent precious gems on the same piece. A shimmering opal might be paired with a dramatic black spinel or a black diamond. The effect is memorable.

LEIBISH Oval Sapphire & Marquise Diamond Two-Stone Ring

FAQ

How are precious gemstones classified?

What is the difference between precious and semi-precious gemstones?

How can I incorporate precious gemstones into my everyday jewelry?

What factors affect the value of precious gemstones?  

Conclusion

Let’s recap what we’ve read. Precious gems and those classified as semi-precious stones are wildly popular with consumers today. They also have an ancient history of popularity. We know that because early writings tell us specifically about their importance in early civilizations.

The good thing about modern harvesting of both precious gemstones and semi-precious gems is the concern for best practices all along the pipeline. Then consumers gain confidence that the stones they love are being produced ethically and responsibly.

Part of good ownership is learning how to care for your gemstone jewelry according to its type. This ensures that the item will look beautiful for years to come.

And, by digging deeply into the history behind each species, your appreciation for the gems will grow. Gemstone collecting is a wonderful vocation that showcases the owners' personal taste in a marvelous way.