Semi-Precious Stones - What You Need to Know

A semi-precious stone is just another word for a gemstone. These gems, like opal or quartz, are cut and polished to make jewelry. While semi-precious stone can mean any gemstone, right up to diamonds and emeralds, the term typically refers to gemstones like scapilite, peridot or quartz topaz that tend to have a lower value, though still exhibit brilliant beauty. In this article, we'll cover some basic semi-precious stones, including how to recognize them.

Amber: Amber is not technically a stone; it's an organic gem derived from fossilized tree sap. Amber ranges in color from a honey yellow to an almost chocolaty orange-brown. While amber is often faked using high-quality plastic, it can be easily tested with intense heat. True amber will produce a white smoke, while plastic will simply smolder or melt.

Amethyst: Very popular thanks to its tranquil purple tones, this quartz-based stone is very versatile and durable. Amethyst is typically mined in Russia, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, Canada, India, Australia, Madagascar, Namibia, Sri Lanka, the United States, Uruguay and Zambia. Fine amethysts are also produced using synthetic lab-based methods.

Peridot: As the birthstone for August, this beautiful and transparent stone comes in a range of colors from a yellowish green to a deep chartreuse shade. The remarkable Peridot was originally believed to free the mind from jealous thoughts and was seen as an aid to friendship. Though not exceptionally brilliant, the Peridot stone is prized for its rich color. Today, Peridot is mined in Arizona, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Russia, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Garnet: Depending on the type of garnet, its quality, color and size, a garnet can range anywhere. These remarkable stones are found in all colors and shades, but are best known for their deep, blood red variety. Today, the rare green garnet (tsavorite) is mined in Kenya and Tanzania, while orange and red garnet can be found in Madagascar, Namibia and Pakistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Lapis is the birthstone for December and was traditionally prized as a powerful amulet. Genuine lapis is an opaque, blue stone that exhibits an intense, brilliant and very deep blue coloration. Some types of lapis exhibit small, gold flecks, but these varieties tend to be less valuable. The best lapis in the world come from Argentina and Afghanistan, but the unique stone can also be found in Chile, Russia, India, the United States and Canada.