A semi-precious stone is also known as a gem or gemstone
(also a jewel, a gem, a precious stone), which is a portion of mineral, which,
in refined and cut form, is used to create jewelry or other embellishments.
There are also organic resources or precise rocks that are not minerals (for
example jet or amber) that are also used for jewelry and would also be considered
to be gemstones, as well.
In the West, precious stones are diamonds, sapphires, rubies
and emeralds. All other stones are considered semi-precious stones. However,
this is a commercial based classification and was a distinction that marketers
created years ago which gives the false impression that precious stones are
more valuable than semi-precious stones.
For example, a Tsavorite green garnet is more valuable than
a mid-quality sapphire. It’s a concept from the West that often puts
misconceived notions of the truth into consumers’ minds. So contextually there
is a difference between semi-precious and precious but it is mostly for show
and strictly from a commercial perspective.
What are gemstones?
A gemstone is a precious or a semi-precious stone used in
jewelry. Gemologists identify gemstones. They label gems in the arena of
gemology using practical language and their features. A gemologist uses the
gemstone’s chemical arrangement to classify it. For instance, diamonds are made
of carbon (C). Many gems are categorized by a crystal system because they are
crystals. Gemstones are classified into different varieties, species, and
groups. They are also characterized in terms of dispersion, hardness, specific
gravity, refractive index, luster, fracture, and cleavage. Flaws in a stone are
known as inclusions.
