Put simply, a gemstone is a piece of mineral or other organic material which has been cut, polished and refined into a piece of jewelry or accessory. For the most part, gemstones are made from minerals, but other materials such as amber and jet can also be used to create gemstones and they are just as popular as their mineral-based counterparts.
#1: How Gemstones are Formed
The minerals and materials which are used to create gemstones are generally formed far below the earth and take years to develop, although there are a few other ways that gemstones can be formed. Azurite, turquoise and malachite are examples of three gemstones formed when water reacts with rocks which are copper-rich; many of these gemstones are timeless and have been around for thousands of years.
True gemstones must be formed below the earth and not be made artificially; an artificially made gemstone is not a true gemstone and it will never have the same properties as its authentic counterpart.
#2: Are Gemstones Valuable?
Gemstones are not the same as diamond or gold and have a value which is consistently high; the value of gemstones very much depends on the market forces of supply and demand, with rarer gems fetching a higher price tag. For example, a ruby is much more valuable than a piece of jet or quartz.
It is very difficult to place value on gemstones as there is no single uniform classification or way of determining value in place. In contrast to diamonds, which have had a uniform system since the 1950s, it is easy to see why the price of gemstones in general is much more volatile and difficult to determine. When it comes to deciding on a price, much weight is placed on the gemstone itself and experts will examine a gemstone when doing this whilst keeping in mind its color, carat, clarity and cut – the 4 four Cs.
If you want to know more, there is plenty of gemstone information available all across the web!
#3: Engagement Ring Gemstones
No one engagement ring is the same as another and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and gemstone combinations. There are a few gemstones, however, which have stood the test of time and are more popular than others when it comes to engagement rings.
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend and, given that the humble diamond is the world’s most popular engagement ring gemstone, this certainly seems true; diamonds are a gorgeous and timeless gemstone which fit right in to any ring. After the diamond, in terms of popularity, comes sapphire, aquamarine and pearl.
When it comes to picking the right engagement ring, a lot of thought must go into the type of gemstone which you want to take pride of place in its center-front; the gemstone really defines an engagement ring and they really do stand out. When considering a particular gemstone, consider its color, cut and clarity, and only buy from an expert jeweler to ensure that you get the very best quality stone.
Leave a Reply