Everything You Need to Know About Gemstones

Gemstones are minerals or rocks found inside the crust of the earth. Every gemstone is formed under different conditions, which makes them unique. They are either naturally obtained or synthetically created in labs. Depending on their formation, their pricing is decided. Gemstones are popularly used in gemstone jewelry.

Each gemstone is characterized based on seven properties: hardness, refractive index, luster, fracture, dispersion, specific gravity, and cleavage. Many gems are known for their pleochroism properties, i.e., the ability to reflect different colors at different angles. 

Gemstone jewelry has been popular for ages, and archaeologists have found different gemstones over the decades. You might have heard about the famous Napoleon Diamond Necklace, the most popular gemstone necklace. Gemstone jewelry is trendy today and has a lot of significance in different parts of the world. In this article, we will discuss the various gemstones and the overall aspect of gems.  

Many people wear gemstone jewelry as fashionable accessories, but they also have a symbolic relevance depending on your zodiac sign. 

How Are Gemstones Graded: 4-Point Criteria

The price and value of any gemstone jewelry depend on the gemstone. The value of any gemstone is decided majorly by four factors: cut, clarity, color, and durability. We will be discussing these factors in detail here. But another critical factor is the carat weight. The Carat weight of any stone can be defined as its density. Every stone has a different density, and its weight and density are measured in carats (Five carats = One gram).  

• Color

No gemstone has the same color. Often, gemstones look like ordinary stones or pebbles, but once they are cut and polished, they look magnificently beautiful. Every stone has a unique color that comes from its physical properties. The three color properties of any gem are hue, tone, and saturation.

1. Hue

Hue refers to the color of the gemstone. When someone tells the color of a gemstone, they are talking about its hue.

2. Tone

The tone of the gemstone refers to its lightness and darkness. Every color has a spectrum of tones.

3. Saturation

Saturation can be defined as the intensity of the color. A stone can be highly or densely saturated, which decides the exact shade.

• Cut

A gemstone cut refers to its shape and contributes significantly to its beauty. It is the craft of the artisan who cuts the gemstone to make it appear all the more beautiful. It is more critical for colorless jewels because only the right cut allows them to shine brighter. Gem cuts can be of two types: cabochon and faceted, and there can be different types of cuts or shapes given to your gemstones today with the help of fancy machinery. 

• Clarity

The clarity refers to the inclusions present in the gemstone. Gemstones are often formed within the earth, which might cause the presence of some other minerals. The presence of other impurities or minerals in a gemstone is called inclusion. Inclusions can be present in different forms in a gemstone: the blemishes might be visible outside the gemstone, as tiny gas bubbles inside the gemstone, internal fractures, or any other deformities. 

• Durability

The durability of a gemstone is identified by its ability to withstand wear and tear, heat and pressure, or any damage from the external environment. The durability is measured in terms of hardness on the Mohs Hardness (MH) scale. It ranges from one to ten, ten being the hardest. Diamond is the hardest gem of all, with a hardness of ten on the MH scale. 

Other factors also contribute to the quality of a gemstone, like its formation, species, and varieties. Every stone has a different formation technique, which gives rise to its species and varieties. 

Different Types Of Gemstones

Our planet earth is a mysterious place. It is filled with different things, and gemstones are one of those. There are a variety of gems found in the crust of the earth. Here we are discussing the most popular precious and semi-precious gemstones. Today, the market has a variety of gemstone necklaces, gemstone rings, and other gemstone jewelry. 

• Amethyst 

The beautiful-looking purple gemstone, Amethyst, has been around for thousands of years and has been used to make jewelry. They are obtained from the volcanic cavities; when the volcanic material cools down and crystallizes, it forms Amethyst. It is a purple quartz. 

The stone color ranges from shades of purple and has a hardness of seven on the MH Scale, making it softer than other gemstones. The spiritual significance of the stone is divine and associated with peace, cleansing, and calming energies. It also has healing powers, and it is known to remove negativity by removing all the toxins from the body.

There are two types of amethyst available in the market- naturally occurring and synthetically made in lab amethyst. Both have a stark resemblance; therefore, synthetical amethyst is replacing the natural ones, decreasing its value. Amethyst jewelry is exquisite and enchanting. 

• Tanzanite 

As the name tells, the scintillating stone is obtained in the regions of Tanzania. Tanzanite is the trade name for the mineral zoisite. The blue-colored gemstone was first discovered in 1967 in the mines near Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania. 

Tanzanite came to the limelight after Tiffany & Co. started using it in their jewelry. It is a look-alike of emerald and has a color range from blue, through violet, to violetish purple. The blue color is because of the presence of small amounts of vanadium in zoisite. It has a hardness of 6.5 on the MH scale, which makes it softer than other counterpart blue gemstones. Therefore, it is less expensive. 

It is found only at one place on the earth, which makes it rarer than the diamond. Today, the poised tanzanite gemstone is used in jewelry with diamonds to create magnificent pieces. 

• Agate 

The semiprecious gemstone, Agate is known for its calming properties and is used to balance the yin and yang energies. These were the earliest gemstones to have been found by humans, and they give a beautifully minimalistic look. 

The origins of Agate are in the cavities of igneous rocks. The deposition of the silica from groundwater in the cavities leads to the formation of the beautifully patterned stone. They are formed in many colors, like pink, red, white, brown, and many more. The color depends on the impurities present in the cavity. It has a hardness of 7 on the MH scale.

Various agate gemstones include banded, iris, fire, moss, and others. They can also be synthetically made in labs. The agate gemstone jewelry looks sophisticated and is relatively inexpensive. 

• Citrine 

The golden-colored gemstone citrine is precious and enchanting. Natural citrines are rare; therefore, most are synthetically made by heating the amethyst stone to turn into an earthy tone. The color palette of the stone ranges from light yellow to an orangish tinge.

The sparkling gem is associated with wealth and is known as the “success stone.” It is a look-alike of yellow sapphire and is much cheaper than that. It is known to have positive solar energy and can cure physical and mental ailments. It has a hardness of 7 on the MH scale.

The original and naturally occurring citrine is expensive, while the synthetic ones are inexpensive. Citrine is popularly used in jewelry as a more affordable substitute for yellow sapphire. 

• Garnet 

Often confused with rubies, the red-colored gemstone garnet is known for its sparkling and glittering qualities. They are formed when aluminum-rich sedimentary rocks come under tremendous heat and pressure. The color of the garnet stone ranges from red to orange.

The stone emits a fire-like radiance, which signifies a relationship's passion. It is also associated with good health and brings happiness to your life. The hardness of the stone ranges from 6.5 to 7.5 on the MH scale, depending on its occurrence. 

The highly durable stone has been around for over 5000 years, and even today, garnet jewelry is trendy. 

• Malachite 

The copper ore, malachite, is known for its stark green color. However, today it is used only as a gemstone and not to extract copper. The malachite mineral is formed in shallow depths within the earth. They are extracted from the oxidized zones above the copper deposits inside the earth's surface in fractures, cavities, and other spaces.

Malachite is very soft and has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.0 on the MH scale. It is popularly known as the “stone of transformation” because it brings joy to your life by absorbing all your pain. It has positive and protective energies to keep you strong in tough times. It is very beneficial for women to cure any menstrual syndromes. 

Malachite jewelry looks ethereal and magical and is quite affordable. However, you cannot wear it if it has higher copper content. 

• Topaz

With a hardness of 8 on the MH scale, Topaz is known for its symbolism of love and affection. It is also associated with health and wealth. Topaz is found in the cavities and fractures of igneous rocks. 

Naturally occurring topaz is translucent and colorless, while it also has an extensive color range, including colors like yellow, orange, red, pink, and others. It has pleochroic properties. Different colors are due to impurities or crystal structural defects.

The blue Topaz jewelry is very popular because of its irresistible shade of blue.  The price depends on the carat weight. 

• Ruby

The bright red-colored gemstone ruby is peculiarly beautiful. Ruby is a rare gemstone formed under extreme heat and pressure within the earth's surface. The distinctive red hue is because of the presence of chromium. 

The gemstone ruby is associated with love and commitment. Wearing rubies ensures good health and wealth. They have been the most sought-after gemstones because of their unparalleled beauty. They fall at nine on the MOH scale's hardness, making them highly durable. They come second only to diamonds on the hardness scale. 

Rubies have been famous in all kinds of jewelry, whether necklaces, earrings, rings, or bracelets. Jewelry made using rubies is generally expensive, depending on the carat weight. 

• Emerald

Often touted as “Cleopatra’s Gemstone,” emerald is associated with royalty and grandeur. It is one of the four precious gemstones. The green color is because of chromium, vanadium, or both impurities. It has a rating of 7.5 to 8 hardness on the MH scale. These gemstones are rare because of their complex formation, which makes them highly-priced.

The beautiful gemstone is associated with wit and a sense of humor. Anyone who possesses or wears emerald jewelry is known to have a unique intellect, and it enhances their mental and reasoning skills. Legends say the emerald gives the wearer a distinctive sense of foresightedness, giving them the power to predict the future. 

• Sapphire

You can recognize sapphire from Princess Diana’s engagement ring. The beautiful blue-colored gemstone matched her gorgeous eyes, and it was during that period the popularity of blue sapphire peaked. 

The hardness of sapphire is nine on the MH scale, and it is formed under the earth’s crust where aluminum presence is high and silicon presence is low in igneous rocks. There are different hues of sapphires: violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and various shades. It has pleochroic properties.

Sapphire jewelry is priced for anyone and is quite expensive depending on its carat weight. It looks enchanting and signifies a higher and more sophisticated class. 

Conclusion

There are multiple online and offline stores where you can buy gemstone jewelry. The most crucial tip to buying gemstone jewelry is from an authentic and trusted retailer or jeweler. The jeweler must provide you with a certificate of authenticity for the gemstone, which should mention details about it. Make sure the price you are paying is worth it, and avoid falling for any fraudsters while shopping online for jewelry.