Gems, gemstones, jewels, precious stones, semi-precious stones, etc. are terms that are often used while talking about jewelry. Most of the time, a layperson would use these terms interchangeably. However, some of these terms imply different meanings, and using them interchangeably may lead to all kinds of chaos and confusion. So, before you send the whole world into disarray, just take a quick glance at the rest of this post!

Gemstones

First, let’s talk about gemstones. “Gemstone” is the term given to any naturally occurring rock or mineral that can be cut and polished for making jewelry. Simply put, gemstones , including precious as well as semi-precious stones.

Which stones are considered precious?

Precious stones fall under the umbrella of gemstones. As the name suggests, they are jewels that have a significant monetary value. They are also rare and have high clarity. Precious stones are sold at a much higher price than any other jewel and are often the most popular in the jewel industry.

So far, there are only four jewels that fall under the category of “precious” gemstones.

• Diamond
• Ruby
• Emerald
• Sapphire

To help you remember the names here’s a fun mnemonic device: You can call them the “precious DRES.” So, if you are invited to an upscale gala, it would be the perfect opportunity for you to get your DRES on!

 And, if you ever happen to walk into a snazzy jewelry store and find the jeweler trying to slap the “precious” label onto any jewel other than these four - you can go right ahead and identify what’s what!

Semi-precious Stones

Now that we’ve clearly identified the four precious stones, let us now look at what is considered “semi-precious.” Basically, any gemstone other than the precious DRES is a semi-precious stone. Semi-precious, because it is still valuable, but not quite as valuable as the other four.

There are more than a hundred different semi-precious stones out there, the common ones being:

• Amethyst
• Chalcedony
• Iolite
• Jade
• Labradorite
• Pearl
• Topaz
• Aquamarine
• Quartz

The list goes on. There is no shortage of options when it comes to semi-precious stones. And, if you are the type of person who often dreams about bathing in a sea of jewels, you would know that each semi-precious stone is more gorgeous than the next.

The Takeaway

It is important to note that getting caught up in the labels of “precious” and “semi-precious” can lead to unnecessary inferiority complexes. Jewelers must make the distinction to appropriately price their jewelry and make sales. But at the end of the day, all gems are precious, and all gems are rare. Any additional value added to a gemstone is simply humanly imposed.

Precious or not, every gem has its own beauty. Because the fact is, other than the jeweler no one can label a stone – precious or semi-precious. So why discriminate? If you like the color, the look and the feel, does it really matter whether it is classified as precious?

Browse through our collection of precious and semi-precious gemstones  to make the best purchase!