Let's take a closer look!

What is a Precious Stone?
There are only four precious stones, and they are so named for their singular quality and rarity. Those stones are diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald. Another distinction that sets these gems apart from their semi-precious sister stones is their hardness, which can be translated to their resistance to scratching. Measured by the Mohs scale ranking the hardness of minerals from one to 10, these four sit at the top, with diamond 10/10, sapphire 9/10, ruby 9/10, and emerald 7.5-8/10. That’s pretty tough!

Of the four precious stones, the quality and value of each will hinge on the 4 Cs: carat, cut, color, and clarity. For example, rubies are known for their fierce and fiery red, but this color is the rarest among rubies. These gems are often found in a gradient from pink to purple to hues tinged with brown, making the rare crimson shade the most valuable.

Other factors of the 4 Cs such as carat, cut, and clarity will also play a part in the value of each precious stone. After all, no two gems are the same!

But what actually makes the difference between precious and semi-precious stones?

What is a Semi-Precious Stone?
While the four precious stones are categorized for their rarity, there are a number of other naturally occurring gems that are a little less rare and have a lower Mohs rating, earning them the title of semi-precious. With that said, semi-precious stones still make wonderful jewelry and come in a rainbow of tantalizing hues.

Consider a few of these popular semi-precious stones:

·      Alexandrite
·      Amethyst
·      Aquamarine
·      Garnet
·      Opal
·      Pearl
·      Peridot
·      Quartz
·      Tanzanite
·      Tourmaline
·      Turquoise

While the name may suggest that these stones are not as valuable as their precious counterparts, semi-precious stones are just as precious in the sense that they bring joy and beauty to every piece they're created with. When looking for a colored gem piece to add color to your world, consider how the piece makes you feel over the category or name it carries.