home » Needlework » Precious stones and their names. Precious and semi-precious natural stones

Precious stones and their names. Precious and semi-precious natural stones


Gems- this is an extensive group of various stones of mineral and organic origin. Among the properties that determine the dignity of a precious stone are: the beauty of the stone, color, various colors and shades, brilliance, transparency, the play of light and the hardness of the stone, which determines its durability and ability to retain its shape without changing under mechanical influences.

There are various classifications of stones. However, the classification developed by the Soviet professor E. Ya. Kievlenko is most widely used. According to this classification, all stones are divided into three groups:
jewelry or precious stones
jewelry and ornamental stones
ornamental stones

In these groups, the stones are arranged in order of their value on the world market.

The first group is divided into four orders:

I - diamond, ruby, emerald, blue sapphire
II - alexandrite, orange, purple and green sapphires, noble black opal, noble jadeite
III - demantoid, spinel, noble white and fire opal, topaz, aquamarine, rhodolite, tourmaline, Moonstone,
IV - chrysolite, zircon, yellow, green and pink beryl, turquoise, amethyst, citrine

The second group is divided into two orders:

I - lapis lazuli, amber, rock crystal, jade, jadeite, malachite
II - agate, opal, rhodonite, amazonite, rose quartz, heliotrope, cacholong

The third group has no divisions. These are mainly decorative facing stones. It includes: jasper, written granite, petrified wood, marble onyx, jet, selenite, patterned flint, jaspilite, fluorite, obsidian, colored marble.

Background information on the most common gemstones.

DIAMOND

Brilliant (from the French "brillant" - brilliant) - a transparent artificially cut diamond. It is the hardest stone in the world. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale (the scale of hardness of stones) is 10. It is not for nothing that the Arabs called it “almas”, which means “hardest” in translation. Diamond is the most valuable of all jewelry stones. Not a single stone can compare with it with the brightness of brilliance and overflows of all the colors of the rainbow. Diamonds are graded according to the "4 C" system: cut - cut, clarity - clarity, color - color, carat - carat weight.

The largest and most expensive diamond in the world - "Cullinan" was found in 1905 in South Africa. The Cullinan adorns the top of the British Royal Scepter. Its cost is equal to the cost of 94 tons of gold.

RUBY

Ruby (from lat. "rubens", "rubinus" - red) - a transparent red modification of corundum (aluminum oxide). Ruby is the second hardest after diamond. The hardness of the ruby ​​on the Mohs scale is 9. The red color is given by the admixture of chromium oxide. The color ranges from dark red to light red. The best rubies are fiery red or dark red.

Rubies of high quality, without defects, are very rare and cost much more than diamonds of the same weight. The largest uncut ruby ​​"Raja ratna" weighs almost half a kilogram (459 g), which is 2,475 carats. The cost of rubies weighing up to 400 carats ranges from $600,000 and more.

Large deposits rubies: Pamir, Ural, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and East Africa.

SAPPHIRE

Sapphire (from other Greek "sappheiros" - blue) - like ruby, is a transparent variety of corundum. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 9. Sapphire has the same properties as ruby, but its color is due to the admixture of iron and titanium oxides. Sapphire is known as a mineral of blue color. However, there are blue, purple, yellow, green and even pink sapphires. Sapphire is a very hard mineral, only a diamond can scratch it. Therefore, it is perfect for jewelry.

Sapphire is one of the four most expensive stones in the world. It occurs more often than ruby, and often in the form of large stones. The most expensive sapphires are dark blue and cornflower blue.

Large deposits of sapphires are: India, USA, Vietnam, Australia, Burma, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka.

The cost of sapphires reaches from $200 to $5,500 per carat.

EMERALD

%0A
%0A%D0%98%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20(%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%BF%D0% B5%D1%80%D1%81.%20%C2%AB%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%BC%D1%83%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%C2 %BB%20%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87.%20%C2% AB%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B4%C2%BB)-%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE% D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE% D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8% D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B0.%20%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B8%20%D1%85%D1 %80%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0,%20%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%20% D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0% D1%8E%D1%82%20%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%83%20%D1%8F%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0 %BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82.%20%D0%95%D0%B3%D0% BE%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82% 20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1% 81%D1%8F%20%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%88%D0%B5%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D1%83%20% D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4% D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD% D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0. %20%D0%98%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%81%D1%80 %D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E%20%D1%81%20%D0%B4%D1%80%D1%83%D0 %B3%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0 %BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%85%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BA %D0%B8%D0%B9.%20%D0%A2%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20% D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%88%D0% BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%20%D0%9C%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B0%20-%207.5-8.%20%D0% 9D%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D1%8F%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%82%D0%BE, %20%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D0%BF %D0%BE%20%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%20%D0%B7%D0 %BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%BE%20%D1%83%D1%81%D1 %82%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%20%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B7%D1%83,% 20%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%83%20%D0%B8%20%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%84% D0%B8%D1%80%D1%83,%20%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0 %BE%20%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%82%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1 %81%D0%B8%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20 %D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B5%2080%20%%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80% D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%8E%D1%82%20%D1%82%D1%80%D0% B5%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80% D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B6% D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E.%20%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B%D0%B5 %20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20 %D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%8B%20%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80 %D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C %20%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%8D%D1%82%D0%BE %D0%BC%D1%83%20%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1 %80%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%8B%20%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BD %D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%88%D0%B5%20%D0%B0%D0 %BB%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%9E%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%20%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BD %D1%8B%D1%85%20%D0%B2%20%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC %D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BC%2014%C3 %9735%20%D1%81%D0%BC%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BC%2024%20000%20%D0%BA %D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%B1%D1%8B%D0%BB%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%B4%D0 %B5%D0%BD%20%D0%B2%20%D0%AE%D0%90%D0%A0%20%D0%B2%201956%20%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1 %83.%20%D0%9A%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E%20% D0%BE%D0%BD%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0% BB%D1%81%D1%8F.%20%D0%95%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB %D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1 %8C%D0%BA%D0%BE%20%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B9.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%9E%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1 %82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1 %83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1 %8F%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%B2%20%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B1%D0%B8 %D0%B8,%20%D0%B2%20%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8,%20%D0%90%D0%B2%D1 %81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8,%20%D0%AE%D0%90%D0%A0,%20%D0%B2%20%D0%A1%D0%B5 %D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9%20%D0%90%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA %D0%B5,%20%D0%91%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B8%20%D0%B8%20%D0% B4%D1%80.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1 %83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%20%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0 %BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BE%D1%82%204%20800%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%2026%20600%20%24 %20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82.%20
%0A
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%93%D0%90%D0%A2%20
%0A
%0A%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://akika.tj/upload/medialibrary/0a2/.jpg%5Bimg%5D
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20-%20%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1% 8B%D0%B9%20%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD,%20%D1%80%D0%B0 %D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C%20%D0%BA %D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%86%D0%B0.%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20% D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BB%20%D1%81%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B5%20%D0% BD%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D0%BE%D1%82%20%D1%80%D0%B5% D0%BA%D0%B8%20%D0%90%D1%85%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%81,%20%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE%20 %D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%20%D0%A1%D0%B8%D1 %86%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B8.%20%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0% B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0% B7%D0%B5%D0%BD,%20%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B5%D1%82%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87 %D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D1%8B ,%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%82%D0%B5%D0% BD%D0%BA%D0%B8.%20%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B%20%D0%B1%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0 %D1%8E%D1%82%20%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80% D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20% D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%82 %D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0% B3%D0%BE,%20%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE,%20%D0%BA%D1% 80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D0% B2.%20%D0%9B%D1%83%D1%87%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%BC%20%D1%81%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0 %D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0 %BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0,%20%D1%81%20% D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0 %B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%BC%D0%B8%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BA%D0 %B0%D0%BC%D0%B8.%20%D0%A2%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C% 20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%20%D0%9C%D0%BE%D0%BE%D1%81% D0%B0%206.5%20-%207.%20
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%20%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D0%B0 %D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1 %8B%D0%B9%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C%20%D0%B2%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0 %B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5.%20%D0%9E%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%8B% D0%B5%20%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD% D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%20%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%8F%D1% 8E%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F:%20%D0%A4%D0%A0%D0%93,%20%D0%91%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0% B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%93%D1% 80%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%90%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F,% 20%D0%A2%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD,%20%D0 %9C%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F,%20%D0%98%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8% D1%8F.%20
%0A
%0A
%0A%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%92%D0%90%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%A0%D0%98%D0%9D%20
%0A
%0A%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://akika.tj/upload/medialibrary/1d9/%201.jpeg">

Aquamarine (from the Latin "aqua marina" - sea water) is a variety of pale beryl blue color. Greenish-blue, blue-green and colorless aquamarines are also found.

Mohs hardness 7.5-8. Aquamarine is the most common mineral in nature. Main deposits: Brazil, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA, Mozanbeek. The largest aquamarine was found in Brazil in 1910.

The cost of aquamarine is relatively low. $20-200 per carat. The most prized aquamarine is a deep blue-green color.

ALEXANDRITE

Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl. Has a rare property - change color. In daylight, the stone changes color from dark blue to emerald green, and in artificial light from pink-crimson to red-violet. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 8.5. Alexandrite must be worn in pairs, that is, have a set of jewelry made of alexandrites.

Alexandrite is found in the Urals, Sri Lanka, Brazil. The cost of alexandrite varies from $5,000 to $30,000 and more. Moreover, their price depends on color, purity and weight.

The name "alexandrite" was given to the mineral in 1842 in honor of the heir to the Russian throne, Alexander II.

AMETHYST

Amethyst (from the Greek "amethystos" - not intoxicated) is a semi-precious stone that belongs to the quartz group. It is a transparent mineral ranging from almost colorless, pale purple, bluish purple, dark purple, almost black. Violet color is associated with the admixture of iron. The most expensive are dark purple amethysts.

The hardness of amethyst on the Mohs scale is 7. Amethyst withstands high temperatures. When heated to 200-300 ° C, the stone completely loses its purple color. But then, cooling down, the amethyst returns to its original color.

I meet amethysts in the Urals and the best in the world, Brazil, Uruguay, Saxony, Madagascar. In nature, this mineral occurs in the form of elongated crystals.

Amethyst cost $2-20 per carat.

TURQUOISE

Turquoise (from the lane "firuza" - a stone of happiness or "piruz" - winning) is a water hydrated phosphate of aluminum and copper. This is an opaque stone of amphora structure of sky blue, bluish blue, bluish green, apple green. Turquoise is also found with spotted coloring and brown stripes. The most highly valued turquoise is sky blue.

The hardness of turquoise on the Mohs scale is 5-6. Large deposits of turquoise - Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, USA, Australia, Argentina. The price of turquoise is about $10 per carat.

Turquoise has always been a popular stone and highly valued. Used as inserts in jewelry, beads. Turquoise is a must for Muslims. wedding dress bride. Turquoise rings were traditionally exchanged on the day of the betrothal.

RHINESTONE

Rock crystal is a transparent, colorless variety of quartz. The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 7. Pure, defect-free crystals are very rare in nature and are more valuable. Rock crystal is very cold to the touch; in ancient times it was considered to be petrified ice. Due to its hardness and beauty, it has been widely used since ancient times.

This mineral is found frequently in nature. The main deposits of rock crystal are: Pamir, Crimea, Ural, Swiss Alps, Brazil, China.

The cost of rock crystal is 2 - 6 $ per carat.

POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate (from Latin "granatus" - grain, grain) - a mineral consisting of silicic acid and metal oxides. The shape resembles pomegranate seeds, hence the name. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 6 - 7.5.

Pomegranates are of different types:
Pyrope - dark red garnet (cost $ 12-50 per carat);
Rhodolite - pinkish-red garnet (value $12-60 per carat);
Almandine - blood red or pinkish red garnet ($12-$50 per carat);
Demantoid - bright green garnet (the most expensive, $25-100 per carat);
Spessartine - orange garnet with a reddish-brown tint;
Uvarovite - emerald green garnet;
Grossular - apple green pomegranate;
Hessonite - honey-orange garnet;
Topazolite - bright yellow garnet;
Andradite - red, brown, yellow garnet;
Pereneitis - blackish-brown garnet;
Rotofit - yellow-brown pomegranate;
Leucogarnet - colorless garnet;
Melanite is a black garnet.
The garnet is relatively not burnt, but in beauty it is not nearly inferior to the ruby ​​or emerald. The main deposits of pomegranate: Russia, Ukraine, Canada, USA, Brazil, Madagascar.

JADE

Jadeite is a silicate of sodium and aluminum, a green mineral similar in composition to jade. It also comes in white, yellow, black, red and blue. Jadeite is much harder than jade. Mohs hardness 6.5 - 7. Extremely viscous. Rarely found in nature. There are only two dozen jadeite deposits. Basically it is: China, Japan, Guatemala, Russia.

The cost of jadeite is $5 - $115 per carat.

PEARL

Pearl is a mineral of a class of organic compounds, round or irregular in shape. It is formed in the shells of maluska, as a result of the deposition of layers of aragonite (calcium carbonate) around a foreign body, most often scribble. Further around the object is the deposition of mother-of-pearl, which chemical composition is calcium carbonate with a presence of organic substances. The composition of mother-of-pearl also includes iron, copper, zinc, titanium, manganese, nartium, silicon.

The word pearl comes from the Chinese "zhenju", from the Arabic "zechug". Pearls come in a variety of colors: white, yellow, grey, brown, pink, purple, red, black, green and blue. The most highly valued pearls are white, pink and black with a silvery tint, as well as green and blue. In order to grow one pearl with a diameter of 8 mm, it takes less than 30-40 years. The size ranges from microscopic to the size of a pigeon egg. The larger the pearl, the more expensive it is.

The hardness of pearls on the Mohs scale is 3.5-4.5. Basically, pearls are mined in the Red Sea, in the Persian Gulf, in Japan, Sri Lanka. Freshwater pearls are mined in Russia, Germany, the USA, China.

Pearls are undeniably women's jewelry. Jewelry made from natural pearls is considered one of the most expensive. The cost of pearls is between $275 and $26,400.

The world's largest pearl was found in 1934 on the island of Palovan in the Philippines. A Muslim who acquired a pearl in his property saw a head in a turban in it and called it "the pearl of Allah." The pearl is 238 mm in diameter and weighs 6,400 g or 1,280 carats. This pearl was valued at $40 million.

However, pearls are not durable. It fades over time. To keep pearls from aging, they must be worn and should not be left in the bright sun.

MOON ROCK

Moonstone (adularia) - translucent bluish-silver spar. Rare mineral. It got its name due to the mother-of-pearl reflection with a blue or soft bluish overflow, reminiscent of moonlight of a soft milky color. There are also stones of light yellow color.

Mohs hardness 6 - 6.5. The main deposits of moonstone are in India, USA, Burma, Australia and Brazil. However, the moonstones from Sri Lanka are considered the best.

Nephrite (from the Greek "nephros" - kidney) is a hydroxysilicate of calcium, magnesium, iron. It comes in a variety of colors: yellow, red, gray, honey, black, but the most common is green jade. A characteristic feature of jade is the depth and softness of tone. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 5.5-6.5.

Nephritis sacred stone for the Chinese. The cost of the stone is 6-7 $. Jade is found in China, in the Pamirs, in the USA, in Canada, and also in New Zealand.

Opal (from the Sanskrit "upala" - a precious stone) is a mineral, a kind of silicon dioxide with small impurities of iron oxide, alumina, lime. The color of the mineral is red, blue, yellow, green, pale milky and even black. Opal is a very fragile stone. On the Mohs hardness scale 5.5-6.

The best opals are light pink and golden color. There are opals in Hungary, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Guatemala. A very large opal was found in Brazil in a corn field. Its mass reached 4,300 g (21,500 carats) and was estimated at $60,000.

Noble opal is of several types:
Hyalite - white, transparent opal;
Fiery - wine-yellow or red;
Irisopal - brown opal;
Dzhirazol - blue or colorless opal;
Cacholong - milky white opal;
Peruvian - orange or bluish-green opal;
Prazopal is an opaque apple-green opal.
The cost of opals varies from $10 to $100 per carat.

TOPAZ

Topaz (from the Sanskite "tapas" - fire, flame, heat) is a semi-precious stone, aluminum fluorosilicate mineral. Topazes come in a wide variety of colors. They can be blue, yellow, pink, light red, golden, greenish, purple, purple, brown, and also colorless.

The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 8. It has a glassy luster and casts mother-of-pearl. The most valuable are blue, golden and pink topazes. Rich topaz deposits are located in the Urals, in Siberia, Brazil, Ukraine, Sri Lanka. Topaz is used in jewelry, although it is very difficult to process.

Topaz can be very large. So in Ukraine in 1965, a wine-yellow topaz weighing 117 kg and 82 cm high was found.

Topaz prices range from $2 to $40 per carat.

TOURMALINE

Tourmaline (from the Senigalese "turamali" - multi-colored) is a fragile stone belonging to boroaluminum silicates. The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 7. The range of tourmaline shades is varied:
Agnits - purple;
Apirites - pink;
Achronts are colorless;
Verdelite - green shades;
Dravite - brown;
Indicolites - blue;
Rubellite - cherry red;
Shirley is black.
Tourmalines are found in Russia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, Burma, USA, India and Afghanistan. tourmaline has beneficial features used in microelectronics and medical devices.

The cost of tourmaline is from $50 to $700 per carat.

CITRINE

Citrine (from Latin "citrus" - lemon yellow) is a semi-precious stone, a variety of quartz. Color from light lemon to amber. transparent mineral. Rarely found in nature. Citrine is sometimes referred to as "zototy topaz". This is due to the fact that in the faceted form, the color of topaz and citrine is the same. Citrine is a hard mineral, however, compared to topaz, it is softer and less lustrous. Mohs hardness 7.

The main deposits of citrine: Brazil, Spain, France, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan.

AMBER

Amber is a fossil resin, an organic mineral. Amber contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and a small amount of sulfur and ash. There are different shades of amber: from pale yellow to bright golden. Amber is an amphora mineral, that is, it does not have a crystalline structure. Amber is a very fragile stone. The hardness of the stone on the Mohs scale is 3 - 4. Amber is combustible.

The main part of amber mining (about 70%) falls on the territory of Russia and the Baltic states. The cost of the stone is 60 - 350 $ per kg.

The world of stone is boundless and fabulously interesting. Amethyst and agate, rock crystal and granite, malachite and pebbles on the shore have their own history. Man has been using stone since time immemorial. At first, he served him as an instrument of labor. In the future, those amazing properties, which this material possesses, contributed to the fact that it began to play a huge role in the development of human culture.

Using a sharp stone, the primitive man dissected the carcass of the animal he had killed. From the same material, people made spatulas, scrapers and bowls. Taking flat fragments, they ground the grains, and made jewelry from shiny and colored stones. Somewhat later, the scope of this material expanded. The stone began to be used in architecture and construction, in decorative art and sculpture, as well as in jewelry.

Today, without this material, a person cannot even imagine his life.

Stone and mineral - principles of difference

As a rule, we consider these two words to be synonymous. In principle, a stone can be called a mineral, and vice versa. This will not be a gross mistake. However, these elements still have several significant differences by which they are distinguished and classified.

A mineral is a chemical substance of one kind or another that has a crystalline structure. Sometimes its composition may have slight differences with a similar structure. In such cases, varieties of minerals are distinguished by color or other features.

As for the stone, this concept is broader. It means either a mineral or a solid rock of natural origin.

To fully understand the essence of the difference, it is necessary to take into account factors such as:

  1. Existence of rocks and minerals. In mineralogy, such a classification of stones is considered basic. It is based on the conclusion that minerals are substances with a homogeneous structure. Rocks or just stones in their composition, on the contrary, are heterogeneous.
  2. Minerals are used in jewelry. Stones, as a rule, are used as a building material.
  3. Esotericism considers minerals as an object that has magical properties. Stones don't have them.
  4. Minerals are always more expensive. Their cost is sometimes thousands of times higher than the price of stones. Minerals are much less in nature, since in pure form any substance is much rarer than material with impurities. Minerals look prettier. However, the practical benefits of rocks or ordinary stones are much greater.
  5. Minerals are products of nature found directly in the soil. That is why rhinestones, shellby obtained in the laboratory cannot be attributed to this category. You can call them stones.

As a rule, minerals are homogeneous. Impurities present in the composition of the crystal are called inclusions or defects. Because of them, the price of the product is significantly reduced. The mineral, which we call a stone, is best complemented by an adjective. For example, "precious".

Classification of stones

On what grounds are these substances separated? It should be noted that there is no single classification of stones. Jewelers subdivide them according to one criteria, mineralogists and geologists - according to others, and sellers are primarily interested in the cost of the goods they offer.

The first attempt to order the stones was made by professor of mineralogy Kluge Gürich. In 1986, Bauer brought great clarity to this issue. He divided gems into three categories - precious, ornamental, and organic. Stones not included in this classification rocks. In turn, these categories are subdivided into orders. However, at present, as a rule, they use the classification of stones proposed by V. Ya. Kievlenko. It includes groups such as:

  1. Jewelry stones. This category includes the most beautiful and expensive representatives, which, in turn, are divided into 4 orders. The first of them contains a ruby ​​and a sapphire, an emerald and a diamond. The second includes black opal, sapphire is not blue tint, tadiite and alexandrite. The third order includes red tourmaline and moonstone, rosolite and topaz, aquamarine and fiery, as well as white opal, spinel and demantoid. The fourth includes citrite and almandine, pyrope and chrysoplase, amethyst and chrysolite, turquoise and beryl, as well as artificial zircon and varieties of tourmaline.
  2. Jewelry and ornamental stones. They are also divided into orders. The first of them contains rock crystal, hematite-bloodstone and rauchtopaz. The second order includes colored chalcedony and agate, rhodonite and amazonite, cahonite and heliotrope, ionizing obsidan and rose quartz, labradorite and ordinary opal, spars and white porite.
  3. Ornamental stones. Not only jewelry can be made from them. Often they serve as material for various interior items. These include jasper and onyx, ganite and fluorite, obsidian and colored marble.

Sometimes a simplified or household classification is used to group stones. She divides them into precious and semi-precious, as well as semi-precious or ornamental.

The minerals of the first grade include: sapphire and diamond, chrysoberyl and ruby, emerald and alexandrite, euclase, spinel and pal. Among precious stones, those that belong to the second grade are also considered. Among them: zircon and opal, almandine and blood amethyst, phenakite and demantoid, red tourmaline and beryl, aquamarine and topaz. If we consider the classification of precious stones by origin, it is worth noting that most of them are minerals. These are homogeneous natural chemical compounds that have a crystalline structure and a certain composition. The classification of precious stones includes about a hundred types of minerals from an impressive list of 4 thousand elements.

Semi-precious stones include: epidote and pomegranate, turquoise and diopaz, colorful and green tourmalines, rock crystal (pure water), light amethyst and rauchtopaz, labrador, moon and sun stone, as well as chalcedony.

Among the gems, there are: lapis lazuli and jade, amazonite and bloodstone, varieties of jasper and spar, labrador, pink and smoky quartz, amber and jet, mother of pearl and corals. When considering the classification ornamental stones it becomes clear that their list includes natural volcanic glasses, which are part of the rocks.

Most of the minerals are formed in the earth. In its depths, this element crystallizes and acquires a stable arrangement of molecules, ions and atoms. Often minerals have strict form edges. The lattice of crystals or their internal structure determines such properties as the type of fracture, density and hardness.

In turn, rocks are a product consisting of several parts merged together. Their structure and characteristics directly depend on the conditions of formation, including the temperature and depth of the rock.

In the classification of natural stones, based on their origin, there are three groups. These are igneous, metamorphic and organic. Let's consider them in more detail.

Igneous origin

What distinguishes these stones from the rest? Translated from Greek, the word "magma" means "liquid fiery alloy" or "mess". This substance has a temperature reaching up to 1.5 thousand degrees Celsius. When magma cools, minerals and various rocks are formed. If such a process is carried out at a considerable depth, then they are called plutonic, if on the surface of the earth - volcanic.

Magmas and lavas vary in their viscosity and chemical composition. This also has a direct impact on the further classification of minerals.

It should be noted that stones begin to form after the cooling of the rocks, when post-magmatic processes occur. Gems begin to "grow" in the voids of the rocks, forming sapphires and emeralds, quartz and topaz, alexandrite and ruby. All these minerals are typical representatives of the postmagmatic type.

At low temperatures, which occur near the surface of the earth, the formation of patterned opaque minerals occurs. Among them are agate and opal, chalcedony and malachite.

In the classification of stones and minerals of igneous origin, diamond stands apart. Sometimes he is the same age as the Earth. Diamonds are formed under special conditions. Crystals begin to "grow" in the mantle, at a depth of more than 100 kilometers. The essential condition for this is highest temperature and pressure. Diamonds are "delivered" to the surface of the earth by the so-called kimberlite pipes.

Minerals and rocks can also be of sedimentary origin. This is another rather lengthy process of their formation. It is based on the external influence of water and the atmosphere. Under the influence of rivers and precipitation, rock is transported from the surface of the earth. In this case, the rock is washed out and weathered.

Metamorphic origin

Consider the second group from the classification of stones. Translated from the Greek language, the word "metamorphosis" means "transformation" or "complete change." Physico-chemical conditions that develop in the bowels of the earth, in particular pressure, temperature and gases, have a significant impact on the deep layers of the soil. Under the influence of various factors, the breeds completely change. This process is also influenced by magma and catalytic substances.

Scientists have identified certain types of metamorphism. Among them:

  1. Immersion. A similar process occurs due to an increase in pressure, as well as the circulation of water solutions.
  2. Heating.
  3. Hydration. In this process, the interaction of rocks with aqueous solutions occurs.
  4. Impact metamorphism caused by explosions and meteorite impacts.
  5. Dislocation metamorphism due to tectonic shifts.

Stones that have this type of origin are marble and garnet, feldspar and quartzite.

organic origin

This characteristic underlies the classification of ornamental stones according to their origin. For example:

  • ammolite is part of the fossil of one of the layers of the shell;
  • jet is a kind of black (hard) coal formed from particles of ancient plants;
  • pearls are formed in the shell in the form of mother-of-pearl layers that cover foreign bodies that have fallen into the mollusk;
  • coral is a tree-like formation with a calcareous structure found in warm seas;
  • amber is the fossilized resin of trees that grew over 40 million years ago;
  • devil's finger - shells of ancient cephalopods of belemnites that existed 165 million years ago.

Minerals used for jewelry

The classification of jewelry stones is quite diverse. These minerals are distinguished by value, by belonging to a particular group, etc. But one of the most important classifications of jewelry stones is their breakdown into types based on the appearance of these minerals in the world. This question is very relevant when buying jewelry with an elegant insert. After all, acquiring a valuable and beautiful thing, each buyer would like to understand what is the origin of the mineral. This will allow you to determine how justified the costs incurred.

All gemstones are divided into four types according to their origin. Among them:

  • natural;
  • imitation of natural;
  • synthetic;
  • ennobled.

Let us consider in more detail the types listed above, included in the classification of stones used in jewelry, according to their origin.

Natural

These minerals are formed in the bowels of the earth by themselves. Man only mines and processes such stones. Jewelers give such minerals a finished look by cutting and polishing them.

The degree of processing for natural stones is very important. When a certain threshold is overcome, the mineral passes from the category of natural to ennobled.

Imitation of natural stones

Such materials are very often used to create jewelry at a lower cost. Buying jewelry with inserts made of imitation of natural stones is preferred by those people for whom it is very important to impress others. The very fact of the non-natural origin of the stone does not bother them.

What materials are used for simulation? For this purpose, natural or artificial stones, which in their external characteristics are similar to the original. For example, turquoise is often replaced with pressed chips of natural origin. Sometimes colored plastic is used to imitate this mineral. For gems, glass of the corresponding tone is most often taken. Of course, an imitation is easily distinguishable from the original in terms of its structure, chemical composition, and physical properties.

Synthetic stones

The aerobatics of jewelry science is an artificially grown mineral. This is a substance that is wholly or partly man-made. Similar type origin is mentioned in the case of consideration of minerals included in the classification of semi-precious stones, as well as precious ones.

Applicable synthesis technologies have reached such perfection that the physical and chemical properties of natural minerals and their analogs absolutely coincide. Synthetic stone is not always possible to distinguish from natural. On the one hand, this is his big plus. However, for some buyers, the "soul" of a real mineral is important, in certain properties of which many people believe.

Ennobled stones

These are minerals whose properties have been significantly altered through various processes. For example, at present, jewelers sometimes heat stones. This allows you to change their color. Sometimes minerals are treated with ultraviolet rays. by the most simple example ennobled stone is a diamond, in which the crack is filled with a special compound.

Knowing the classification of jewelry stones and the characteristics of the properties that correspond to a particular group, you can easily determine the value of minerals. Of course, due to their uniqueness and rarity, the most expensive are natural, which have not been subjected to any human impact. Synthesized stones follow them in value. Due to the significant costs of their production, they also have a high cost. But at the same time, in some cases, they win when compared with natural stone Low quality.

Mass of minerals

There is a classification of precious and semi-precious stones and their weight. What is its measurement? For gemstones, the unit of mass is the carat. It is equal to 1.5 grams. Sometimes such a unit is called "metric carat".

Natural pearls are measured in grains. This is a quarter of a carat. Japanese jewelers sometimes use the momme as a unit of mass.

The smallest diamond specimens are measured using a point. If the jewelry raw material is unprocessed, then its weight is indicated in grams. The same unit is used when weighing ornamental and semi-precious stones. European jewelers sometimes indicate the weight of such minerals in ounces.

Based on the classification of stones by size, their value is determined. However, most often this applies only to precious and semi-precious stones. The cost of a particular gem depends on its mass by only a third. The main component of the price for semi-precious stones is the quality of the mineral, its transparency, color, as well as the skill of the cutter.

Stones in the kidneys

Stones can occur not only in earthly soil. Not all of them are the fruit of human creation. In medical practice, a special type of disease associated with the formation of salt stones is distinguished. The presence of stones in the kidneys is indicated by back pain and colic, hematuria and pyuria. When diagnosing pathology, it is necessary to determine the type of formations. This will allow you to assign the most effective treatment.

What is the classification of kidney stones? These neoplasms are distinguished by the following:

  • quantity (as a rule, single stones are detected by physicians);
  • place of localization - in the kidney, in bladder or in the ureter;
  • location in the kidney - bilateral or unilateral;
  • shape - round, studded, flat with edges or coral;
  • size - ranging from the eye of a needle to the volume of a whole kidney.

Based on their origin, in the classification of coral stones, formations formed by an organic substance, as well as on an inorganic basis, are distinguished.

According to their chemical composition, kidney stones are:

  • oxalate, arising from an excess of oxalic acid salts in the body;
  • phosphate, the development of which is promoted by calcium salts;
  • urate, formed at an elevated level of uric acid salts;
  • carbonate, originating from salts of carbonic acid;
  • struvite, formed with an excess of ammonium phosphate.

Calculi of organic origin are isolated separately. These are protein, cystine, cholesterol and xanthine stones.

SEMI PRECIOUS STONES, stones from which jewelry is made, but not classified as precious stones. They do not have a strict classification. Semi-precious minerals include minerals such as AMETHYST, GARNET, OPAL, TOPAZ, TOURMALINE, TURQUOISE and stones ... ...

SEMI PRECIOUS STONES- a group of minerals, sometimes distinguished in cost classifications as an independent unit, and sometimes considered stones (see) of class III. K. items include: garnets, green and full-chrome tourmaline, rock crystal, chalcedony, agate, ... ... Great Polytechnic Encyclopedia

Gems ... Wikipedia

- … Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

PRECIOUS STONES, stones from a group of about 100 minerals, opaque, transparent and translucent, which are highly valued for their beauty, rarity and strength. Transparent stones such as DIAMONDS, RUBIES, EMERALDS and SAPPHIRES are the most expensive. ... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

Natural minerals and their artificial counterparts used to make jewelry and art products. These stones are characterized beautiful coloration, high hardness and durability, bright brilliance and play. The actual price of the stone… … Collier Encyclopedia

GEMS- To see precious stones in a dream, as well as semi-precious, decorative and ornamental stones, playing with faces or striking with a unique pattern on the cut, means in reality to receive a false judgment about complex things and high matters. See or... Dream Interpretation Melnikov

World of Warcraft Cover for World of Warcraft. Developer Blizzard Entertainment Publisher Vivendi Universal Designer Jeffrey Kaplan ... Wikipedia

Cover for World of Warcraft. Developer Blizzard Entertainment Publisher Vivendi Universal Designer Jeffrey Kaplan ... Wikipedia

Books

  • Precious and Semi-Precious Stones, Schumann W., 312 pp. Prof. Dr. Walter Schumann offers in this book a complete, up-to-date and fascinating overview of precious and semi-precious stones. In the color illustrations you will find about… Category: Geography and Geology Publisher: BMM JSC, Manufacturer: BMM JSC,
  • Healing stones. Precious, semi-precious, ornamental, Yuri Konstantinov, Few people know that ornamental and precious stones can not only please the eye, but also bring significant benefits to our body. Since ancient times, people began to use them for ... Category:

Precious stones throughout the history of mankind, among all peoples, were considered one of the signs of wealth and high social status. It is known that in ancient times and the Middle Ages, according to the laws of some states, only representatives of the rarest gems had the right to wear jewelry. ruling families and the highest nobility. Nowadays, if among the property of a wealthy family there is also list of gems, this is certainly a sign of prestige and wealth.

In addition, both precious and semi in the world of finance are considered valuable assets. Although large volumes of synthetic stones enter the world market every year, this does not affect the value of natural diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The reserves of natural gems in the bowels of the Earth remain limited, and their extraction is difficult and expensive. Any bank will accept a list of precious stones as collateral, especially if there are expert reports on their authenticity and natural origin.

In the world, Russia is rightfully considered a country that sets the tone for the market of precious and semi-precious stones. On the territory of our country, most of the list of precious stones is mined, and artificial jewelry stones are produced at factories: rubies, emeralds, diamonds. The current laws of the Russian Federation regulate the production and circulation of precious and semi-precious stones.

According to the current legislation, the category of precious stones includes diamonds, emeralds, rubies, alexandrites and sapphires of natural origin, as well as natural (in processed or natural form). In addition, in accordance with legal practice, the status of a precious stone is given to large pieces of amber or products made from amber that have a special artistic or scientific value. It is these seven types of stones of natural origin that are the most sought after by the jewelry industry. As a result, their market value remains consistently high.

In addition, the list of semi-precious stones includes such minerals as: rock crystal, aventurine, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, jadeite, chalcedony. And many others, produced on the territory of the Russian Federation in deposits located in Siberia and the Urals. The category of ornamental stones includes stones of organic origin: jet, coral, ammolite and mother of pearl.

List of gems

Diamond
Chrysolite (olivine, peridot)
Euclase
Corundum
Ruby
Sapphire
taffeite
Beryl
Aquamarine
Emerald
Heliodor
Morganite (Vorobivit)
Chrysoberyl
Alexandrite
Spinel
Hyacinth
grenades
Demantoid
Tsavorite
Spessartine
pyrope
Rhodolite
Almandine
Quartz
Amethyst (deeply colored)
Citrine
Rhinestone
Smoky quartz (Rauchtopaz)
Prasiolite (artificially colored green quartz)
Ametrine
rose quartz
Tourmaline
Verdelite (moderate green)
Indicolite (sapphire blue)
Paraiba (aquamarine)
Watermelon (bicolor - red-green)
noble opal
Fire Opal (Mexican)
Topaz
Tanzanite
Zircon
Andalusite

This article will forever change your mind about precious and semi-precious stones. If you consider them ordinary glass, then learn to appreciate the jewelry. If these stones already impress you, you will understand why they are loved all over the world.

So. Why is one stone sold in whole wagons, and auctions are held for a gram of another? Why are even expensive minerals divided into precious and semi-precious and cost differently? In the material you will find answers to these and other questions.

What is a gem

First, we will define the word "stone" itself. Rocks are called rocks and minerals that formed naturally i.e. without human intervention.

To be called precious, a stone must meet three criteria: to be rare, durable and beautiful. Let's take a look at each of these characteristics.

1. Rarity of the stone

The rarity of a stone is determined by the difficulty of finding it in nature. This complexity has numerical indicators, which we will illustrate using the example of diamond mining - future polished diamonds.


Diamond mine. Source: ALROSA

Miners dig diamond ore out of the ground, from which other specialists then extract diamond crystals. For the development to be profitable, 1 ton of ore should contain at least 0.5 diamond carats. Now imagine the following.


That's not all. Only 20% of all diamonds are suitable for jewelry. The rest go to technical needs. It turns out that out of 1 mined carat, only 0.20 carats will get into the jewelry. And this is only 0.040 grams.

From 1 ton of ore, 4/100 grams of diamond is obtained. Such a mass is not enough to insert even into one ring.

Imagine what work needs to be done, how much land to dig up so that every woman is happy on the day of the engagement!

2. The durability of the stone

No corporation will develop a complex deposit of stones and minerals that quickly become unusable. No one will buy products with fragile inserts. Therefore, durability is a determining factor for a stone that claims to be precious.

The durability of a gemstone is measured in hundreds and thousands of years.

The same gemstone can be both hard and brittle at the same time. For example, diamond is so hard that it is used to test the hardness of other minerals. At the same time, when falling, this crystal can crack and even break.

3. The beauty of the stone

Beauty in precious stones is also a quantifiable concept. For example, the cost is affected by color saturation, the degree of refraction of the sun's beam, the absorption spectrum of color and other characteristics that professional gemologists check with special devices.


It is unlikely that a person at one glance will appreciate all these qualities. However, when you see a piece of jewelry with a precious stone on your interlocutor or in a salon, just imagine the characteristics of the mineral, be impressed by the product and appreciate it. Think about how the stone was searched for, how it was evaluated against all possible criteria, and how it was shaped.

Scientists have learned how to synthesize rare stones, but their price is not even close to the prices of natural diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other precious stones. Only a mineral found in the bowels of the earth can be considered a real gem.

AQUAMARINE works with gemstones that have authenticated documents. And each diamond in our products also has an evaluation certificate from the gemological laboratory.

Diamond grading certificate from the GIA gemological laboratory

A Brief History of Diamonds

The Indians were the first to endow stones with precious properties. For several millennia BC, Indian rajas adorned themselves with diamonds found on the territory of the country. In those days, people still did not know how to change the original shape of crystals.

In Europe, according to popular belief, diamonds were brought from campaigns by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. The locals did not appreciate the beauty of uncut stones, and after a few decades, kings across the continent began to decorate weapons and armor with cut diamonds. In the 15th century AD, it became fashionable for court women and men to wear diamonds.

Since then, thanks to deposits around the world, diamonds have become valued in every corner of the Earth.

What is a semi-precious stone


Manufacturers, sellers and buyers call stones differently, which are somewhat cheaper than precious ones. Two equivalent terms are popular: semi-precious and jewelry stones.

Some consider the term "semi-precious stone" obsolete. Because of the prefix, the semi-value of the mineral becomes discredited. The buyer may perceive the stone as defective and not buy the product with it. Therefore, the term "jewelry stone" came into use. Professionals will understand if you use any of these terms.

Jewelry (or semi-precious) stones are less beautiful, rare and durable than precious ones. At the same time, they have wonderful properties to decorate your product.

Summarize

  1. The weight of gemstones is measured in carats.
  2. 1 carat is equal to 0.2 grams.
  3. Gemstones have three evaluation criteria: beauty, rarity and durability.
  4. From 1 ton of diamond ore, you can get no more than 4/100 grams of diamond.
  5. Leading manufacturers jewelry only stones with certificates of authenticity are used.
  6. Jewelry and semi-precious stones are equivalent concepts.

Now you have a clear knowledge of precious and semi-precious stones, their characteristics, differences and, we hope, appreciate them.

Look forward to our next article. In it, we will tell you how gemstones are held in jewelry.



Share:

Similar articles