Technically, no. Pearls are classified as organic gemstones because they are created by living organisms (mollusks like oysters and mussels). When an irritant (like a grain of sand) enters their shell, they secrete layers of a substance called nacre to coat it, eventually forming a pearl.
While most gemstones are minerals mined from the earth, organic gemstones are created by living organisms (plants or animals). Organic Gem Origin Pearl Formed inside the shells of mollusks (like oysters) to protect themselves from irritants. Amber Fossilized tree resin that has hardened over millions of years (often containing trapped insects). Coral Formed by the…
Many gemstones undergo treatments after being mined to improve their color or clarity. This is a standard and acceptable industry practice, provided the seller discloses it to the buyer. Common treatments include: Heat Treatment: The most common enhancement. Sapphires and Rubies are often heated to extremely high temperatures to permanently brighten their color and dissolve…
A doublet or triplet is a stone that is composed of two or more pieces. Often, a thin slice of a high-quality, expensive, or naturally colored stone is glued to a base of a cheaper material (like black glass or plastic) to make it look larger or more expensive. Always check the sides of a…
While high-quality Alexandrite and Padparadscha Sapphires from Sri Lanka are incredibly rare, the Red Diamond holds the title for the most expensive gemstone per carat globally. They are so exceptionally rare that only a handful of pure red diamonds are known to exist in the entire world, often selling for over 1 million USD per…
Similar to a Star Stone, the Cat’s Eye effect (scientifically called Chatoyancy) is an optical illusion where a single, sharp band of light sweeps across the surface of a domed (cabochon) gemstone, making it look exactly like the slit pupil of a cat’s eye. The most valuable and famous stone that displays this effect is…
Inclusions are like a gemstone’s “fingerprints.” They are tiny bits of other minerals or liquids trapped inside the stone while it was growing underground millions of years ago. Common inclusions include: