What is the difference between “precious” and “semi-precious” stones?

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…

Opals are unique because they don’t have a single solid color. When light hits the internal structure of an opal—which consists of tiny silica spheres—the light bends and splits, creating flashes of every color of the rainbow that seem to jump and dance as you rotate the stone. This phenomenon is strictly called “Play-of-Color.”

This is a beautiful optical effect seen in Moonstone. It appears as a billowy, milky-white, or soft blue light that seems to “glide” or float across the surface of the stone when it is moved. It is caused by the light scattering between the internal layers of the moonstone’s mineral structure.

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:

While there are simple observations you can make at home, professional identification is always best. Here is what experts look for: Weight (Specific Gravity): Real gemstones are generally denser and heavier than glass fakes of the exact same size. Temperature: Genuine stones often feel cool to the touch and take longer to warm up in…

In the professional world of gem grading, “eye-clean” is a term used to describe a colored gemstone that has no visible inclusions (flaws) when viewed by the naked eye from a distance of about 6 to 12 inches. If you need a magnifying glass to see the internal marks, it is considered very high-quality.