Gemstones

A gemstone (also called a gem, fine gem, jewel, precious stone or semi-precious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli) or organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, jet, and pearl) are also used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone. Apart from jewelry, from earliest antiquity engraved gems and hardstone carvings, such as cups, were major luxury art forms. A gem maker is called a lapidary or gemcutter; a diamond worker is a diamantaire. GIA Gemological reports identify whether a coloured stone is natural or synthetic, and provide a full assessment of the stone’s characteristics, and may also include country of origin determination for certain gem material. Issued for any loose or mounted, rough or polished material, the reports also disclose any treatments detected during analysis.

Gemstones by colour

ALEXANDRITE		OPAL
AMBER		PEARL
AMETHYST		PERIDOT
AMETRINE		ROSE QUARTZ
AQUAMARINE		RUBY
CITRINE		SAPPHIRE
EMERALD		SPINEL
GARNET		SUNSTONE
IOLITE		TANZANITE
JADE		TOPAZ
KUNZITE		TOURMALINE
LAPIS LAZULI		TURQUOISE
MOONSTONE		ZIRCON
MORGANITE