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)This guide to gems and semi-precious stones will aid you in selecting jewelry with authentic stones.
Gems and semi-precious stones are essential elements of rings, earrings, pedants, pins and cuff-links. The gem or semi-precious stone is often the focal point of the jewelry; the silver or gold serve as a structure to present the stone.
Gems include the diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. These stones are considered the most beautiful, durible and rare giving them greater value.
All other stones are semi-precious including those commonly called birth stones and others such as agates, jaspar, topaz, and aquamarine. Semi-precious stones exist in a variety of shapes, cabachons, a stone with a domed face, faceted stones, transparent stones cut into planes to better reflect light, and beads in numerous shapes and sizes. Opaque stones are usually polished to a high sheen. Semi-precious stones are valued for color, pattern and transparency.
Modern technology has produced synthetic gems,such as cubic zerconium, and semi-precious stones such amethyst and tourmaline. Synthetic stones lack the variety of color and veining found in natural stones. Other stones such as turquoise are stabalized or treated to make the color more uniform.
Some believe gems and semi-precious stones have curative properties such as the amethyst, believed to be a remedy for drunkeness and assoicated with increased nobility and spiritual awareness. This is how they came to be birth stones.
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