The world of precious and semi-precious stones is fascinatingly diverse because it reveals the entire beauty of nature. Processed into beautiful necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings, gemstone jewellery captivates with its individual charm. In this guide, you will learn more about the world of gemstones and gemstone jewellery.
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The term gemstone encompasses various minerals and rocks that are valued for their beauty and preciousness, enjoying great popularity in jewellery making. Although there are several thousand minerals, only some are considered gemstones. There is no precise definition of what constitutes a gemstone. In general, a mineral must exhibit certain characteristics to be classified as a gemstone.
These characteristics include the rarity and hardness of the mineral, as well as aesthetic aspects such as colour intensity, transparency, and shine. The rarer a mineral is, the more valuable it is. The relative hardness and scratch resistance of a mineral are determined using the Mohs scale. Talc is the mineral with the lowest hardness on the Mohs scale, with a value of 1. The hardest mineral on earth with a value of 10 is diamond. To be classified as a gemstone, a mineral must have a value of at least 8 on the hardness scale. In addition to colour intensity, another criterion for gemstones is their transparency, which involves visible inclusions in the stone.
In combination with the right cut, gemstones achieve their characteristic sparkle, known as fire. Only the cut gives gemstones an appealing shape and ensures a particularly beautiful refraction of light on the surface of the gemstone. The cut imparts a beautiful luster and intense colour glow, bringing out the perfect beauty of the gemstones. Like diamonds, gemstones are available in different cut styles. In addition to the brilliant cut, there is also the step cut. The emerald cut is popular for emeralds, and gemstones with a cat's eye effect often receive a cabochon cut to emphasize the fascinating shimmer even more.
The most valuable gemstone is the diamond. Despite being the crystalline form of elemental carbon, the Diamond is classified as a gemstone. The moissanite is also considered a gemstone and closely follows the diamond with a hardness of 9.5 on the Mohs scale. Following closely is corundum with a hardness of 9. The most well-known varieties of corundum are ruby and sapphire. The emerald is a variety of beryl and, like topaz and pyknite, has a hardness of 8. All these minerals meet the criteria for classifying as gemstones.
The term semi-precious stone is nowadays replaced by the term gemstone. This refers to minerals that, while distinguished by their beauty, are considered less valuable. This is because these minerals occur more frequently in nature and have a lower hardness (a Mohs hardness of 7 or lower). Additionally, such minerals often lack transparency and inherent fire. For example, there are minerals like moonstone or tiger eye that instead captivate with a fascinating chatoyancy (tiger eye effect). Below are listed some other well-known gemstones.
The diamond continues to be considered the most popular and valuable gemstone of all. In the category of coloured gemstones, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are among the most well-known and coveted. This trio is called 'the big three' because they are particularly rare and have high hardness. All three gemstones are less common than diamonds and can also be more expensive depending on quality.
One of the rarest gemstones in the world is the tanzanite, first discovered in Tanzania. Another rare gemstone is musgravite, first found in the Musgrave Ranges mountain range in Australia.
The value of a precious or semi-precious stone is mainly determined by its rarity, hardness, colour intensity, and transparency. Gradations in colour richness or reduced transparency, resulting from inclusions or impurities in the stones, also impact their quality. Depending on the type of stone, these quality features have a significant or minor effect on the overall value of the stone. For diamonds, the 4 C's are used as criteria for value and quality. The 4 C's stand for Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat. For more detailed information on these criteria, you can refer to our diamond guide.
The unique colour variety of gemstones, semi-precious stones, or precious stones is created through different traces of trace elements in the minerals. Both ruby and sapphire, for example, are variations of the mineral corundum. Chemically, corundum is aluminum oxide, and it acquires different colours through various trace elements. In the case of ruby, the trace element chromium is responsible for its characteristic red colour. sapphire contains inclusions of iron, resulting in a deep blue colour. Sapphires are also found in other colours, ranging from various shades of blue to pink, orange, green, and white.
Gemstones and semi-precious stones are formed deep within the earth. The formation process takes three to ten million years and requires immense pressure and high temperatures. There are three different types of rocks in which gemstones and semi-precious stones have formed: Igneous rock, metamorphic rock, and sedimentary rock. Some gemstones and semi-precious stones form during the cooling of liquid magma in igneous rock, where the minerals contained crystallize under the pressure inside the earth (e.g., granite, obsidian, and peridotite). They can also form through a metamorphic process when liquid magma penetrates existing rock formations (e.g., jade, emerald, garnet, and lapis lazuli). The secondary mineral formation in sedimentary rock also produces gemstones and semi-precious stones. This happens through the deposition of sediments or the weathering process (e.g., jasper, onyx, marble, azurite, malachite, various opals, and turquoise). Through volcanic activity, the valuable stones are brought to the earth's surface. Therefore, gemstones and semi-precious stones are mostly found in mountain ranges but also in riverbeds, on the seafloor, or in dried-up bodies of water.
Gemstones are found on every continent. However, some continents or countries have particularly large deposits of certain gemstones. Large deposits of gemstones are found in Africa, Australia, and Asia. South Africa is known for its numerous diamond mines. The rare Tanzanite is mined in Tanzania, and in South and Southwest Africa, there are tourmalines. In Europe, there are also some locations where gemstones and semi-precious stones are found. Quartz varieties such as amethyst, smoky quartz, rose quartz, and rock crystal are frequently found in Europe. The city of Idar-Oberstein in the Hunsrück region has become famous for its natural occurrence of gemstones. Agate, as well as jasper and rock crystal, were predominantly mined there. Another well-known location in Europe is the Austrian Habachtal, which has become famous for its high occurrence of emeralds.
As there is a variety of coloured gemstones and semi-precious stones (gemstones), we present to you the most well-known stones with their key characteristic features. You can directly browse through your favorites here.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on moissanite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on ruby.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on sapphire.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on emerald.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on blue topaz.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on white topaz.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on amethyst.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on citrine.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on garnet.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on peridot.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on smoky quartz.
Jewellery creations with these precious and semi-precious stones can be found in our premium brand Brilladia Gems. The range includes earrings, necklaces, and pendants with various coloured precious and semi-precious stones set in yellow, white, and rose gold settings.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on agate.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on alexandrite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on ametrine.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on apatite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on aquamarine.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on aventurine.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on rock crystal.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on beryl.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on hematite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on jade.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on carnelian.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on cat's eye.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on kunzite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on kyanite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on lapis lazuli.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on malachite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on marcasite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on morganite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on onyx.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on opal.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on quartz.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on rose quartz.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on tanzanite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on titanite.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on turquoise.
For more information, you can refer to our encyclopedia entry on tourmaline.
Jewellery with gemstones can be made from various materials. Both 925 sterling silver and gold alloys, as well as platinum, can be set with precious and semi-precious stones. Depending on the chosen material, beautiful colour contrasts can be created with the respective coloured gemstones. Gemstones add exclusive colour accents to the jewellery pieces and can beautifully highlight specific body parts.
Different settings can wonderfully highlight the colourful precious and semi-precious stones and further emphasize their beauty. Whether it's a classic bezel setting or an elegant prong setting with four or six delicate prongs, there is something suitable for every style. Jewellery with gemstones is not only suitable for special occasions; it can also create colourful accents for everyday outfits. Thus, a gemstone necklace, a gemstone bracelet, a gemstone ring, or gemstone earrings can become a real eye-catcher in the outfit.
Jewellery with gemstones requires special care, as the stones vary depending on their type. Below, we have compiled some useful tips for handling gemstone jewellery:
In general, most gemstones can be cleaned with a lint-free cloth. For some gemstones, cleaning in a warm water bath with a little soap is possible. This cleaning method can be safely used, especially for rubies and sapphires. Cleaning methods such as steam or ultrasonic cleaning offer particularly thorough cleaning of gemstone jewellery. However, they are not suitable for every precious and semi-precious stone and should only be used if you are certain they will not damage the respective stone.
Gemstone jewellery, with its beautiful array of colours, possesses a special allure. Serving as a symbol of immortality, wealth, and power, precious and semi-precious stones have been coveted for millennia. Since ancient times, gemstones have been crafted into jewellery alongside gold, silver, and other materials, with mystical or healing powers attributed to them. Hence, gemstones are often worn as amulets and talismans.
From this tradition emerged the practice of birthstones. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, a specific gemstone was assigned to each month. Wearing the gemstone of one's respective birth month was believed to enhance its healing effects. Thus, individuals could carry the gemstone of their birth month as a piece of jewellery. Birthstones are said to amplify the positive character traits associated with a particular zodiac sign. Moreover, as everyday companions, they are believed to protect and bring luck to their wearers.
Here we introduce the birthstones for the 12 calendar months. In esoterics, each gemstone represents specific characteristics, and special healing effects are attributed to each gemstone.
| Birth Month | Gemstone | Represents | Healing Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Garnet | Friendship and new beginnings | Circulation |
| February | Amethyst | Sincerity and peace | Assists with intoxication and provides inner peace |
| March | Aquamarine | Health, hope, and security | Assists with poisonings and fosters determination |
| April | Diamond | Purity, strength, and courage | Provides strength and a strong self-confidence |
| May | Emerald | Wisdom, patience, and harmony | Benefits eye disorders and fertility |
| June | Alexandrite and moonstone | Purity, beauty, and contentment | Affects the psyche |
| July | Ruby | Love and passion | Instills courage and authority |
| August | Peridot | Maturity, acumen, and success | Assists with nightmares, provides self-confidence and physical strength |
| September | Sapphire | Sincerity, wisdom, loyalty, and empathy | Bestows inner peace |
| October | Opal and tourmaline | Creativity, knowledge, and success | Heart health |
| November | Citrine and topaz | Youth and health | Sleep disorders and fever |
| December | Tanzanite, turquoise, and zircon | Endurance and assertiveness | Depression and respiratory problems |
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