Gemstones ~ They're All Special!

$500 diamond
$20,000 tourmaline
Which one is “precious”?

About Gemstones

The labels “precious” and “semi-precious” are rarely used these days by jewelry makers, mostly because the meaning of those labels is unclear. As adjectives they don't help define the characteristics of individual gemstones. Adding to the confusion, those labels have been applied to different gemstones during different times. Carnelian, now considered a modest gemstone, was the favorite of the Roman era. It wasn't until the technology for cutting diamonds was developed in the 1600's that their inner fire was revealed and diamonds became so highly prized throughout Europe. Newly discovered tanzanite doesn't fall into the traditional “precious” category even though its rarity and beauty make it extremely expensive. During the Middle Ages, plentiful amethyst was once considered as precious and beautiful as rubies and sapphires. Perhaps it was easier then to see amethyst's great beauty because of the commonly held belief during that time that a person could drink endless amounts of spirits from an amethyst goblet and never get drunk.

To top it all off, the term “semi-precious” is vaguely derogatory. Even though some gem dealers still use the term when referring to softer stones, gradually the use of that label is disappearing. Jewelry makers are now seeing all gemstones as precious, with some being more expensive than others, some holding their value more than others, some harder, some shinier, but all are wonders of nature with a special something that makes them appealing. Maybe it's their color, or sparkle, or rarity, or perhaps it's because each stone is intriguingly unique, such as pietersite. All gemstones have a specialness that entices. That is what makes them precious.

Categorizing Gemstones

To help make it possible to clearly describe the various gemstones, a Viennese mineralogist named Friedrich Mohs (1773-1839) devised a way to categorize gemstones by their hardness. He tested the resistance of each mineral by scratching it with a pointed object, and then placed each on a relative scale of “scratch hardness” that is still widely used today. Generally, the harder gemstones are more durable, easier to facet and polish, and tend to be the most expensive gemstones. They can be brittle, though. Even the hardest, a diamond, can chip if it gets hit just the right way.

At ColorSpark Studio we use mostly gemstones from the middle range of the Mohs' chart in our fine handcrafted jewelry. All gemstones used in jewelry have made a long journey from the mine, through the cutting and polishing process, and into a form jewelry makers can use. Even so, compared to the harder faceted gemstones, the smooth cool-to-the-touch gemstones we use at ColorSpark Studio seem less manipulated and closer to their natural form. As a designer, I like that earth connection, and hope that everyone wearing ColorSpark Studio fine handcrafted jewelry made from such gemstones enjoys that connection, too.