| Stones have been worn by both women and | | | | strictly speaking while it is not a stone it holds an |
| men since prehistoric times. Just as in the jewelry | | | | esteemed place in jewelry. |
| of modern times, beautiful stones, rare and | | | | Semi-Precious Stones |
| colorful, are most often the dominant feature of | | | | A large number of stones used in jewelry are |
| a piece with a metallic setting for ornamentation. | | | | known as semi-precious; the most important ones |
| The stones used in the crafting of fine jewelry | | | | are as follow: amethyst, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, |
| are generally divided into two classes- precious | | | | aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, peridot, opal, |
| stones and semi-precious stones. | | | | tourmaline, zircon, chrysoberyl, alexandrite. Others |
| These terms are used heavily in the commercial | | | | of less importance although much used are: |
| world of jewelry when considering variety and | | | | chrysoprase, jade, garnet, agate, azurite, |
| value. While artistic merits are only a matter of | | | | malachite, bloodstone, coral, carnelian and many |
| opinion, the value of a stone is what it will bring in | | | | others. These stones while comparatively |
| the marketplace. It should also be mentioned that | | | | common and inexpensive are indispensable to the |
| many people, collectors and general consumers | | | | worker in jewelry. The variety of colors to be |
| alike, prefer the rare to the beautiful. | | | | had in these stones make it possible to produce |
| These stones are simply rocks (minerals) taken | | | | unusual designs of artistic merit and to adapt |
| from the earth, and after they have been | | | | them to the personality and costume of the |
| enhanced by the artisans cutting and polishing, the | | | | wearer. For more detailed information regarding |
| finest and rarest of them are what we call gems. | | | | gem stones the reader is referred to "Gem |
| Precious Stones | | | | Stones" by G.F. Herbert Smith, also "The Curious |
| The most precious stones are the diamonds, | | | | Lore of Precious Stones," by George Frederick |
| emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pearl is | | | | Kunz. |
| oftentimes classed with precious stones. Although | | | | |