Precious Minerals for Jewelry

With the exception of the pearl, which is anumber attached to various stones do not
shellfish, precious stones are minerals thatdesignate absolute degrees of hardness, but are
possess traits of personal adornment. Preciousapproximate. Of the same stone, some forms
stones originate from the most awesome powersare harder than others. For example, one diamond
of nature. They are found mixed around, in,may be a little harder than another. These
under, and between the earths crust. Theirvariations are slight and no other stone at its
beauty is concealed by their rough and wornhardest, approaches the softest diamond.
outer layers, but their beauty can be brought toMany precious stones have a grain or cleavage,
life by skilled and knowledgeable workmen.along the lines of which they can be split like
Precious stones are so beautiful that kings andwood. Some stones break easier than others. The
queens have worn them; men and women haveoptical qualities of precious stones when cut and
looked upon them admirably, scientists havepolished are various. Among the different degrees
studied them, and poets have sung of them.are the power of reflection, most precious stones
Precious stones have been the fondestare doubly reflective.
expression of love in all ages. The great ChristianMany precious stones are phosphorescent by
prophet John made the gates of pearls, and theexposure to sunlight, application of heat, or other
walls of precious stones. They also endureelectrical or mechanical methods. Some diamonds
through the test of time. Long after their originalare more phosphorescent than others. In the
owners are gone the precious stone shines withquality of transmitting light precious stones are
pristine brilliancy. Time destroys nations, anddivided into four kinds, opaque, as jasper;
reduces everything in them to ashes, but thetranslucent, as the opal and carnelian;
jewels remain.semitransparent, as rose-quartz; transparent, as
The two qualities that make precious stones sothe diamonds, etc. Not all stones of transparent
desirable is their beauty and durability combined.varieties are truly transparent. Many crystals and
The beauty of a precious stone lies in its brilliancy,others are almost opaque. In some respects,
color, or both. The durability of a precious stoneprecious stones are constant; they resist or are
comes from a native hardness, which resists thesubject to heat or acids after their own invariable
abrasion of time and wear. Nature does not formfashion. Many gems are very resistant to heat,
all jewels fit for stones, some lack brilliancy, butand only change tints, but rarely changes shape
they are valuable for there hardness anddue to extreme heat.
durability. Stones of this sort are valuable andThe colors of different stones are a lot of times
used for their mechanical purposes.almost identical. It is sometimes hard to tell what
The stones that are considered to be preciouskind of stone it really is after cutting it.
stones are the diamond, ruby, pearl, sapphire,Sometimes even tests of hardness and specific
emerald, Oriental cats-eye, opal, turquoise,gravity can fail. Fraudulent stones are always a
alexandrite, and spinel. In the area betweenproblem and an issue in the gem world.
precious and semi-precious are andalusite,Experienced jewelers can usually look at a stone
aquamarine, golden beryl, hiddenite, olivine,and have a good idea what type it is.
tourmaline, zircon, and the finer varieties ofDescription
amethyst, topaz, and garnet.With the exception of the pearl, which is a
In order to describe the hardness of stones ashellfish, precious stones are minerals that
scale was devised by a German mineralogistpossess traits of personal adornment. Precious
named Moh. The scale ranges from 1 to 10, thestones originate from the most awesome powers
larger the number, the harder the stone. Theof nature.