Gemstones are minerals, rock formations or even organic jewels worn for their appeal, rarity, historical significance and talismanic powers. After they are mined or procured, most of them are cut, faceted and polished to make them sparkle and reflect their true hues when set in jewellery.
Talking of gemstones, precious stones are extremely expensive and rare. On the other hand, semi-precious gems are readily available, easy on the pocket and come in myriad colours. In fact, you can easily find semi-precious alternatives to precious gems, and they are no less gorgeous. Whether precious or semi-precious gemstones, there are various factors that contribute to their beauty and subsequently, their value. Before we get into the different types of gemstone lists, let’s understand what makes gemstones so valuable.
Gemstone Colour
Gemstones have an aesthetic appeal mainly due to their colour and varying hues. However, most gems are not particularly attractive in their natural state; they may resemble rocks or pebbles. But after cutting and polishing, the colours start showing up clearly and the lustre enhances the colour reflections. In general, gemstones that are clear, medium-toned and saturated are preferred.
Gemstone Cut
The manner in which a gem is cut can enhance its natural beauty. Cabochon and faceted are the two fundamental types of gem cuts. The cabochon cut, which primarily suits opaque or translucent gemstones, has a smooth, rounded top and typically a plain base.
A gemstone is faceted to increase its light reflection and enhance its beauty. The overall shape of the faceted stone, which has numerous flat cut surfaces (facets), may be round, oval, square or another shape. Only gemstones that are fairly durable can be successfully faceted. Essentially, a cut and polished rock is referred to as a gem or jewel.
Gemstone Carat
The gemstone’s weight is expressed in carats. It’s critical to understand that some gems have higher densities than others. One-carat emeralds are larger than rubies, which are less dense, for instance. Furthermore, the value of similar-sized gems can vary significantly.
Gemstone Hardness
The only factor that determines gem durability is the hardness of the stone. It shows how the gem’s surface will react to contact with a sharp object or how resistant the stone is to scratches and abrasions. The Mohs scale ranks the hardness of minerals from 1 (softest – Talc) to 10 (hardest– Diamond).
What Are Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones?
Considering different types of gemstones by value, there are few precious gems in the world and a plethora of semi-precious gemstones that can leave you spoilt for choice. Let us explore the sought-after precious gems known as the ‘Big Four’ and some of the most famous semi-precious stones used in making fine jewellery.
Precious Gemstones List
Also known as the ‘Big Four’, the following precious gemstones fetch a higher price tag in the market.
1. Diamonds
Diamonds are the hardest known mineral and are rare in nature. They have the highest heat conductivity and also resistant to chemicals. Due to these qualities, diamonds are used as a cutting tool and for other industrial applications where durability is necessary. Also, diamond possesses unique optical characteristics like a high refractive index, dispersion of light and lustre. Due to these qualities, diamond is the world’s most loved and popular gemstone.
Price- The price of diamond jewellery varies according to the carat weight as well as the quality grade of the diamond. At Angara site, the price ranges from $ 119 to $ 59, 519.
Also Read: 5 Intriguing Facts About Diamonds
2. Emeralds
Green and emerald are synonymously used when it comes to describing nature’s greenery. Emeralds are truly exquisite gems and there are few places on earth where they are mined, in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The most sought-after emerald hues are bluish-green to green, vibrant saturation and a medium to medium-dark tone.
Price- Most people think of diamonds when they think of rare and expensive gems, but emeralds are rarer than diamonds and, as a result, sell at a higher price per carat. Emeralds are great for engagement rings when you want to ditch diamonds and add a pop of green. The price for emerald jewellery ranges from $ 169 to $ 18,409 at Angara.
Also Read: 5 Interesting Facts About Emeralds
3. Rubies
Rubies are magnificent gemstones thanks to their vibrant red hue. Aluminium, iron, chromium and oxygen are the elements that make up its structure. Because of the presence of chromium, this gemstone’s natural pinkish to blood-red colour occurs.
Ruby is a tough gem and is one of the most widely used gems in fine jewellery. The red hues are extraordinarily saturated and vivid. Especially, rubies of fine quality are among the most expensive gems in the world.
Price- Rubies can be transparent and flawless (without inclusions), but these are uncommon. The location where it comes from, quality, size and clarity impact the cost of rubies significantly. Angara’s ruby jewellery price ranges from $ 169 to $ 47,929.
4. Sapphires
Although sapphires are typically blue, they can also be purple, orange, green, yellow and other colours.
Sapphires are expensive gemstones due to their royal association, spiritual significance and of course, their remarkable hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale.
Price- It is rare to find fine-quality sapphires in large sizes and are exceedingly expensive. Sapphire jewellery price ranges from $ 139 to $ 71,619 at Angara.
Semi-Precious Gemstones List
1. Topaz
Topaz is an extremely rare silicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO4 (F, OH)2. The fact that it comes in various colours is its best-known quality. In addition, topaz’s beauty and status as a birthstone contribute to its popularity.
Yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and blue are among the rare and valuable natural topaz colours. Blue topaz and mystic topaz, which undergo treatments for their colours, are the most affordable and frequently used gems in jewellery. Topaz gems are most commonly colourless (also known as ‘white topaz’), pale yellow and brown. Although these colours aren’t usually used in their natural form, they are altered in several ways to yield more appealing hues.
Topaz can be found worldwide where rocks such as pegmatite and rhyolite form. Brazil is the world’s most significant topaz-producing country for many years.
Price- At Angara.com, you can get a wide variety of topaz jewellery at an affordable price. The starting price is $ 99 and it goes up to $ 20,069.
2. Zircon
Zircon is a naturally beautiful and underappreciated gemstone. It is a zirconium silicate that, after extraction, looks dark brown, green or red. However, when heated, it takes on a different hue. Other zircon colours include green, dark red, purple, yellow, brown and orange. Zircon has a high gloss and intensity because of its high dispersion and refractive index.
Blue is the most commonly used zircon colour. The price will increase as the blue becomes more intense. Zircon has impeccable brilliance and in its colourless form, it is used as a diamond substitute.
Price- On the Angara site, you can get a wide variety of zircon jewellery at an affordable price. The starting price is $ 3,139 and it goes up to $ 11,529.
3. Turquoise
Turquoise is an opaque stone that ranges in colour from blue to green. The most expensive turquoise gemstones typically have a more uniform, smooth colour, while many others have a brown tint.
The best or rarest turquoise stone does not exist. But there are a lot of exotic, rare varieties of turquoise. Virginia, for instance, produces highly prized turquoise specimens with blue-violet colouring.
Price- At Angara, you can get a wide variety of turquoise jewellery at an affordable price. The starting price is $ 279 and it goes up to $ 7,439.
4. Rhodolite
Rhodolite is a pink manganese silicate mineral with various compositions, but it frequently includes sizable amounts of iron, magnesium and calcium. Its chemical formula is (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3.
Minerals like rhodolite are rare. Only a few deposits can be found worldwide. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, India, Peru, Russia and Sweden are among the countries where rhodolite is mined.
Price- You can get a wide variety of rhodolite jewellery at an affordable price. The starting price is $ 139 and goes up to $ 4,979.
5. Peridot
Peridot is one of the oldest gemstones and has an eye-catching olive green colour. It is transparent and shiny, and represents warmth, love and openness.
It is the birthstone for August-born people. A peridot gem is one of the few gems that comes only in one colour- green. This semi-precious gemstone, which also goes by the name olivine, hawaiite and chrysolite, has a strong affinity for the planets Mercury and Venus. Peridot is a suitable gemstone for various types of jewellery because it has a hardness of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale.
This August birthstone is substituted for an emerald stone as it is also a green gemstone.
Price- At Angara, you can get a wide variety of peridot jewellery at affordable prices. The starting price is $ 109 and it goes up to $ 9,099.
6. Moissanite
Moissanite used to be originally a celestial gemstone. It was discovered in 1893 by French scientist Henri Moissan. For its resemblance to diamonds and its distinctive sparkle, moissanite is a treasured stone. Moissanites are women’s preferred option for engagement rings due to their fiery brilliance, enormous durability and attractive price tag, in addition to their resemblance to diamonds.
While natural moissanites are extremely rare, most of the moissanite found on the market today are manufactured in labouratories. Moissanites are not mined and instead produced using cutting-edge technology and controlled environments.
Price- For many couples, moissanite is an attractive low-cost option because they allow you to design weddings rings and engagement rings of your dreams without burning a hole in your wallet or compromising on the size of the centre stone. When compared to diamonds of comparable size and shape, moissanite is significantly less expensive, making them a more affordable option. The moissanite jewellery price ranges from $ 199 to $ 19,819.
7. Kyanite
Kyanite is primarily found in metamorphic rocks. When sedimentary rocks are metamorphosed, clay minerals are altered under high pressure. Therefore, it is more commonly found in quartzite and eclogite than in the schists and gneisses of locally metamorphosed regions.
Price- Kyanite jewellery are available at affordable prices starting from $ 1,099 and goes up to $ 4,709.
Final Word
Gemstones enhance your look by adding a pop of colour or a hint of brilliance. However, precious gems can be extremely heavy on the pocket. Instead, you can invest in semi-precious stones that are equally stunning and affordable, if your budget is tight. To explore precious and semi-precious gemstone jewellery pieces, visit Angara and pick your favourites today!
FAQ
Blue diamond is considered the most valued gemstone.
Emeralds can be considered more expensive than a diamond.
