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Glittering
Stones >> Value of Gemstones
Value of Gemstones
A gemstone is valued especially for its great
beauty or perfection so appearance is almost the most significant
attribute of gemstones. Characteristics that make a stone good-looking
and desirable are colour, unusual optical phenomena within the
stone, an attractive inclusion such as a fossil, infrequency,
and also sometimes the form of the natural crystal.
Diamondis valued highly as a gemstone since it
is the hardest material known and is able to reflect light with
fire and glitter when faceted. However, diamonds are
far from rare with millions of carats mined each year.
Traditionally, common gemstones were confidential into precious
stones (cardinal gems) and semi-precious stones.
The former group was largely determined by a history of ecclesiastical,
devotional and ceremonial use and rarity. Only five types of gemstones
were considered precious: diamond, ruby, sapphire,
emerald, and then amethyst. In current
usage by gemologists, all gems are measured precious,
although four of the five original "cardinal gems"
are usually—but not always—the most precious.
Rare and unusual gemstones, normally meant to include those gemstones
which occur so uncommonly in gem quality that
they are barely known except to connoisseurs, include andalusite,
axinite, cassiterite, clinohumite and also iolite.
Factors influencing the esteem in which gems are held are attractiveness,
durability, rarity, style, and size.
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