Everybody Finds Gems Attractive

Gems are made out of minerals and they look good when they are cut or polished. They are commonly used to make jewelry or other decorative items because almost everybody finds them beautiful. There are actually several dozen different types of gem though most people could only name those that are more commonly used such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

A Brief History

Humans have prized gems since ancient times. However it is only in recent times that we have managed to develop the technology to cut and facet gems to reveal their true beauty. Thousands of years ago when the right tools did not yet exist simple beads were fashioned out of gems. This was achieved by rubbing one stone against another and using sand to give polish. By medieval times an artisan called a lapidary could make gemstones into aesthetically pleasing or useful objects. We did not have the tools necessary to give gemstones a faceted cut until the fourteenth century. Before that point gems used in jewelry were made into a rounded shape.

Precious And Semi Precious

Generally the rarer a gem is the more it is worth. Rarer gems are considered precious while those that are easier to find are considered semi precious. Precious gems include diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Some semi precious gems are exquisitely beautiful and inexpensive to purchase. They make a great alternative for people who cannot afford jewelry that contains precious stones. However, not all semi precious gems can be used to make jewelry because they are too soft and fragile.

Determining The Value

Gemologists are experts who use gemology to indentify different types of gem. They use different technical criteria in order to identify a gem. For instance gemologists will look at how the mineral is composed chemically. There is no universal method that can be used to determine the value of gems with the exception of diamonds. The diamond is generally valued by determining its color, cut, clarity and carat weight. A diamond with a high carat weight that has a cut that shows its fire and pilliance and does not have any inclusions or pigment is considered very valuable. Conversely a small yellowish diamond that is badly cut and contains several inclusions is not considered to be worth very much.

Most jewelers use the four C’s of cut, clarity, color and carat weigh to determine the value of other gems too, but there are some modifications to this system. For example with clear diamonds the less color there is the more the gem is worth. However, gems such as rubies, sapphires and emeralds and fancy colored diamonds are generally prized for their color. Therefore the more intense the color is the more valuable the gem is considered to be.