Is My Stone Precious or Semi-Precious?

Semi-precious stones are a diverse group of gemstones that are considered less valuable than precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Despite this, they are still prized in jewelry and other applications, offering a wide array of colors, textures, and patterns.

Some well-known semi-precious stones:

Common Semi-Precious Stones:

• Amethyst: A widely favored purple form of quartz.

• Aquamarine: A light blue to greenish-blue type of beryl.

• Citrine: A yellow to brown variety of quartz.

• Garnet: A mineral with shades of red or reddish-brown, also available in green and orange.

• Jasper: An opaque, non-crystalline silica form.

• Lapis Lazuli: A mineral ranging from deep blue to purple.

• Malachite: A green copper carbonate mineral.

• Moonstone: A feldspar mineral with a pearly or milky sheen.

• Obsidian: A glossy volcanic rock.

• Onyx: A banded quartz variety, typically black and white.

• Pearl: A natural gemstone produced by certain mollusks.

• Peridot: A green olivine mineral.

• Spinel: A mineral available in various colors, such as red, blue, and green.

• Topaz: A silicate mineral found in several colors, including blue, yellow, and red.

• Tourmaline: A silicate mineral available in a wide range of colors.

• Turquoise: A blue-green phosphate mineral.

• Zircon: A mineral that can be colorless or come in various colors, such as blue, green, and red.

  
  

This list is not comprehensive, as there are numerous other semi-precious stones not mentioned here. The term "semi-precious" generally describes gemstones that are not among the top four precious stones. Which gemstone is not considered precious? Examples of non-precious stones include amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, garnet, opal, peridot, topaz, and turquoise. These stones are frequently used as accent stones or in cluster designs, enriching jewelry with color and texture. They can also serve as center stones in more budget-friendly pieces.

See if your stone is precious or semi-precious at this GIA link https://www.gemsociety.org/gemstone-encyclopedia/

Do you own any precious or semi-precious stones? If so, which is your favorite?

Explore our stone selection to find "the one" that's perfect for you.