Some of the most stunning jewelry is prepared by means of semi-precious gem stones. blue sapphire One gem stone is a mineral, a rock or a petrified material that is cut or faceted and polished before it can be used in jewelry. Some gem stones are fairly rare, for example amazonite, which is a bright green variety of feldspar. Previously it was obtained almost specially from Russia, but freshly it was found in Colorado and Madagascar. aquamarine rings Its partial occurrence makes it prized as a gem stone. Citrin, also called citrin quartz, is an amber colored gem stone. Aventurine is commonly a green gem stone, but can be orange, brown, yellow or grey. The rarest is red and greatly prized as a gem stone. Cordierite is a magnesium, iron and aluminum cyclosilicate, the clear variety of which is iolite, which is used as a gem stone. emerald The designation, iolite, is derived from the Greek word for violet. Lapis lazuli is a stone which has been classified as a gem stone. This deep blue gem stone dates back to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Jade is an exciting gem stone. The name is applied to two different silicate materials. It is a very hard material and was first used for axe heads, knives and weapons. It was only when other materials were found that could be used for these purposes that emerald become a prized gem stone. Nephrite is either green or creamy in color, while jadeite comes in a variety of colors. In New Zealand, where nephrite jade is known as greenstone and not gem stone, the Maoris consider it a treasure. In traditional Maori designs, this gem stone is still broadly used to make jewelry. Jade is the official gem stone of British Columbia. A lot of minerals are sold as jade. These can certainly be used as gem stones, but are not the real thing. Turquoise is an added gem and ornamental stone. The name is a very old word , doubtless derived from the French meaning Turkish stone, although turquoise was not found in Turkey, but was traded there. Iran and the Sinai Peninsula were sources of very fine turquoise.

In the United States, the deposits were mined by pre-Columbian Native Americans. Nowadays there is some fake turquoise, which is so good, that only an expert could tell the difference between the real stone and the fake!

It’s possible that rings and bracelets and necklaces made with these semi-precious gemstones may not be as valuable as say, gold or diamonds, but they can be wonderful and extremely prized. Of course, if the diamond is flawed, it may be impressive to the associates and acquaintances of a newly engaged lady, but is not of great value.