What is the difference between gems and stones

Gemstones are rare pieces of minerals that are found in the ground, which are then cut and polished to be used in jewelry and other decorative pieces. Not all gems are minerals, such as lapis lazuli, a rock, and amber or jet, which are organic materials. A gemstone can also be known as precious or semi-precious stones.

Precious stones include diamonds, emerald, ruby and sapphire, while the rest are qualified as semi-precious stones. Gemstones are classified by their color, translucency and hardness. Gems can also come with mineral bases like diamonds or rubies and with organic bases like amber.

Today, geologists use the chemical composition of a gemstone to classify it into groups, species and varieties. The price of the gemstones depends on the rarity, color, composition, hardness and cut.

Crystals are pure substances whose atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an ordered pattern, where they extend in all three spatial dimensions. The process of crystal formation via mechanisms of crystal growth is called crystallization or solidification.

Not all crystals need to be in solid formation, where water freezing also begins with small ice crystals that grow. Crystal symmetry requires that the unit cells stack perfectly with no gaps. Crystals are classified as Hexagonal, cubic, orthorhombic, tetragonal, rhombohedral, and monoclinic shapes. From beads of Jade for beauty, to dazzling blue Sapphires to a deep red Rubies, the intense colours of gemstones can transform a piece of jewellery - so why should you choose coloured diamonds such as a black or yellow diamond over them?

Aside from the price tag of a coloured diamond, how do they compare to other gemstones? We thought we'd have a look into it! First things first, diamonds fall under the category of gemstones, and this is because all gemstones are crystals formed from certain compounds or elements.

Alongside this, gemstones are rare and made naturally. This means that rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and so on are created in rocks found in the earth's crust, roughly three to 25 miles beneath the earth's surface.

However, diamonds are formed much deeper in the Earth's surface. The earth's crust is made up of three different kinds of rock; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Each type of rock forms under different circumstances, resulting in the array of different gemstones we see. The cooling and crystallization of magma beneath the earth's surface intrusive or plutonic.

Interlinking crystals grow within intrusive igneous rock, sometimes forming gemstones depending on the following three factors;. If the magma doesn't reach the surface, it cools more slowly, crystallising and forming coarse-grained minerals. Sedimentary Rock is a rock formed by the deposition and successive cementation of the material at the Earth's surface within bodies of water.

Sedimentary gemstone happens when water mixes with minerals on the Earth's surface. Rock is worn down, and fragments of mineral rich water and wind seeps down into the cracks and cavities in the Earth's surface, depositing layers of minerals which are then compressed over time, forming gemstones. A growing trend amongst married women is the appearance of a third band on their left ring fingers.

We're used to seeing two rings, so where is the third one coming from? Some women add the third ring for symmetry Titanium is becoming a more popular metal for rings. Titanium rings are hypoallergenic, making them a great choice for anyone Black wedding rings have become more and more popular and are quickly replacing traditional colors like gold and silver.

With their growing popularity, you might be wondering If you've decided to ask your partner to marry you, finding the perfect engagement ring is imperative. Not only do you want something that captures your beloved's personality and style, you also want them to know how much you adore If you've ever stepped into a jewelry store or done any shopping online, you've probably noticed that there are several categories of rings to choose from.

From promise rings to engagement rings to purity rings to commitment rings, knowing what As you start shopping for the rings you will exchange at your marriage ceremony, you may hear them referred to as wedding "bands" or wedding "rings. Wedding Band Recent Posts. What does a 3 band wedding band mean? How to clean a titanium ring What is the meaning of a black wedding band?

Recent Comments. Gemstones A gemstone is usually a mineral, but it is one that has formed crystals and then been cut and polished professionally to be made into a piece of jewelry. Rocks The scientific term for rocks is petrology, and understanding them is crucial for understanding the formation and mineral makeup of the earth.

Minerals Minerals occur naturally within the earth's surface and are solid formations. Leave a Comment.