A gemstone usually refers to a rock or mineral that is used in jewelry or as a collector’s item, usually after it has been polished, cut or faceted.
Gemstones are classified through several ways. They may be grouped according to chemical composition — for example, rubies are made of aluminum oxide and diamonds are made of carbon. If they are crystals, they may be classified using the crystal system, which divide gemstones into cubic, trigonal or monoclinic. They are also classified according to habit, which refers to the shape of the stones. It’s also possible to group gemstones according to species — for example, the mineral species beryl would include such gemstones as emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, goshenite, heliodor and morganite.
Buying a gemstone can be an absolute joy. Imagine the thrill of being surrounded by a roomful of precious gems, with colors that dazzle and captivate. Over 30 types of gem varieties have been identified, not counting those rare, singular gemstones that show up once in a while and defy category. Some of these gemstones have decorated and adorned the earliest civilizations of man, while others are recent...