A gemstone is a mineral, rock or organic material that, after being cut and polished, is used in jewellery or as a ornamental, is used in jewellery or as ornamentation because of its beauty, durability and rarity.
Precious stones are highly valued for their aesthetic qualities and because they are often rare and difficult to find.
The distinction between precious and semi-precious stones has never been scientifically valid.
Today, all stones – whether minerals or rocks – valued for their beauty, durability and rarity should be called gemstones.
To understand this change, you need to know a little about the history of gems.
The term precious gemstone used to be applied only to diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, known as cardinal gems because they had ecclesiastical, devotional or ceremonial uses. The others were called semiprecious.
However, this term is controversial and confusing, as well as devaluing gemstones such as opal, aquamarine, chrysoberyl, amethyst or alexandrite, among other Brazilian stones of great beauty.
Therefore, the distinction between precious and semi-precious stones should be avoided and the term gem should be used instead.
Precious stones are rare minerals valued for their beauty, durability and rarity. Each type has unique characteristics that make it desirable.
This is the most sought-after of the Brazilian quartzes, with a purple to violet colour. Discovered in the 19th century, it has made Brazil one of the largest exporters.
From the beryl family, it resembles the blue of the sea. About 90 per cent of the world’s production comes from Brazil. It is also found in Russia, the USA, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
A variety of yellow quartz with iron impurities. Produced with high quality in Brazil, with colours ranging from yellow to intense orange.
From the beryl family, it is one of the most precious gemstones in the world. Its colour varies from medium to dark green. In Brazil it is found in Goiás, Bahia and Minas Gerais.
Brazil is the world’s main source, especially in Ouro Preto (MG). It occurs in rare colours such as cherry red and pink.
Extremely rare and with shades of turquoise blue due to traces of copper. Discovered in Paraíba, it has become coveted by brands such as Tiffany and Dior.
A variety of tourmaline with shades ranging from pink to bright red. Its name comes from the Latin rubellus (“reddish”). The more intense the colour, the higher its value.
Aquamarine Stone is a captivating gemstone known for its fascinating blue colour, making it a popular choice for gemstone collectors and jewellery enthusiasts alike. Aquamarine Stone is also a popular gemstone for use in jewellery and is the Stone of the Month for March. Like aquamarine, emerald, heliodor and morganite […]
The hinterland of Bahia is a region full of cultural and material treasures, with several towns known for their mining and jewellery. Like other municipalities, Pindobaçu is famous for its emerald mining, but it is also an excellent tourist destination. Known as the emerald capital of the world, Pindobaçu is […]
The name ruby comes from the Latin “rubeus” or “ruber” meaning red, and is one of the most precious and rare stones in the world. Ruby is one of the traditional cardinal stones for jewellery making, along with amethyst, sapphire, emerald and diamond. The gemstone rubeus – red in Latin […]
Quartz is the ideal gemstone for jewellery and is one of the few coloured stones you’ll find in almost any jewellery shop. Quartz is a major component of granite and other igneous rocks. It is also common in sedimentary rocks and is a common component of metamorphic rocks. Well-formed crystals […]
Emerald is actually a variation of green beryl, the colour of which is produced by an excess of chromium. Like emerald, aquamarine, heliodorus and morganite are a variation of beryl (mineral species) with the formula Be3Al2(Si6O18). Hardness of 7.5 – 8 Mohs. . Emerald crystallises in the hexagonal system and […]
Topaz occurs in pegmatites, high-temperature quartz veins and cavities in acidic rocks such as granite and rhyolite, and can be found associated with fluorite and cassiterite. It is found in the Ural and Ilmen Mountains (Russia), the Czech Republic, Saxony, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the United States. The […]
Jade is a mineral that has been used since prehistoric times. Because of its hardness, it was valued for making weapons and instruments. In China, it was used in the manufacture of religious figures and symbols used in the worship of the gods. In pre-Columbian Central America, jade was more […]
Agate has always been prized, from ancient times by the Egyptians and Sumerians. According to various beliefs, it has the power to energise the wearer and promote healing. Like all gemstones, it is attributed with various powers and mystical properties. However, it is a gemstone that is characterised by its […]
Considered the most striking of the quartz family, amethyst has always been coveted. Queen Catherine the Great was a great admirer of this gemstone. For a long time it was considered as precious as sapphires, diamonds and emeralds. Today, with the discovery of abundant deposits, it is no longer as […]
The Arabs and ancient Greeks believed that the Tiger’s Eye gave clarity of thought, activated personal power and integrated the spirit with the energy of the earth. This uniquely beautiful gemstone is still widely used today to promote spiritual and mystical benefits. In jewellery, the stone’s beauty and mystery are […]
The sapphire stone was known to the ancient Egyptians as ‘the stone of the stars’. They believed that sapphire stimulated honesty, truth and justice. Whatever its properties and “powers”, the colour and purity of this stone, as coveted and prized as the diamond, arouse the desire and interest of jewellery […]
Its colour and rarity have long given coral the status of a precious stone. Recently, however, the gemological use of coral has been questioned due to its environmental impact and the fact that it is a marine animal. According to some, there is misinformation about this aspect. Corals literally form […]
Paraíba Tourmaline was first discovered in Brazil in the 1980s, in the São José da Batalha region – hence its name – then in Nigeria in 2000 and later in Mozambique in 2004. Some 600 million years ago, a unique geological event created the most spectacular variety of gemstone in […]
Before we find out how to identify a real diamond, let’s learn a little more about this special stone. The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas, meaning “indestructible”, and the first versions were formed over 2.5 billion years ago. Sought after by many, it is one of the world’s […]
Thanks to its unmistakable colour and beauty, malachite is a gemstone often used by jewellery designers. Its irregular stripes and rings of varying shades of green give it a unique character and incredible versatility in both jewellery and costume jewellery. Because it’s an easy gem to find, it may not […]
Tourmaline is one of the most popular and favoured gemstones among jewellery designers, offering a wide variety of colours often found in a single stone. It easily adapts to fashion trends and can be combined with most metals. But you need to know a little more about the technical aspects […]
The variety of gems (precious stones) found in nature is a divine gift to us. Their colours and crystalline structures have enchanted us for thousands of years. And we jewellery professionals give them shapes and facets that enhance their brilliance and value when creatively applied to a piece of jewellery. […]
The opal is one of the most beautiful gemstones found in Brazil, yet this stone or gemstone is not so well known here. That’s a shame, because as well as being valuable, opal is beautiful and its brilliance is truly impressive. It can reflect all the colours of the spectrum […]
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