A gemstone or precious stones is a mineral, rock or organic material that, after being cut and polished, is used in jewellery or as an ornament because of its beauty, durability and rarity.
Gemstones are highly valued for their aesthetic characteristics 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, both minerals and rocks, appreciated for their beauty, durability and rarity, should be called gems.
To understand how this change came about, it is necessary to know a little about the history of gems.
The name precious stone was only used for diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires, known as cardinal gems, because they had ecclesiastical, devotional or ceremonial uses; the other gems were called semi-precious.
However, this term is debatable and confusing, and devalues gems 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 by using the term gem.
Precious stones are rare minerals, valued for their beauty, durability and rarity. Each type of gemstone has distinct characteristics that make it unique and desirable.
Each gemstone has a unique set of characteristics that make it special and valuable.
The choice of a gemstone for jewellery or personal collections often depends on individual taste, cultural significance and market value. Gemstones are not only objects of beauty, but also have historical, cultural and economic importance.
Known as the most coveted Brazilian gemstone among quartzes, Amethyst has a colour that varies between purple and violet, transparent to semi-transparent.
Deposits of this popular purple stone were found in Brazil in the 19th century and since then the country has become one of the world’s largest exporters of this marvel.
You’ll probably see the Aquamarine on any list of Brazilian gemstones.
This gem is from the beryl family and got its name from its colour, which is very reminiscent of seawater. This stone varies in both its shade of blue and its size.
Among Brazilian gemstones, this is the most typical. Currently, around 90 per cent of the world’s aquamarine is mined in Brazil. It can also be found in countries such as Russia, the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Citrine, also called citrine quartz, is a variety of quartz with a yellow, orange and exceptionally red colour. Basically, it is quartz with iron impurities.
Although many Latin American countries are important sources of citrine, such as Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay, for example, we must emphasise that our country produces some of the best citrine in the world. A member of the quartz family, Brazilian citrine is well known for its warm and unique colours, which usually range from yellow to orange.
The emerald is one of the most desirable Brazilian gemstones in the beryl metal family. It’s worth noting that its price is one of the highest in the world.
It is said that the first appearances of the emerald date back to Ancient Egypt, but it was considered rare until the Renaissance. According to the ancient Greeks, it is ‘the goddess of all stones’. Its colour, so popularly known, varies from medium to dark green.
The emerald is usually found in Colombia, but it is also present in other countries such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia.
In Brazil, the stone is found mainly in Goiás, Bahia and Minas Gerais.
Brazil is the largest source of Imperial Topaz in the world. Other smaller deposits can be found in countries like Russia, but this is where the largest quantity comes from.
Its main mine is located in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, and brings together imperial topaz in yellow, orange, pink, lilac and cherry-red colours. It’s worth remembering that some colours of this gem are extremely rare, unlike pink, which is more easily found.
Among Brazilian gemstones, the Paraiba tourmaline stands out because of its rarity. Not least because Brazil has a rich variety of tourmalines.
These unique shades of turquoise are derived from microscopic traces of copper.
This very special gem can be found in the north of Paraíba, which in itself justifies its name.
In some cases, the colours in tourmalines are mixed, resulting in bi-coloured or multi-coloured stones. To give you an idea of how successful this stone is, since it was discovered Paraiba tourmaline has become the target of famous international brands such as Tiffany and Dior, for example.
This rarity can also be found in Africa, in countries such as Mozambique and Nigeria. But let’s be clear, Brazil is the birthplace of this marvel.
While we’re on the subject of tourmalines, we can’t forget Rubellite, another variety that attracts attention on the international market for its unique colour, which displays different shades from pink to a vivid red.
Its name comes from the Latin ‘rubellus’, which means reddish. Its value is directly linked to the intensity of its red colour.
In other words, the purer and stronger the colour, the more valuable the gem.
In short, many people don’t realise that Brazil is one of the main sources of precious stones in the world, which is why learning about the origin and characteristics of these rarities is so important.
A aquamarine stone is a captivating gemstone known for its fascinating blue colour, making it an appreciated choice for gem collectors and jewellery enthusiasts alike. In addition, aquamarine is a popular gemstone used in jewellery and is also the stone of the month for March. Like Aquamarine, Emerald, Heliodorus and […]
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 also famous for its emerald mining, but it is also an excellent tourist spot. Known as the emerald capital of the world, the […]
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 making jewellery, along with amethyst, sapphire, emerald and diamond. The gemstone rubeus – red from Latin, […]
Quartz is the ideal gemstone for jewellery and is one of the few coloured stones you’ll find in almost every jewellery shop. Quartz is one of the main constituents of granite and other igneous rocks. It is also commonly found in sedimentary rocks and is a common component of metamorphic […]
Emerald is actually a variation of green beryl, the colour of which appears due to 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. The emerald crystallises in the hexagonal system and […]
Topaz occurs in pegmatites, high-temperature quartz veins and in cavities in acid rocks such as granite and rhyolite and can be found associated with fluorite and cassiterite. It can be found in the Ural and Ilmen mountains (Russia), the Czech Republic, Saxony, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and the United […]
Jade stone is a mineral used since prehistoric times, due to its hardness, it was appreciated for making weapons and instruments. In China, its use was part of the manufacture of igures and religious symbols used in cults to the gods. In pre-Columbian Central America, jade was more valued than […]
Agate has always been highly valued, since ancient times, by Egyptians and Sumerians. Various beliefs believe that it has the power to energise the wearer and promote healing. Like all other gems, various kinds of power and mystical properties are attributed to it. However, it is a gem notable for […]
Considered the most striking representative of quartz, amethyst has always been coveted. Queen Catherine the Great had a true adoration for this gem. For a long time, it was considered as precious as sapphire, diamond and emerald. .Today, due to the discovery of abundant deposits, it is no longer as […]
The ancient Arabs and 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 gem is still widely used today to promote spiritual and mystical benefits. In jewellery, in addition to the beauty and […]
The sapphire stone was known in ancient times by the Egyptians as “the stone of the stars”. They believed that sapphire encouraged honesty, truth and justice. Regardless of its properties and “powers”, the colour and purity of this stone, as coveted and appreciated as the diamond, arouse the desire and […]
Its colour and rarity have long given coral the status of a precious stone. Recently, however, the gemological use of coral has begun to be questioned on the grounds of environmental damage and the fact that it is a marine animal. According to some opinions there is misinformation on this […]
The Paraíba Tourmaline was first found in Brazil in the 1980s in the Paraíba Region in the district of São José da Batalha – hence its name – then in Nigeria in 2000 and later in 2004 in Mozambique. About 600 million years ago, a unique geological event created the […]
Before finding out how to identify a real diamond, let’s learn more about this special stone. Originating from Greek, the word diamond means “adamas”, which means “indestructible” and its earliest versions formed more than 2.5 billion years ago. Desired by many, this is one of the best known noble stones […]
Thanks to its unmistakable colour and beauty, malachite is a gemstone often used by designers in jewellery. Its irregular stripes and rings with varying shades of green give it a unique character and incredible versatility of application in both jewellery and costume jewellery. Being an easy-to-find gemstone it might not […]
Tourmaline is one of the most popular and preferred gems of jewellery designers that offers a wide variety of colours often found in a single stone. It easily adjusts to fashion trends by matching with most metals. But, you have to know a little more about the technicalities and trade […]
The great variety of gems (precious stones) available in nature represent a divine gift to us. Their colours and crystalline structures have enchanted us for thousands of years. And we, the jewellery professionals, give them shapes and facets that enhance their brilliance and value when creatively applied in a jewel. […]
Opal is one of the most beautiful gemstones found in Brazil, however, this stone or gem is not so well known here. A pity, after all, besides being valuable, Opal is beautiful and its brilliance really impresses. It can reflect all the colours of the spectrum and even shines brighter […]
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