Jewelry stones, natural, precious, SEMI-PRECIOUS, synthetics, imitations... How not to get lost?
The names of gemstones can be confusing. Correction! For the average customer, it is usually very confusing… Many brands use terms from the field of goldsmithing and gemology loosely, not paying attention to their correct meaning. What’s more, these terms are then repeated by other brands and unwitting customers. And yet it is so important to use the correct terminology if we want to be an informed consumer who knows what they are buying and understands its value.
The commonly used rules for naming gemstones were established by CIBJO - an international organization founded in 1926, which introduces guidelines for terms used in the jewelry industry worldwide. So how do you use the correct names for gemstones? Read our short guide!
Gemstones
is the broadest concept covering everything that can be used in jewelry.
Natural stones
is a material that has arisen naturally in nature, without human intervention or involvement. This term includes the following categories: minerals (e.g. diamond, emerald), glass of natural origin (e.g. obsidian), rocks (e.g. lapis lazuli, turquoise), stones of organic origin (e.g. amber) and biogenic materials (e.g. pearl or coral).
Precious and semi-precious stones
from a gemological point of view, there is no basis for dividing stones into precious and semi-precious. Nevertheless, we will encounter this terminology, because it is customary to divide natural stones in this way due to their rarity, durability and value. Thus, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds are most often referred to as precious stones.
Synthetic stones
is an artificial material whose chemical, physical and structural properties are identical to their natural counterparts. There are many methods for creating synthetic stones and they are very widely used in jewelry. We can come across, for example, a synthetic ruby, emerald or even diamond.
Imitations
are stones (natural or synthetic) that only resemble other natural stones in appearance. However, they have completely different chemical and physical properties. The most well-known type of imitation is cubic zirconia. It is an artificial material created by man that imitates a diamond in appearance.
Corrected stones
are stones that undergo processes aimed at, for example, changing their color or improving their purity or durability. An example of such improvement is filling stones with oils, resin or glass. Some of the techniques for improving stones are standard practice accepted by the market (e.g. oiling emeralds). The customer has the right to know whether the stone they are buying has been improved. Honest sellers include this information in the certificates of stones and products.
Paulina Sierakowska
Gemologist of the International Gemological Institute
