Semi-precious Jewellery Information

The Gemstone Process

The process in which mother nature creates coloured gemstones is truly amazing. Beneath the earth, surrounded by incredibly high temperatures and pressures, beautiful Gemstone Rough is formed.

They are brought to the earth’s surface through lava in volcanic eruptions or embedded in rocks.

Gemstones are discovered in rocky riverbeds, dug up or mined. Gemstone mining is an exciting but time consuming process.

The next step is gemstone faceting, where gemstone rough is cut into shape. A hole is often drilled through the center to create Semiprecious Gemstone Beads.

Jewellery designers are part of the last step in the Gemstone Jewellery process. A designer's creativity is drawn upon to lay the design settings. A good designer centers the design to enhance the stone's natural beauty thus drawing out the gemstone's vivid colours.

Gemstone Meanings - The story behind the stones.

Throughout history, gemstones have been known to take on a mystical appeal. Gemstone meanings are attached to the belief that certain gemstones have an innate influence over us. Many are thought to contain healing properties. Others are believed to bring good luck or good fortune (Jade).

LUCK	Gems have also been used as good luck charm
STATUS	Kings and Queens used them as a sign of wealth and power.
HEALING	Doctors used them as healing gemstones.
PROTECTION	Soldiers took them to war as protective gemstones.

Gemstones were fixed to clothing to draw out a gems power and influence the whole body. Gemstones have the greatest effect when worn close to the skin. This brought about the first gemstone jewellery, where gems are worn close to the heart (necklaces), head (earrings) or hands (bracelets/rings).

Gemstones Classified.

Natural gemstone jewelry is created with either precious semi-precious gemstones. Precious gemstones are well known and often labeled as the Big 4: Diamonds, Rubies, Sapphires and Emeralds.

Semi-precious gemstones such as Amethysts, Jadite, Turquoise and Tiger Eye are also well known. Other semi-precious gemstones such as Lapis Lazuli, Chrysocholla and Agate are equally beautiful, but relatively anonymous.

Names of gemstones - A colourful gemstone list.

There are literally thousands of different gemstones on earth. Gemologists study a large variety of stones and often specialise in just a few. Some of the most popular gemstones are listed below;

• Amber
• Amethyst
• Agate
• Aquamarine
• Aventurine
• Beryl
• Carnelian
• Chrysocholla
• Citrine
• Garnet
• Turquoise
• Moonstone
• Opal
• Peridot
• Cherry Quartz
• Rose Quartz
• Smokey Quartz
• Sodalite
• Topaz
• Tiger Eye