Gemstones are minerals or rocks that have been fascinated for their beauty, colors, rarity and durability. Gemstones are cut and polished to use in jewelries or in other human ornaments. Most of the stones are durable and hard but some are too soft or weak to be used in jewelries or in any other human use, so they are usually collected by gemologists or are kept in museums.
Gemstones have been used by human beings for thousands of years. From ancient era to the modern era, they are admired not only for their beauty but also for their rarity, spiritual connections and symbolism. They have been cherished from centuries, from ancient era to modern era, from kings to normal people they have received love from everyone.
History of Gemstones
The history of gemstones is way older than we think, it stretches back to the earliest human civilizations. In ancient times gemstones were not considered as ordinary rocks or decorative items but they were considered as healing agents, symbols of power and a connection to the god.
The oldest gemstone is believed to be Zircon. According to some scientists its origins may stretch to 4.4 billion years ago. Whereas diamonds are 3 billion years old, while sapphires are considered to have been formed nearly 150 million years ago.
History of Gemstones in Different Civilization:
· Indian Civilization – India has been one of the oldest and largest sources of gemstones like diamond, sapphire and ruby. In Hindu traditions, the nine gems (“Navaratna”) are considered highly auspicious and a symbol of wealth and status.
· Egyptians – In ancient Egyptian civilization gemstones were buried with mummies as they were considered to provide protection after life.
· Romans and Greeks – Romans believed that certain stones could bring courage in battle or bring luck in love life. Whereas Greeks believed that gemstones are associated with gods and astrology.
Formation of Gemstones
The formation process of gemstones is simple, but it takes years or decades to finalize. They go through immense pressure and heat deep inside earth for over a million years, before converting into a rock or crystal. Some gemstones are formed organically like pearl and amber.
But there is a gemstone that is considered to not have originated from earth. Peridot is a lime green colored gemstone which is believed to have originated from interstellar asteroids. Scientists believe that it came into existence during the events of the Big Bang – which might make it one of the earliest substances in the history of creation.
How many Gemstones are there?
There are nearly 315 types of gemstones in existence. These gems are almost found in every color that one can imagine and some of them are even classified as colorless.
Types of Gemstones:
1. Precious Gemstones –
Precious stones are rare in nature and are highly valuable. There are only 4 precious stones in the world.
· Diamond – It is the hardest natural object on earth which symbolizes love, eternity and wealth.
· Ruby – Famous for its vivid red color. It symbolizes passion, love, and courage. It is also known as “King of Gemstones”.
· Sapphire – Usually blue in color but also comes in yellow, pink and green. It symbolizes truth and royalty.
· Emeralds – It is known for its green color and inclusions inside it, symbolizing strength and growth.
2. Semi-Precious Gemstones –
They are less rare compared to precious stones but are equally admired in the world.
· Amethyst – Known for its dark and light purple color which symbolizes clarity and peace.
· Citrine – Also Known as “Merchant’s Stone”, it symbolizes financial prosperity and abundance.
· Topaz – Known for its different colors (Yellow, Blue, White), symbolizes mental clarity and protection.
· Aquamarine – Known for its soothing blue color, symbolizes courage and harmony.
3. Natural Gemstones –
Natural Gemstones are stones that are found naturally deep inside earth and are mined out of the earth. Sometimes they are refined and are treated in a way to improve their color or clarity which helps to increase their beauty and price. They are often heated through a chemical process. But sometimes excess heating of a stone can make it darker or can affect its durability.
4. Synthetic Gemstones –
These are stones that are prepared in laboratories through machines or by human hands and are not found naturally. They look identical to natural gemstones through the naked eye. But they don’t have the rarity of natural gemstones and that is why they are cheaper and are less valuable. They are difficult to identify through the naked eye, only an experienced jeweler or a gem expert can detect them.
Cutting of Gemstones
Every Gemstone has to be cut and polished in a way to show or enhance their real beauty. Without cutting off a gemstone, they cannot be used in any type of jewelry or in any other human adornments. There are two basic types of gem cuts- cabochon and faceted. The cabochon cut provides a smooth rounded top which is usually a flat base; it is mostly used for translucent softer gemstones. Till the 14th century cabochons were the only way to cut a gemstone until faceting came into existence. Faceting means the process of cutting gemstone in a way that it becomes more beautiful by making it reflect more light. Faceted cut gemstones have more flat surfaces with an overall shape of round, pears, ovals, squares, and more. Faceting can only be done on harder gemstones. A gemstone when cut and polished is known as a gem or a jewel.
Gemstone Hardness
The hardness of a gemstone is only the factor in determining the durability and pricing of a stone. It indicates the stone durability to scratching and how the surface of a stone will respond to contact with a sharp point. The Mohs Scale helps to know the hardness of the gemstones on a scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). Diamond is considered as the strongest and durable stone as it scores highest (10) on Mohs Scale, whereas “Talc” being the softest or weakest stone as it scores lowest (1) on Mohs Scale. It was first introduced in 1812 by a German gemologist.
How to Select a Right Gemstone for Yourself?
If you want to buy a right gemstone for yourself than there are some key tips you should follow:
· Defining the Purpose – One should decide what is the purpose – jewelry, healing, or astrology.
· Authenticity check – Always buy from a trusted jewelers and ask for a certification.
· Understanding the 4Cs grading process – Learn about how gemstones are graded through their Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight for better understanding.
· Budget – Always determine the budget as sometimes semi-precious stones can be as good as precious ones and at a lower price.
Conclusion
Gemstones are not just a piece of a stone or a crystal – they are a part of Earth’s history. Gemstones are always admired by humans for their presence in jewelry, for their healing abilities, or for astrological reasons.
As a gemologist and as a nature lover, I can proudly say that gemstones are the most beautiful present provided to humanity by nature. The never-ending charm, sparkle, stories and emotions they carry are unmatchable and they have been passed on from generations to generations.
