Gems have been prized throughout history for many different reasons. Each gemstone has a special beauty, be it its color, degree of purity, and hardness. The quality of these gems makes them perfect candidates for permanent jewelry, as that jewelry will last you a lifetime. If you want to discover which are the 10 best gems for permanent jewelry, keep reading this article.
Source: https://kathleenlynagh.com/jewelry-design/what-is-your-birthstone
The value of a gemstone
There are several thousand known minerals in nature, but of all of them less than 100 are considered gem quality. For a mineral to be considered a gemstone, it must possess three requirements: beauty, scarcity, and hardness.
- The beauty of a gemstone is determined by its clarity, brilliance and color.
- Hardness is based on a scale called the Mohs scale, with 10 being the maximum hardness (this is the hardness of diamond).
- Scarcity refers to how rare the gemstone is. The scarcer it is, the higher the value.
Do you know which are the 10 best gems for permanent jewelry?
- Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a variety of beryl and is distinguished by its characteristic light blue-green color. Its name comes from Latin and refers to the color of seawater.
Aquamarine is also associated with sensuality and romanticism since its color evokes the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, who was born from the foam of the sea. It represents happy love and is often given as a gift to symbolize fidelity. A jewel with this gemstone is a promise of loyalty and joy to be with the loved one.
- Amethyst
Amethyst is one of the most special gemstones for jewelry, as it is said to take its energy from moonlight. It is known as the gemstone of harmony and spirituality and is considered a fantastic ally in the quest for peace of mind and stress reduction.
Amethyst can be found in various shades of purple: the darker it is, the higher quality it will be. Worthy of a queen, it is one of the gemstones found in the British Crown Jewels and one of the best gifts for a woman.
- Garnet
Also called the "stone of courage", garnet generates willpower, perseverance, and determination. It is energizing and regenerating. Garnet is used as a talisman of protection in dangerous situations and helps to eliminate feelings of sadness as it brings optimism, hope for the future, and love of life. It also activates creative energies and imagination.
Source: https://www.michaelhill.com.au/jewellery/gemstones/garnet
- Topaz
Since ancient times, topaz has been attributed with protective powers. It also strengthens the mind and provides security and self-confidence, so it combats shyness and helps to clarify ideas when expressing oneself verbally. The detail shows love and support for one of the most loved ones.
- Zircon
The zircon crystal is the oldest piece on Earth. They are very resistant and can remain intact through different ages. Zircons, which due to their size and purity have gem quality, are sometimes used as a diamond substitute.
Zircon can be found in several colors: colorless, yellow, orange, red, violet, blue, and green. Its hardness is between 6.5 and 7.5, so its edges are not as fine and shiny as those of diamonds. Its refractive index is between 1.777 and 1.987 quite high, so it has great brilliance and intense fire.
- Moissanite
Moissanite is one of the most precious stones on the planet. It is also known as a "gem born from the stars" since it is composed of silicon carbide, a scarce element in nature that is found concentrated in meteorites. This gem was discovered in a meteorite crater and was believed to be a diamond.
Moissanite is a stone with properties extremely similar to those of diamond. Natural moissanite is incredibly rare, so the gemstone today is produced entirely in controlled laboratories, where after years of processing, scientists were able to synthesize it to create what is now one of the most brilliant, resistant, and elegant gems in modern jewelry.
For more information: Moissanite Jewelry Pieces You're Gonna Be Obsessed With
Source: https://www.jtv.com/jewelry/moissanite/_/N-948131026
- Sapphire
Sapphire represents sincerity, fidelity and wisdom. Its color is usually blue, but it can be found in other shades. It is the hardest mineral after diamond. It is associated with divine favor and provides joy, depth of thought and opens the consciousness to beauty and intuition.
- Emerald
It is a gem with a very high price when its quality determines it. The intense green color and the lack of impurities in some of them make the prices tremendously high.
Emerald symbolizes abundance, rebirth and eternal youth. Its soothing green color brings relief to tired eyes and has connotations of beauty, spirituality, kindness and love.
- Ruby
The ruby belongs to the corundum group, stones that have a high hardness index. This gem is of great beauty, especially when it comes to intense red colors; the most valued is undoubtedly the one known as pigeon's blood.
Their prices can cost as much or more than diamonds of very good quality. Its scarcity, together with its beauty, is the main reason why we are talking about one of the most valued gems.
- Diamond
The diamond is the queen of gems. But as it happens with the rest of the most desired gems, it must be said that of all the existing products in the world, very few are of gem quality. The rest is marketed in different sectors of the industry, such as the drilling industry. To know the price of a diamond we must keep in mind the so-called 4 C's, which are COLOR, CLARITY, CARAT, and CUT. But if we take Fancy colored diamonds as a reference, we are talking about another world. A blue diamond can cost millions of euros.
If you are interested in learning more about colored diamonds, we recommend the following article: Fancy Color Diamond
Now that you know what are the 10 best gems for permanent jewelry, we invite you to visit Planderful's website and discover our collection of gemstone jewelry.
