WHAT ARE GEMSTONES

Gemstones are natural minerals or rocks that have been polished, cut and faceted into a variety of shapes and sizes to be used in jewelry and other decorative items. They are usually mined from the earth, although they can also be synthetically created in a laboratory. Most faceted gemstones are extremely durable and resistant to abrasion, making them ideal for use in rings, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry. Gemstones are divided into two categories: precious stones and semi-precious stones. Precious stones include diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Semi-precious stones include a wide variety of minerals and stones including quartz, agate, jade, amethyst, turquoise, tourmaline, opal, garnet, lapis lazuli, and many more.