How Many Precious Gems Are There?

Gems are valuable, but some are much more valuable than others.

Such gems as topaz, aquamarine, and garnet are called semi-precious, and cost much less than precious gems.

There are only four minerals that are considered precious gems today: diamond, emerald, and two forms of corundum, ruby and sapphire.

Pearl, which is not a mineral but the product of oysters, is also called a precious gem.

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2 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    Posted 2008/10/16 at 2:50 pm | Permalink

    But I don’t understand how old, pressurized carbon (a diamond) can be considered as a precious gem? And isn’t only expensive because the supply of diamonds is restricted?

  2. Anonymous
    Posted 2008/11/05 at 2:13 am | Permalink

    What about Tanzanite?

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