What are the common semi-precious gemstones for jewellery making?

semi precious gemstones

Introduction

For hundreds of years, jewellery has been a constant in a woman's wardrobe. Gemstones have been used in both statement and subtle jewellery designs to make stunning pieces. It adds a unique twist and a good shot of style to every outfit, whether casual, traditional, or formal. Classic gold and silver jewellery, on the other hand, is prohibitively costly. This is where artificial jewellery comes in; it is a sure-fire way to look amazing without breaking the bank. Stones are the most common and fashionable component used in jewellery today; they add an elegant finish, spark, and outstanding quality to your whole piece. The list of so-called semi-precious gemstones used in jewellery is extensive and fascinating. All gems are valuable, each with its beauty and personality. We, therefore, give you an insight into some common semi-precious gemstones for jewellery making.

What are semi-precious gemstones?

A semi-precious stone, also known as a gemstone (also a jewel, a gem, or a precious stone), is a mineral fragment that, when polished and cut, is used to make jewellery or other ornaments. There are also organic materials or specific rocks that are not minerals (for example, jet or amber) used for jewellery and are called gemstones. Semiprecious stones include gemstones crafted from agate, amber, amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, chalcedony, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, citrine, garnet, hematite, jade, jasper, jet, kunzite, lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, obsidian, onyx, peridot.

Semi-precious gemstones for jewellery making

To help you get started, we've compiled a list of the most common and beautiful semi-precious gemstones for jewellery making.

  1. Amethysts are a rare gemstone that has a deep purple colour. They are thought to be a healing stone representing affection, happiness, and riches in one's life. Amethysts were once thought to be more valuable than diamonds until a massive deposit was discovered in Brazil and Uruguay. At that point, they were classified as semi-precious.
  2. Opal is an amorphous gemstone that is thought to have been formed in nature by the deposition of silica in rock crevasses during rainfall. When the water evaporates, the residual silica deposits cause the rock to develop a beautiful range of colours and become opal. Opal occurs naturally in a variety of shapes and takes a very long time to develop. The vividness of the colour that appears on the stone determines whether an opal is precious or ordinary. Nearly 95 per cent of the world's opal comes from Australia. Opal is commonly used in jewellery in its unprocessed form. The meaning of opal is determined by the colours found in the stone.
  3. Turquoise has a long history, dating back thousands of years, and is known as a common and valuable gemstone due to the distinctive blue to green hue it brings. It is regarded as a powerful defensive stone that is also calming to the touch and aesthetically pleasing. Turquoise is also produced by a chemical reaction in which mineral deposits such as copper and aluminium turn the rock into the gemstone with colours ranging from sky blue to grey-green. The stone is known to change colour when exposed to sunlight or other chemicals. This gemstone is one of the most common due to its distinct colour. More and more celebrities are wearing turquoise statement jewellery on the Red Carpet, and they look stunning. Turquoise gemstones are suitable for both casual and formal semi-precious stone jewellery. Some people claim that turquoise gems have soothing and relaxing properties if you believe in the spiritual properties of gems.
  4. Topaz is a mixture of aluminium, silicate, and fluorine. This stone is thought to have been discovered by ancient Egyptians about 2000 years ago. The stone is translucent in its purest form. However, it is uncommon to find a topaz so pure. Sky, London Blue, and Swiss blue topaz are the three distinct types of blue topaz. The stone is well-known for its calming and relaxing properties and is associated with purity, fellowship, and happiness. The red topaz, also known as the Imperial Topaz, is the rarest type of topaz.
  5. Jade, familiar as a healing stone, is made up of many different types of gemstones. The pure types of jade, on the other hand, are jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is the rarer of the two and therefore more valuable. The chime test will help differentiate jadeite from nephrite. When hit, nephrite produces a musical sound, while jadeite does not. Because of its strength, the stone was used to make arms thousands of years ago. Though green jade is the most common, it is also available in white, yellow, lavender, orange, black, and grey. The Imperial Jade, found only in Myanmar and Burma, is the most valuable of all jades.
  6. Peridot is an idiochromatic stone, which means it is often found in a single colour. It comes in various shades of green, some of which have yellowish undertones. Peridot is one of only two gemstones (the other being diamonds) that grow deep within the earth's mantle and rise to the surface due to violent volcanic activity. As a result, it is sometimes referred to as the volcanic gemstone. Peridots are fairly priced and long-lasting enough to be used in jewellery daily. When used in rings, however, they should preferably be placed in safe conditions, such as bezels, if you want them to last longer. To bring out the brilliance of a peridot gem, it can be cut into any regular gem shape, such as ovals, marquises, rounds, squares, and so on.
  7. Garnet- The January birthstone is not only one of the oldest gemstones found by humans, but it is also one of the most common. Its deep red hue, which resembles a ruby and its incredible durability and symbolism, makes it one of the top options for semi-precious stone jewellery today. It also represents devotion to love, making it an excellent choice for an engagement ring.
  8. Rose gold is the new jewellery craze, so maybe anything rose has just become fashionable. Rose quartz, on the other hand, has long been a staple for semi-precious stone jewellery. Rose quartz is very romantic, in addition to its distinctive pale pink hue. It is known as the "jewel of purity and love." 
  9. This deep blue gemstone is related to emeralds, but it is less common. Nonetheless, it has an intense lustre and an elegant tint, making it one of the most sought-after gemstones for semi-precious stone jewellery. Aquamarine looks and sounds very elegant by itself or as a complementary stone. Many people agree that an aquamarine stone will help you relieve stress and anxiety. Of course, it may be attributed to its soothing blue colour rather than enchantment.
  10. There are many stories concerning this enigmatic gemstone that appears to have its inner light. And it has seen a surge in popularity after celebrities began using moonstone for engagement rings. Moonstone semi-precious stone jewellery is elegant, discreet, and has a distinct lustre. The moonstone is the only gem that can emit its light rather than reflect it.

Conclusion

The term "semi-precious" gemstone does not imply that it is less valuable than precious gemstones. Semi-precious gemstones are simply more plentiful. Semi-precious gemstones are valued primarily based on their colour, availability, and consistency. These gemstones are a good choice for more prominent, clean-eye stones and come in various colours since they usually have more sources. This list of semi-precious gemstones for jewellery making can help you decide what piece of jewellery you can make and how a semi-precious stone can be used to create beautiful and unique statement jewellery pieces. 

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