A gemstone often called a precious metal, stone, or jewel is a section of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry and other ornaments. In past (olden times), they were so much popular
It is hard to believe that the sparkling and glimmering gemstones actually come from minerals, plants or animals. Coral, for instance, consists of the skeletons of tiny sea creatures. Pearls are made by shellfish such as oysters and mussels. Amber is fossilized resin from trees. And diamonds, the most valuable of all gems, are carbon deposits in the Earth’s crust which have become crystals under great pressure.
Many things combine to make a gemstone valuable, including its size, beauty, hardness and rarity. Beauty – which includes colour, clearness and cut – is the most important of all. A slightly clouded or discolored gemstone is not nearly as valuable as a brilliantly clear one. Its flaws are visible to the naked eye.
Gems come in every colour of rainbow. They include mauve amethyst, green emerald and jade, red ruby, blue sapphire, yellow topaz and green-blue aquamarine and turquoise. A diamond is colourless in itself but it flashes with every colour. This is because light is reflected and “bounced around” inside the diamond, just as in the water drops of a rainbow.
It is therefore not surprising that gemstones are used for decorative purposes. Women enhance their beauty with them and treat them as treasured possessions. There is a saying that “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”.