Technically, only 4 gemstones are at present considered “precious”: emerald green, ruby, sapphire, and diamond. The expression was introduced in the mid-19th millennium to designate gems that were important, popular, beautiful, in addition to rare.
Diamond, however, would not lose the status as “precious” even after the particular discovery of large diamond deposits inside S. africa in 1867. Diamonds are not necessarily rare at all, nevertheless command huge prices due to their particular popularity and very effective marketing. Actually right now there are several “semiprecious” gems that are much rarer compared to diamond, emerald, dark red, and sapphire. Regarding example, tanzanite is incredibly rare and will be seen in only 1 place (Tanzania), nevertheless isn’t considered valuable. Other types of very rare semiprecious rocks include alexandrite.
We have this question a great deal, and the response is…there is zero real difference in between precious and semiprecious gemstones! The distinction between gemstones of which are “precious” and people that are “semiprecious” is completely arbitrary. In fact, the US Federal government Trade Commission offers considered banning typically the two conditions since they unnecessarily confuse consumers.
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