Understanding and Selecting Semiprecious Stones

Every piece of jewelry tells a unique story. The world of precious and semiprecious gemstones opens up endless possibilities for creating distinctive and meaningful pieces that reflect your style. Whether you choose a red garnet, deep blue lapis lazuli, or clear quartz, our expert craftspeople can help you select and design the perfect piece. We work with gemstones worldwide, carefully selecting each for its unique character, clarity, and beauty. 

What Is the Difference Between Precious and Semiprecious Stones?

The distinction between precious and semiprecious stones has evolved throughout history. Precious stones traditionally include four gemstones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. These stones earned their precious status due to their exceptional hardness, rarity, and intense color. They typically have few inclusions, display remarkable luster, and command higher prices in the jewelry market.

Beryl gemstones are among the most popular. Beryl can be colorless to black. A green beryl is called an emerald. 

All other gemstones, including tourmaline, garnet, lapis lazuli, and quartz, are considered semiprecious. These stones offer more colors, from the purple hues of amethyst to the gentle pink of rose quartz. While semiprecious gemstones are often as beautiful as precious stones, they typically have more inclusions and lower hardness ratings on the Mohs scale.

Africa yields many precious stones, including diamonds and rubies. Australia produces significant quantities of semiprecious gems. Europe, Israel, and other regions have historic connections to gemstone categories through their cutting and trading industries.

Today, many jewelers consider the precious versus semiprecious distinction outdated. They focus instead on each stone's individual characteristics, including color intensity, clarity, and overall quality. This modern approach better reflects all gemstones' true value and beauty, regardless of their traditional classification.

Types of Semiprecious Stones

The diversity of semiprecious stones provides endless possibilities for jewelry. We work with numerous varieties, each bringing its own character. 

• Tourmaline brings a spectrum of colors, from watermelon pink to forest green. Our artisans especially love working with tourmaline for its remarkable color zoning properties, meaning it often has bands of different colors.
• Rose quartz captures the essence of gentle love. We often incorporate this beautiful pink stone into our most romantic pieces.
• Lapis lazuli, with its deep blue hue and golden flecks, has captivated artisans since Ancient Egypt, where it adorned everything from royal jewelry to ceremonial objects. Its rich color is reminiscent of a star-filled night sky.
• Garnet offers deep reds and earthy tones that we frequently use in our vintage-inspired designs.

Applications of Semiprecious Stones in Jewelry

Semiprecious gems can be the centerpiece of statement rings, pendant necklaces, and earring designs, either alone or with other stones. For bracelets, these stones can be wire-wrapped, channel-set, or arranged in tennis bracelet patterns. Many designers also use semiprecious stones in brooch designs.

How to Choose the Best Semiprecious Stones for Your Jewelry

Evaluate each stone's hardness on the Mohs scale. Stones rating 7 or higher, like garnet (7.5) and topaz (8), suit daily wear jewelry, while softer stones like opal (5.5-6.5) work better in occasion pieces. 

Rings and bracelets need durable stones, while pendants and earrings can use more delicate options. Consider your budget because some stones cost more per carat than others.

The setting also impacts the stone choice. Cabochons require full bezels for protection, while faceted stones work well with prong settings that allow more light. 

Cleaning Jewelry With Semiprecious Stones

Store your jewelry separately to prevent scratches. Different stones require specific care. Clean most pieces with warm water and mild soap, using a soft brush for gentle scrubbing. A soft stone, such as a pearl or opal, might only need to be wiped with a soft cloth. We provide detailed care instructions with each purchase.

Why Choose Augustine Jewelry?

Our jewelry is handcrafted with love. We bring decades of experience working with semiprecious stones from around the world. Our connections with suppliers for semiprecious stones and metals from Australia, Africa, Israel, Europe, the United States and India allow us to source the highest quality materials ethically.

We pride ourselves on creating jewelry that captures the natural beauty of precious and semiprecious stones that you can treasure for generations.