‘Gems’ and its types & forms…
Friends have asked me the difference between gemstones and minerals, what people refer to as gems. I will try to explain it briefly.
A ‘gem’ can be any material used to adorn oneself, especially the cut and polished in the glittering world of jewels.
A gemstone can be a piece of mineral crystal – natural, inorganic and crystalline. A crystalline material has an internal, orderly structure e.g. diamond, sapphire, garnet.
There is something magnetic about natural rough crystals set in jewelry. There are beliefs and myths tied to them too… the myths and beliefs I respect but I don’t personally subscribe to. However I cannot deny there’s energy flowing in these crystals that have been in the ground for an incredible number of years!
Amorphous materials are natural, inorganic and non-crystalline. A material which has an internal structure that is disorderly, e.g. opal and obsidian. Don’t we love our opals!
Gems made of rock are natural aggregates of minerals e.g. lapis lazuli.
Organic materials are formed from or with the help of different forms of animal and plant life e.g. pearl, coral, jet. Such beauties!
Synthetics are mad made, artificial gemstones that have the same composition and properties of the natural. Very deceptive indeed! It is necessary to know as much as possible of the new that’s always being created.
This many faceted industry is an ever evolving and exciting industry I hope to learn more of x
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