What's The Difference Between Precious Or Semi-Precious Gems ?

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What's The Difference Between Precious Or Semi-Precious Gems ?

Precious vs. Semi-Precious Gemstones

The distinction between precious and semi-precious gemstones is often misunderstood, but fairly easy to understand. Stemming from the ancient Greeks, the traditional distinction between precious and semi-precious gemstones boils down to rarity; diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald are considered precious, while all other gemstones are considered semi-precious. Generally, this system is often considered overly simplistic, unscientific and only reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times. As a result, use of the terms 'precious' and 'semi-precious' in a commercial context can be considered misleading, however when buying gemstone jewelry it's important to acknowledge that this will largely affect the price of any purchase.