Gem Industry

US enforces law barring Myanmar gems

2008-11-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

The United States said it began enforcing Monday a law seeking to tighten an import ban on gems from military-ruled Myanmar in a bid to deprive the junta of precious revenue.

The Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act was approved unanimously by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in July but the US Customs and Border Protection provided a grace period for the jewelry industry to adapt to the new rules.

The period expired on Sunday and the authorities on Monday began enforcing the law that aims to keep Myanmar's rubies and jade from entering US markets via third-party countries, officials said.

"After the grace period expired on Oct 26, 2008, CBP (Customs and Border Protection) will begin enforced compliance," the agency's spokesman, Jaime Castillo, told AFP.

Despite a longstanding ban on all Myanmar imports, gems from the impoverished country have entered the United States via third nations such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, rights groups say.

The new law closes a loophole that allowed into the United States gems cut or polished in third countries, officials said.

The gems trade is one of the most lucrative sources of profit for the military rulers, accused of blatant human rights abuses and stifling democratic opposition.

South Africa to Ask for International Gem Certification

2008-10-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

South Africa plans to ask all nations on Friday to back an international certification system for gems, saying it is concerned not only that diamonds are fueling civil wars among other Africans but also that adverse publicity and calls for boycotts will hurt its own diamond-mining industry.

Ambassador Dumisana Kumalo of South Africa, who will introduce a resolution in the 189-member General Assembly, said in an interview today that piecemeal attempts to control diamond exports, which finance rebel organizations like the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone and Unita in Angola, are not enough.

In two weeks, publication is expected of an expert panel's report to the Security Council on the illegal trade in what are called ''conflict diamonds.''

''One thing that they will show in their report is that the same characters who are involved in trading in Angola are the ones who pop up in the Congo, the ones in Sierra Leone,'' Mr. Kumalo said. ''So there is a very small network wherever these conflict diamonds are.'' He said that without concerted action worldwide, there can be no hope of stopping the trade.

Botswana and Namibia have joined South Africa in offering to set up a technical process for certifying diamonds, based on standards already established by various nations. The United States, Britain, Israel and Belgium, among other countries where gemstones are worked and sold in significant quantities, are backing the South African General Assembly resolution.

''There has to be a way in which those who buy diamonds can be able to tell that these are the good diamonds and these are the not-so-good diamonds,'' Mr. Kumalo said. ''You can't tell the origin of a diamond even it you are Tiffany's, so we want to protect people like that, too.''

The fallout from lost sales would be most acute in southern Africa, the world's largest source of rough diamonds, Mr. Kumalo said. ''The livelihoods of thousands of South African families depend on mining. Botswana, Namibia, ourselves -- without diamonds the three of us would face really serious economic consequences.'' All three have internationally recognized regulations for certifying stones.

''Only 4 percent of the world's diamonds are the conflict diamonds, and 96 percent are prosperity diamonds, as they call them in Botswana,'' he said. ''To an overwhelming extent the industry is fine and the companies are doing what companies are supposed to do.'' He said that only a few rebel leaders, aided by some corrupt government officials and a ring of ''kingpins'' running the trade, are the problem. They have been able to defy or circumvent Security Council resolutions, though with greater difficulty since the Security Council, under the leadership of Canada, took up the issue early this year, Mr. Kumalo said.

''Sadly, this resolution is too late for the young children in Sierra Leone who lost their arms in these crazed attacks funded by these diamonds,'' he said. ''Or for the people of Angola -- millions of whom have been uprooted from their homes. But we have to start somewhere.''

Although the South African resolution is expected to pass, Mr. Kumalo's campaign for international standards met resistance. ''We've had an interesting fight because the Russians and the Indians, for instance, were not very happy about international standards and mechanisms because they were saying that this is not a problem in their part of the world and why should they be subjected to these international standards,'' he said.

''This is beginning to happen on a lot of issues at the U.N.: we have to keep on coming back to saying that the U.N. is a global institution and the problems with conflict diamonds are global problems; they're not just African problems,'' he said.

Mr. Kumalo said he took his resolution to the General Assembly rather than the Security Council to get as close to universal approval as possible. ''This is the kind of resolution that the co-sponsors should be all 189 countries, to really send a message throughout the world that we cannot accept the tainting of this industry by a few people,'' he said.

Gem industry faces new challenges

2008-10-19T11:58:00.001-07:00

DUBAI // Members of the global gemstone industry have gathered in Dubai to address urgent concerns over volatile commodity prices amid roller-coaster market conditions.

The inaugural International Gem Show Dubai, a three-day exhibition hosted by the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICA) and the Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre (DMCC), was created in an effort to establish a commodity marketplace in Dubai providing industry-specific infrastructure and facilities.

More than 1,000 delegates from around the world gathered yesterday to address several challenges facing the industry, including a highly controversial ban on Myanmese gems by US jewellers, as well as strategies for coping with global price fluctuations.

“People feel very insecure,” said Andrew Cody, the president of ICA and an associate of the Australian Museum. “They buy a product one day and the next day it’s lost 30 per cent of its value – it’s just crazy.”

While the recent tumble of markets around the world has resulted in a slide in the prices of precious and semi-precious gemstones, the first half of the year saw an overall price increase. According to the IDEX Online Polished Diamond Price Index, the price of gemstones were up by 8.1 per cent in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period last year. Similarly, polished diamonds surged by nearly 15 per cent from January to August this year.

Known in the industry as the “City of Gold”, Dubai has worked hard this year to establish itself as a hub for the diamond, gemstone and pearl trade through programmes commissioned by the DMCC. Last year, the DMCC and ICA joined forces to launch the Middle East GemBureau, a Dubai-based facility designed to meet the needs of ICA members and trade representatives.

“The Coloured Stones and Pearls division of DMCC has very much been about dealing with the very fragmented market, and how we can position Dubai as a hub for trading,” said Gaiti Rabbani, the division’s executive director. “So we are leveraging on the strengths of the retail market for gold and diamonds and translating that into coloured stones as well.”

There are many hurdles to cross before Dubai reaches the potential envisioned by the DMCC. First, gems pose major challenges because skilful imitations, substitutes and enhancements mean fraudulent products can often pass as genuine stones. Grading and pricing are also difficult to pinpoint and require considerable industry experience.

Dubai also has significant customs issues complicating efforts to do business with international players, several exhibitors at the show said yesterday. Markets around the world have implemented the ATA Carnet System permitting tax exemptions for goods temporarily admitted into a country, for example, for exhibitions and trade shows. Dubai has not implemented this system – something officials said was one of the major challenges they faced in growing the local industry.

“It is a big issue, because there are a lot of markets internationally, like Hong Kong, where they wave customs duties on certain industry sectors including the loose stones industry,” said Ms Rabbani. “That doesn’t apply here, so it is a very complex procedure in terms of bringing goods in and declaring, and putting down deposits for customs duties, and things like that.”

Delegates also voiced their disapproval of the ongoing US import ban against so-called Myanmese “blood gems” following claims that the stones went toward financing the country’s military junta.

Mr Cody and several members of the gemstones industry insist the ban would have a negative impact and cause collateral damage upon poor populations engaged in mining, processing and trading activities in Myanmar and other countries.

PREPARE FOR THE EVOLUTION: NEW XBOX EXPERIENCE TO INVITE EVERYONE IN ON 19th NOVEMBER

2008-10-18T21:08:00.001-07:00

Get ready. The evolution is coming. Microsoft Corp. today announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2008 that the New Xbox Experience, a transformation in home entertainment, will launch on Wednesday, 19^th November. On that day, millions of Xbox 360 owners worldwide will experience a completely new Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft that is fun, social and simple to use – and puts more entertainment at their fingertips than any other device connected to the TV.

“Our industry is defining the future of entertainment,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios, while at the Tokyo Game Show 2008. “When the New Xbox Experience launches in just six weeks, we will be inviting the whole world to play. We will also have the games that everyone will want, including all-new social experiences like ‘Lips,’ ‘Scene It? Box Office Smash,’ and ‘You’re In the Movies,’ all launching this Christmas all exclusively on Xbox 360.”

With the launch of the New Xbox Experience ^[1] on 19^th November, Xbox 360 owners will enjoy the following:

· Entertainment without limits. Xbox 360 invites you into a limitless world where the best games and movies live side by side with your personal pictures and music library, and ready to share your fun anytime with friends across the globe through the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network.

· Xbox LIVE Party: Xbox 360 allows you to create a virtual party on your TV with up to seven friends. With LIVE Party, voice chat while you play games, share photos in real-time ^[2] and entertain friends all over the world.

· Personality plus. Create a customisable, animated avatar and literally jump into the world of Xbox LIVE. Your avatar is your game-face throughout the New Xbox Experience and represents your personality – whether you are a LIVE Party host or chatting with a friend. With custom avatars created by the more than 14 million members worldwide, Xbox LIVE will have as many avatars as Tokyo has residents ^[3].

· On-demand entertainment. Xbox 360 is home to the best movie and music entertainment, including a large online library of on-demand high-definition movies from partners like Warner Bros. Entertainment, Constantin and MGM.

· Games for the community, by the community. For the first time in the history of console gaming, thousands of games developed by the creative community will be available to the public. The Community Games channel on Xbox LIVE will include games made by students, hobbyists, and everyday people all around the world and will be exclusive to Xbox LIVE.

When the New Xbox Experience launches this autumn, it will join the best and broadest Xbox 360 entertainment line-up of games ever. Whatever your passion, Xbox 360 has games for you. Only on Xbox 360 can you unleash your inner diva with “Lips;” live your favourite movie moments with “You’re in the Movies” and “Scene It? Box Office Smash;” and find Xbox LIVE Arcade favourites like “Castle Crashers” alongside indie favourites like the smash hit “Braid.”

· Music. Xbox 360 is the preferred stage for the best music games, including “Lips,” “Rock Band 2,” and “Guitar Hero® World Tour” and “DanceDanceRevolution^® UNIVERSE3.”

· Family. Xbox 360 gets the whole family playing with titles such as “Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” “Dig Dug Stylish Edition,” “PacLand” and “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.”

· Sports. Xbox 360 remains the best place to play sports titles, including leading franchises like “PES 2009,” “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR,” “NBA LIVE,” “NHL 2K” and more.

· Blockbusters. “FINAL FANTASY® XIII” will be available on Xbox 360 at launch in North America and Europe. And Xbox 360 is the only place gamers can play the year’s biggest games, such as “Gears of War 2” and “Fable II.”

Diamond for some one special

2008-10-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

Gem diamond industry :

A large trade in gem-grade diamonds exists. Unlike precious metals such as gold or platinum, gem diamonds do not trade as a commodity: there is a substantial mark-up in the sale of diamonds, and there is not a very active market for resale of diamonds. One hallmark of the trade in gem-quality diamonds is its remarkable concentration: wholesale trade and diamond cutting is limited to a few locations (most importantly New York, Antwerp, London, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Surat), and a single company—De Beers—controls a significant proportion of the trade in diamonds.[citation needed] They are based in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England.

The production and distribution of diamonds is largely consolidated in the hands of a few key players, and concentrated in traditional diamond trading centers (the most important being Antwerp). The De Beers company, as the world's largest diamond miner holds a clearly dominant position in the industry, and has done so since soon after its founding in 1888 by the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. De Beers owns or controls a significant portion of the world's rough diamond production facilities (mines) and distribution channels for gem-quality diamonds. The company and its subsidiaries own mines that produce some 40 percent of annual world diamond production. At one time it was thought over 80 percent of the world's rough diamonds passed through the Diamond Trading Company (DTC, a subsidiary of De Beers) in London, but presently the figure is estimated at less than 50 percent. De Beers used its monopoly position to establish strict price controls, and market diamonds directly to consumers in world markets.

Consumers take notice of new trend, NCDIA

2008-10-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

The jewelry industry is seeing an interesting spark of interest to a new trend: Natural Color Diamonds. While the classic white diamond will always remain beautiful and traditional, there is a great movement towards the use of Natural Color Diamonds in fine jewelry.

Consumer perception of color diamonds was once limited to the pink, brown and yellow diamonds. However, over the past few years, the growing trend of Natural Color Diamonds has spread rapidly throughout the industry expanding the way that designers are incorporating natural color diamonds into their jewelry. Some of the amazing rare natural color stones used are blue, green, orange, purple, gray, red and black.

The Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA) was formed in 2003 as an international trade organization dedicated to increasing awareness of color as a unique and valuable attribute in diamonds.

The mission of the NCDIA is to increase the awareness of Natural Color Diamonds by educating both the jewelry industry and consumers about the many wonders and benefits of these beautiful and rare stones.

NCDIA is comprised of over 200 members boasting some of the most amazing designers in the marketplace such as: Christian Tse, Erickson Beamon, Manak, Martin Flyer, Amgad and Le Vian, to name a few.

Consumers should be aware of the basic differences in purchasing a traditional white diamond versus a Natural Color Diamond. With the many "how-to" websites and books that are dedicated to helping individuals purchase a diamond, a new set of rules applies to the 4 C's when making this exciting investment.

Some of the interesting facts that impact the price when purchasing a Natural Color Diamond are Color, Carat, Clarity and Cut. Their importance is listed beginning with the highest relative factor.

Color - With Natural Color Diamonds, the first thing to look at is the color intensity which ranges from Fancy Light - Fancy - Fancy Intense to Fancy Vivid.

The rarity of a Natural Color Diamond will affect the price of the diamond. The more common colors such as gray, brown and yellow will generally have a lower cost than rarer Natural Color Diamonds.

The colors that appear less frequently in nature such as pink, blue, green, purple and orange are more valuable and more expensive. The rarest and most expensive color is red.

Carat - Within the Natural Color Diamond category, large gems are extremely rare. This makes larger fancy color diamonds that are found exponentially more expensive.

Clarity - Unlike white diamonds, the clarity factor is less important in a Natural Colored Diamond. This is because inclusions within these diamonds are not as easily seen due to their natural color.

Cut - Natural Color Diamonds are cut to reveal the most vivid color, unlike colorless diamonds which are cut to reveal maximum sparkle, for example, the "Round Brilliant" cut.

Interestingly, a Natural Color Diamond cut in the "Round Brilliant" form would actually take away some of the sparkle from the intense color.

Gem industry in need of regulation

2008-10-07T20:04:00.000-07:00

The chance discovery of sapphires in Madagascar five years ago has brought in its wake a frantic scramble for the precious stones. But there are concerns that the industry has had little regulation.

In the towns of Sakaraha and Ilakaka, in southern Madagascar's sapphire belt - believed to be the largest in the world - rows of gem shops line the road where just a few years ago there was nothing at all.

The industry has remained largely unregulated since the first prospectors discovered sapphires in 1998. One politician recently told a local newspaper that just 20 kilograms of sapphires could repay all the country's outstanding international debts.

Consequently, the Malagasy government wants to clean up the industry, regulate the trade in precious stones and, above all, ensure that Madagascar reaps the rewards of its own resources.

In May, the World Bank approved a US $32 million loan agreement to help the country manage its mineral resources more effectively.

The Mineral Resources Governance Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mines over the next five years. Advisers from the World Bank say the project should address the problem of the country's inefficient small-scale mining methods that damage the environment and allow gems to be smuggled out of Madagascar with little economic benefit to the country.

The project aims to reduce smuggling, reform the sector's legal framework, establish administration offices close to the mines, set up a certification programme for dealers and attract more investment from the private sector.

A further effort to improve the sector is the creation of an Institute of Gemmology. The World Bank has brought in Tom Cushman, a gem dealer from the United States, as a consultant.

"One part (of the institute) will be a gemmology school which will teach a complete course, and a second part will deal with the lapidary arts - that is, cutting stones from raw pebbles into gemstones," he told IRIN.

"[Development of lapidary arts] is an area where you can really leave some added value in Madagascar. Stones here are never well cut and almost all of them are exported overseas, which provides profit in other countries, which they would really like to have here," he added.

One of the most disturbing aspects of Madagascar's gem industry has been the use of children to work in the mines. A report by the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), a branch of the International Labour Organisation, has warned that children as young as eight are being used in mines - because they can get into the cramped spaces in the mines more easily than an adult.

The report noted that children are often exposed to very serious dangers and can, for example, die of suffocation if the mine caves in.

Dominique Rakotomanga, who works for IPEC in the capital, Antananarivo, told IRIN: "This is a really big problem, especially in Ilakaka. We are trying to raise awareness about the problem, find alternative ways for the children to make a living, and ensure that they don't miss out on their education. But because of the poverty here and elsewhere, it is very tempting for them to work underground."

These findings were confirmed in Ilakaka by Mahatesa Rakotoarisoa, who works in one of the gem stalls and acts as an interpreter for sapphire dealers from Sri Lanka. "We think safety must be improved in the mines. Quite a few people who have gone down the mineshafts have been hurt. It is not good that children have to work like this. They are too young."

At only five years old, the sapphire industry is still in its infancy and gemmologists predict that there are many more sapphires to be unearthed. Madagascar is one of the poorest nations on earth, so managing this precious resource is crucial to the country's future.

Jasper brings joy into life.

2008-10-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Color: Jasper exhibits various colors, but chiefly brick red to brownish red. It owes its color to admixed hematite, but when it occurs with clay admixed, the color is a yellowish white or gray, or with goethite, a brown or yellow. Often jasper is multi-colored.

Description: SiO2 Jasper is opaque, fine-grained or dense variety of the silica mineral chert. Jasper, long used for jewelry and ornamentation, has a dull lustre but takes a fine polish. Its hardness and other physical properties are those of quartz.

The name's origin: The name jasper is from the Greek iaspis.

Care and treatment: The polish on jasper will often be washed away in water. Clean your jasper jewelry with a soft dry cloth.

Deposits: Jasper is common and widely distributed, occurring chiefly as veinlets, concretions, and replacements in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, as in the Urals, North Africa, Sicily, France, India, Venezula and Germany.
Some varieties are color-banded, and beautiful examples of jasperized fossil wood are found in Arizona, U.S. In USA Jasper is also found in California, Utah and Wyoming.

Diamonds are beautiful symbols of love around the world.

2008-10-07T20:02:00.001-07:00

Stone's names: Diamond, Brilliant.

Color: Diamonds are usually colorless. However, brown, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, red, gray and black variations are also found depending on the impurities present.

The name's origin: Diamond derives its name from the Greek word adamas, which means "invincible".

Birthstone: Diamond is the birthstone of Aries (Ram): March 21 - April 19.

Wedding anniversary: Diamond is the anniversary gemstone for the 30th and 60th year of marriage.

Care and treatment: Diamonds should be stored separately. They can scratch other jewelry as well as each other.

Mystical power: Diamonds give faith, purity, life, joy, innocence and repentance. They assist in developing concentration and in beeing straight-forward and honest. It is believed the diamond loses its brilliance with the health of the wearer, regaining it only when the owner recovers.
Diamond is an antidote to poison and is capable of detecting poison by exhibiting a moisture or perspiration on its surface. Supposedly, the higher quality the diamond, the better it supports these qualities.

Deposits: Diamonds are mostly found in Australia, Ghana, Zaire, Russia, USA (Arkansas, California, Colorado, and North Carolina), and Brazil.

Bloodstone helps one become more knowledgeable in the ways of the world.

2008-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Stone's names: Bloodstone, Heliotrope

Color: Bloodstone is a green stone with red spots. It also occurs in shades of dark green with red, brown and multicolored spots. The iron minerals cause the deep red and brown colors.

Description: Bloodstone is dark-green variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that has nodules of bright-red jasper distributed throughout its mass. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, and from the resemblance of these to drops of blood it derives its name.
Its physical properties are those of quartz.

The name's origin: Bloodstone is a stone with red spots which resemble drops of blood, so it is received its name due to this similarity.
Heliotrope derives its name from Greek words meaning sun and turning.

Birthstone: Bloodstone along with aquamarine are traditional birthstones of Pisces (Fish): Feb. 19 - March 20.

Care and treatment: Protect bloodstone from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures. The polish will be removed if you get this type of stone wet.

Deposits: Bloodstone is found in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Kathiawar Peninsula and the USA (Wyoming).

Emerald is the perfect emblem of an everlasting love.

2008-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Color: Emeralds occur in a variety of green colors. The magnificent green color that gives extraordinary value to this gem is due to small amounts of chromium and vanadium. Some emeralds have yellowish to bluish overtones.
The stone loses color when strongly heated.

The name's origin: The name emerald comes indirectly from the Greek smaragdos, a name that seems to have been given to a number of stones having little in common except a green color.

Birthstone: Emerald is the birthstone of Taurus (Bull): April 20 - May 20.

Wedding anniversary: Emerald is the anniversary gemstone for the 20th, 35th and 55th year of marriage.

Varieties: Uralian emerald is in fact yellowish green or emerald-green andradite (variety of garnet).

Care and treatment: Clean your emerald with a soft, dry cloth. Oil is used during the stone treatment, therfore you should never clean an emerald with an ultrasonic cleaner because this oil could be removed or damaged. In addition, do not clean emerald in hot soapy water since it too can remove this oil.
Avoid sudden temperature changes as emeralds lose their color when strongly heated.

Deposits: Today, most of the world's emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia,
About 1830 emeralds were discovered in the Urals (Russia). They have been worked on the River Takovaya, northeast of Sverdlovsk, where they occur in mica or chlorite schist. Emeralds have been found, also in mica schist, in the Habachtal, Austria, in granite in Eidsvold, Norway, and in a pegmatite vein piercing slaty rocks near Emmaville, N.S.W., Australia. Fine crystals have been obtained from Hiddenite, N.C., in the United States.

World Gems

2008-10-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

A gemstone or gem, also called a precious or semi-precious stone, is a piece of attractive mineral , which — when cut and polished — is used to make jewelery or other adornments.However certain rocks, (such as lapis-lazuli) and organic materials (such as amber or jet) are not minerals, but are still used for jewelry, and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their lustre or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone.

Gemstones are identified by gemologists, who describe gems and their characteristics using technical terminology specific to the field of gemology. The first characteristic a gemologist uses to identify a gemstone is its chemical composition. For example, diamonds are made of carbon (C) and rubies of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃). Next, many gems are crystals which are classified by their crystal system such as cubic or trigonal or monoclinic. Another term used is habit, the form the gem is usually found in. For example diamonds, which have a cubic crystal system, are often found as octahedrons.

Gemstones are classified into different groups, species, and varieties. For example, ruby is the red variety of the species corundum, while any other color of corundum is considered sapphire. Emerald (green), aquamarine (blue), bixbite (red), goshenite (colorless), heliodor (yellow), and morganite (pink) are all varieties of the mineral species beryl.

Gems are characterized in terms of refractive index, dispersion, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, fracture, and lustre. They may exhibit pleochroism or double refraction. They may have luminescence and a distinctive absorption spectrum.

Material or flaws within a stone may be present as inclusions. The gem may occur in certain locations, called the "occurrence."

Physical characteristics that make a colored stone valuable are color, clarity to a lesser extent (emeralds will always have a number of inclusions), cut, unusual optical phenomena within the stone such as color zoning, and asteria (star effects). The Greeks for example greatly valued asteria in gemstones, which were regarded as a powerful love charm, and Helen of Troy was known to have worn star-corundum.

A factor in determining the value of a gemstone is called water. Water is an archaic term that refers to the combination of color and transparency in gemstones; used hierarchically: first water (gem of the finest water), second water, third water, byewater.

Historically gemstones were classified into precious stones and semi-precious stones. Because such a definition can change over time and vary with culture, it has always been a difficult matter to determine what constitutes precious stones.

Aside from the diamond, the ruby, sapphire, emerald, pearl (strictly speaking not a gemstone) and opal have also been considered to be precious. Up to the discoveries of bulk amethyst in Brazil in the 19th century, amethyst was considered a precious stone as well, going back to ancient Greece. Even in the last century certain stones such as aquamarine, peridot and cat's eye have been popular and hence been regarded as precious.

Nowadays such a distinction is no longer made by the trade. Many gemstones are used in even the most expensive jewelry, depending on the brand name of the designer, fashion trends, market supply, treatments etc. Nevertheless, diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds still have a reputation that exceeds those of other gemstones.

Rare or unusual gemstones, generally meant to include those gemstones which occur so infrequently in gem quality that they are scarcely known except to connoisseurs, include andalusite, axinite, cassiterite, clinohumite and bixbite.