Semi-Precious

Any gemstones that is not a diamond, ruby, emerald or sapphire is a semi-precious gemstone.Those four are considered precious because of the time it takes to create them, their rarity, and their quality or chemical makeup. Semi-precious does not mean it is less valuable than precious gemstones. Semi-precious gemstones are just usually more abundant, except some verities.This is a commercial based classification and was a distinction that marketers created years ago which gives the false impression that precious stones are more valuable than semi-precious stones.For example, a Tsavorite (green) garnet is more valuable than a mid-quality sapphire, many of them can be just as precious or rare as diamonds and rubies. There are so many semi precious gemstones in the world of gems but some of the more common ones are: alexandrite, agate, amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, lapis lazuli, moonstone, opal, pearl, peridot, rose quartz, spinel, tanzanite, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.There are approximately 200 varieties of natural gemstone known in the world today.