Gemstones, meaning rocks or minerals highly prized for their beauty, durability, and rarity, throughout history, have always carried significance to the wearers. For instance, some gemstones are believed to protect while others inspire lasting love. Additionally, many believe birthstones and zodiac gemstones bring luck, confidence, power, and prosperity to the wearer.
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Top 10 Gemstones: Meanings & More
Gemstones have been cherished and admired for centuries for their beauty and rarity. From the red of rubies to the blue of sapphires, these precious stones have captivated people from all over the world. Accordingly, this blog will explore the top 10 most precious stones in India and abroad, their characteristics, and why they are so beloved.
Diamond
Though often treated as a separate category of precious stones, diamonds are, in fact, a type of precious gem. Notably, the word ‘diamond’ stems from the ancient Greek word ‘Adamas’, which is used to describe something that is unbreakable or invincible. Diamonds are uniquely strong and brilliant and symbolise eternal love. In fact, this amazing gemstone is also used in the design of the Miss World and Miss Universe crowns.
Emerald
Emerald, the gem of spring, symbolises rebirth. Emeralds are a type of beryl that belongs to the same mineral species of coloured gemstones as aquamarine. Furthermore, this precious stone is also one of the most unusual gemstones since they are rarely eye-clean and almost always have visible inclusions, reducing the value of any other gem.
Ruby
Referred to as the ‘king of gems’, rubies have been known as the gemstone for centuries. Specifically, the word ‘ruby’ stems from the Latin word, ‘ruber’, meaning ‘red’, symbolising love and passion. As a variety of the corundum mineral species, rubies can sell for the highest price per carat among all the other coloured gemstones. Ruby, the gemstone in Hindi, is known as ‘Manik’.
Sapphire
The word ‘sapphire’ comes from the Greek word, ‘sappheiros’, meaning ‘blue’. Besides blue, sapphires are also available in a variety of rainbow colours. Additionally, some popular colours for this gem include pink, yellow, and white. Sapphire is also known as the gem of truth and fidelity. They are often heat-treated to enhance their colour and identity.
Opal
Opal is a mesmerising gemstone meaning lucky and protective. It is popular for its stunning display of colours. Specifically, its play of colours ranges from bright oranges, reds, and yellows to soft blues, greens, and purples. The beauty of Opal actually lies in the way it interacts with the light. It is commonly found in Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and the US.
Amethyst
Amethyst is a purple variety of Quartz. It is a popular gemstone jewellery and has a long history of symbolism and spiritual meaning. Notably, the name ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word, ‘amethystos’ which means ‘not intoxicated’. In ancient Greece, it was believed that wearing Amethyst could promote sobriety. Amethyst gemstone in Hindi is ‘Jamunia’.
Topaz
Topaz is one of the most precious stones in India and the rest of the world. The most common colour of topaz is the golden-yellow colour. Specifically, in ancient times, it was believed that topaz had healing powers and could protect the wearer from harm. Today, it is still believed that topaz can enhance the mental and spiritual abilities of the wearer.
Garnet
Garnet is another precious gemstone meaning ‘grain’ in Latin. This refers to the resemblance of garnet crystals to pomegranate seeds. Furthermore, Garnet comes in different colours, including red, green, orange, and pink. The most common variety of Garnets is the Red Garnet, which is often associated with love, passion, and energy.
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is relatively a new gemstone, having only been discovered in Tanzania in 1967. Its mesmerising blue-violet colour has made it a favourite gemstone jewellery. Furthermore, it is believed that Tanzanite has some spiritual and healing properties. This precious stone is thought to help with spiritual and emotional growth, enhance creativity and intuition, and promote self-awareness.
Peridot
Peridot is a gorgeous pure-green gemstone. This gem is believed to promote positivity and well-being, making it a popular choice for people seeking to channel positive energy into their lives. Specifically, Egyptians called the peridot the ‘gem of the sun’ and believed it protected wearers from negative emotions. Today, peridot is popular among both men and women for its versatility.
Gemstones for each month: Birthstones
| Birth Month | Gemstones |
| January | Garnet |
| February | Amethyst |
| March | Aquamarine |
| April | Diamond |
| May | Emerald |
| June | Pearl or Alexandrite |
| July | Ruby |
| August | Peridot |
| September | Sapphire |
| October | Opal |
| November | Topaz |
| December | Tanzanite |
Significance of Gemstones
The significance of gemstones throughout history cannot be overplayed. For centuries, gems have captivated the hearts and minds of people from all walks of life. Specifically, dating as far back as the Stone Age (no pun intended), the healing properties of gemstones and their beauty have been recognised.
Gemstones today carry the same power. When set in jewellery, the gems are worn close to the body, increasing their healing properties. It is believed that they can boost your energy, clean your space, attract wealth, or even attract love.
FAQs
A birthstone is a gemstone symbolic of your birth period, representing either the month or the astrological sign.
Painite is the rarest gemstone on earth. When British gemologist Arthur Charles Davy Pain discovered it in 1951, only two specimens of this precious mineral stone existed. However, approximately a thousand more have been unearthed since then.
The only way to tell if a gemstone is genuine is to take it to a certified jeweller. They will be able to confirm the origin of the stone, i.e., whether it is natural or synthetic and check for any cracks, scratches, and black spots that are indicators of gem quality.
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