ShareThis5 Popular Gemstones
Are you in the market for some jewelry? Here's a list of 5 globally popular gemstones including descriptions of why they're considered so beautiful:
Popular Gemstone #1--Diamond
Diamonds are popular gemstones because of their composition and appearance. Diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth, meaning that they can only be cut by other diamonds. They are able to disperse light--a lot of light--which gives them an attractive sparkling appearance.
Popular Gemstone #2--Ruby
Rubies are a variety of the mineral corundum. Their reddish appearance comes from trace amounts of chromium in the corundum. These gems rank second to diamonds in hardness, and thus are valuable because they are resistant to wear.
Popular Gemstone #3--Sapphire
Sapphires are also a variety of corundum. Instead of chromium, these gemstones contain titanium or iron. This difference gives them a blue color. Being made of the same material, these gemstones are similar to rubies in value because of their hardness.
Popular Gemstone #4--Emerald
By weight, emeralds are the most valuable gemstones on Earth. They are a variety of the mineral beryl. Their green color comes from trace amounts of chromium or iron in the mineral. Emerald gemstones are made less valuable with more inclusions. Inclusions are materials like oil or water that get trapped inside the emerald as it is forming. Inclusions affect a gem's clarity, making it less brilliant.
Popular Gemstone #5--Pearl
Pearls are indeed gemstones, but instead of being formed in the earth, they're formed inside of oysters under water. These lustrous balls of calcium carbonate are formed from irritants in an oyster's body that stimulate the oyster to cover the irritant with its own secretions. A pearl's luster increases with body warmth, so wearing them actually makes them look prettier.
