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Views: 5 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-12-19 Origin: Site
Nothing is more beautiful than sparkling, bright gemstones and jewelry that reflect light and add brilliance. The jewelry industry often uses gemstones and crystals to create dazzling jewelry. But do you know the difference between crystals and gemstones? Do you know if you are wearing crystal jewelry or gemstone jewelry? If you want to know, then read this article, and you will be able to tell for yourself.
Gemstones are raw and rare minerals, organic substances, and rocks mined, cut, and polished to perfection for jewelry production. In contrast, crystals are pure substances composed of atoms, molecules, or ions arranged in a three-dimensional crystal lattice.
In simple terms, a gemstone can be considered a type of crystal, but a crystal is not necessarily a gemstone.
Gemstones or precious stones are rare earth substances in mineral, rock, or organic state. These are excavated or found in their raw form underwater, then chiseled, carved, and polished before being sent to jewelry manufacturers. Gemstones are classified as precious and semi-precious stones. However, this classification is based on a commercial context only and does not provide any evidence of the value of these natural products.
We commonly use many different types of gemstones for gemstone jewelry, such as the four more valuable ones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Relatively inexpensive semi-precious stones include quartz, topaz, tourmaline, amethyst, and moonstone. For example, amethyst is a semi-precious stone and a beautiful crystal that comes in various shades of purple, from light mauve to deep purple.
A crystal is pure matter, a three-dimensional lattice of atoms, molecules, or ions. These gems occur naturally or can be synthesized by crystallization in a laboratory. In addition, there are seven types of lattices in which the atoms or ions are arranged orderly. However, some crystals are not arranged orderly and are called polycrystals; ice is an example.
Different types of gemstones have unique compositions. For example, diamonds are carbon atoms, while some gemstones contain minerals, such as corundum in rubies. In contrast, crystals are 3-D lattices of specific atoms, molecules, and ions specific to the type of crystal. For example, carbon atoms form the lattice of diamonds, while amethysts are composed of silica arranged in triangles.
Gemstones are found in relatively small quantities and only in some geographical regions of the world, which is why they matter. Conversely, crystals are found in abundance in nature and are also easily synthesized by crystallization chemistry. Nevertheless, one can make gemstones in the laboratory, but at a lower value.
Gemstones are classified according to a variety of categories. Some gemologists classify them according to their composition, while jewelers classify them according to clarity, hardness, and precision. In contrast, there are seven crystal systems: cubic, tetragonal, tripartite, trigonal, hexagonal, monoclinic, or rhombohedral.
Gemstones have refractive index, luster, specific gravity hardness, clarity, dispersion, fracture, etc. In contrast, crystals have many physical, electrical, and magnetic properties.
Because of their rarity in nature and their unique brilliance, gemstones are expensive compared to crystals. Nevertheless, some semi-precious stones are also more expensive than gemstones. The pricing and value of gemstones and crystals vary widely, and no specific values chart exists.
Gemstones are often used in jewelry making, including rings, earrings, necklaces, crowns, and other decorative items, such as swords, for royal decoration. In contrast, crystals are primarily used to decorate jewelry items, especially lab-grown crystals used to make artificial jewelry. In addition, they are used in a variety of decorative pieces.
Both gemstone jewelry and crystal jewelry are lovely and beautiful, and they look very nice and upscale as accessories to go with them. However, it is necessary to learn to distinguish the difference between them. After all, there is still a relatively noticeable price gap between the two. Learn to distinguish between gemstone jewelry and crystal jewelry when buying jewelry. You can avoid being cheated by unscrupulous businessmen.
