What are gemstones?

Gemstones are the stones used for making Jewelry. These are beautiful, rare and expensive. Natural gemstones are classified as Precious stones and Semi precious stones.

Most of the gemstones are hard, crystalline, colorful and glittering. Gemstones are ever lasting or at least lasts for very long time. Hence these are excellent tool of investment. Gemstones are also used for fashion, decoration and as ornaments.

Navratna or nine gemstones are used in India for astrological purposes. Navratna is also referred as Rashiratna and Graharatna at many places.   Ruby, Pearl, Coral, Emerald, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Hessonite and Cat's Eye are nine gemstones or Navratna used for nine planets the Sun, Moon, Marsh, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu respectively. Navratna or nine gemstones are precious stones according to Indian system of gemology.

Gemstones are also classified as diamond and color stones or colored stones. Most of the gemstones have beautiful  color hence called color stones or colored stones.

Ruby is red or pink, Pearl is white, Coral red or saffron, Emerald green, Yellow Sapphire yellow, Diamond white , Blue Sapphire blue , Hessonite mustard color and Cat's Eye is ranging between green to golden.

Thanks,

Jyoti Kothari

(Jyoti Kothari, proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents centuries old tradition of excellence in Gems and Jewelry. He is also a Quality Management System ISO 9000 professional).

Substitute of Ruby: Spinal and Rubilite

Ruby is a rare and costly stone. It is very difficult to find fine quality ruby above 3-4 carats. Indian astrologers prescribe ruby for astrological purposes regularly. Hence, people look for substitutes. Spinal was considered as substitute of ruby since time immemorial. In fact spinals are found with rubies in Burma.  Spinals are cheaper than rubies hence, used as substitute.

There is a new addition to its substitute that is rubilite. Color of rubilite resembles that of Burmese ruby. However, it belong to tourmaline group. It has very pleasant bright red or deep pink color. It is a semi precious stone and price of rubilite is much lesser than ruby.


Thanks,
Jyoti Kothari 

Jyoti Kothari  is an author and hubber who writes about Gems and Jewelry, India, Economy, Finance, Management, Skills, Job, Employment, Food, Environment, Jainism and on many other topics.
He is proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing centuries old tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry.