What is the value of gemstones compared to precious stones ?

The world of gemstones is often seen as a hierarchical pyramid, with precious stones reigning supreme.
But this glittering pyramid contains much more nuanced perspectives when it comes to precious and semi-precious stones...

While the gem market divides precious stones and semi-precious stones into two distinct categories, our
House of Haute Joaillerie shares a vision that we believe to be fairer and more nuanced.

HISTORY AND PREMISES

Historical accounts, cultural customs, family heritage and the age of certain mines help to shape the way
precious stones are perceived in the world of gemology.

The first recognition of "precious" stones dates back to antiquity. Around 3100 BC, ancient Egyptians
began to attribute a special value and status to certain gems according to their rarity at the time, their
beauty and their symbolic or religious significance. For example, they used gems such as emerald, lapis
lazuli and turquoise in jewellery and amulets, attributing spiritual and protective powers to these stones.

In the 15th century, Europe, the Ottoman Empire and the USA were the first countries to have access to
precious stones. At the beginning of the 20th century and with globalisation, the great wealth and
powers of other countries began to travel to get their hands on the stones. This wave of globalisation
brought about an initial change in prices and therefore in the gemstone market. In recent years, stone
prices have continued to rise with growing interest from the Middle East, Japan and China.

THE INDUSTRY HAS BANNED THE TERM "SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES"

Did you know that the term "fine stones" is now used as an alternative to "semi-precious stones" in
gemology and jewellery ? This change in terminology was mainly motivated by the desire to promote a
fairer, more accurate vision and to more accurately reflect the diversity and beauty of different gems.

Indeed, the use of the term "semi-precious stones" implied a hierarchy between these two categories,
suggesting that the "precious" ones were of greater value than the "semi-precious" ones. This has led to
confusion and an erroneous and pejorative perception of the intrinsic value of stones considered to be semi-precious.

And what if we took it a step further ? At our House, we are convinced that all stones can be classified as
precious stones. "The best thing the industry can do is to ban the difference in names and put precious
stones and semi-precious stones in the same basket", says our master jeweller. But for which reasons ?

WHAT IF ALL STONES WERE PRECIOUS ?

To begin with, precious stones are traditionally defined as the four rarest and most precious gems:
diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

According to many sources, these stones were considered the most prized because of their brilliance,
hardness, purity, rarity and colour. But these criteria turn out to be abstract and in fact lack accuracy.

If we take the criterion of hardness, emerald scores 7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is therefore a delicate
precious stone.

As for the criterion of purity, emerald, once again, is known to contain a garden (the presence of internal
inclusions). Of course, the rarity of the most beautiful emeralds is due to their purity, but that does not
define them.

Nor does rarity define precious stones. A natural diamond is not a rare stone, and some fine stones are
even rarer.

And if we look at the criterion of colour, certain fine stones also have their credentials compared to
precious stones. Their beauty is defined by the intensity and saturation of their colour. Many gemstones
are just as exceptional in colour as their precious counterparts.

Cobalt spinel, for example, is a stone classified as "fine" that is admired for its intense blue colour and
pure composition. With limited deposits in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, Burma and Zambia, its rarity
also contributes to its value on the gem market. As a result, cobalt spinel can be much more expensive
than a beautiful natural sapphire.

THE CHOICE OF OUR FINE JEWELLERY HOUSE

That's why our House brings out unique pieces, both with precious stones and with a selection of high
quality gemstones. Our showcases feature a ring set with a green tourmaline, a pendant set with an
aquamarine, a necklace of tsavorites, earrings set with a pair of spinels, and more.

So if you're in any doubt, it's best to rely on your senses to decide whether this stone is right for you,
whatever its title or market value.

Read our other article on emeralds