What makes a stone precious?

Every shiny gem carries its own story, but only a handful earn the title “precious”. From the crown-jewel diamonds to the fiery allure of rubies, precious gemstones over the years have symbolised wealth, power, and romance. In this blog, we’ll explore what really makes a gemstone precious, discover which stones are rarest and most valuable, and share easy ways to tell if a stone is the real deal.

 

What Defines a Precious Stone?

A gemstone becomes precious based on a few key factors such as rarity, beauty, durability, and demand. Traditionally, the four celebrated precious stones are diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Each is known for its exceptional colour, hardness, and historical significance.

 

What Is the Rarest Precious Stone?

Painite is the rarest precious stone and mineral that was originally discovered in Myanmar in the 1950s. The mineralogist who found this rare stone, Arthur C.D. Pain misidentified it as a ruby as the area of Burma is known for its ruby heritage. It is known by its reddish-brown and slightly orange colour and bright sparkle, this makes it very similar in appearance to ruby and a very rare find. 

How Many Paninite Gems Are There?

There is no exact number for painite gems; however, there are a few hundred painite crystals that are known to exist. There are only a small number of these gems that are suitable for faceting into gemstone jewellery. 

What Is the Most Precious Stone?

A precious stone's value can shift up and down with market trends, demand, rarity and quality, but high-quality diamonds still reign supreme in overall value per carat. Fancy coloured diamonds in the rarest colours, like vivid pinks and blues, have been valued at prices far higher than flawless, colourless diamonds.

 

How to Tell If a Semi-Precious Stone Is Real

Semi-precious stones are as beautiful and enchanting as their purer counterparts and are often more affordable. Think amethyst, topaz, and garnet, but how do you know they’re genuine? 

Here are three quick checks:

• Hardness test: Compare against a known hardness scale; real quartz won’t scratch easily.
• Inclusion inspection: Use a loupe to spot natural inclusions; perfectly clear stones are often synthetic.
• Fog test: Breathe on the gem; if the mist lingers, it may be glass rather than a real gemstone.

 

Explore Shining Diamonds’ Gemstone Collection

Ready to find your own precious piece? Browse our collection of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and expertly crafted semi-precious jewellery. Whether you’re seeking birthstone jewellery or a vibrant gemstone ring, you can pop in for a visit at one of our stores, either in London, Brighton, Birmingham. We offer something special for every style and budget.