Stars and Gemstones - Precious Stones 

AMYBUT.GIF (3925 bytes)

AQUAmBUT.GIF (3952 bytes)

CYTBUT.GIF (3699 bytes)

DIABUT.GIF (3892 bytes)

EMERBUT.GIF (3700 bytes)

GARBUT.GIF (3571 bytes)

JADBUT.GIF (3687 bytes)

OPABUT.GIF (3525 bytes)

PERBUT.GIF (3387 bytes)

PERIBUT.GIF (4017 bytes)

RUBBUT.GIF (3640 bytes)

SAPBUT.GIF (3657 bytes)

TOPBUT.GIF (3711 bytes)

TORBUT.GIF (3775 bytes)

TURBUT.GIF (3773 bytes)

 A natural gemstone is a mineral, stone, or organic matter that can be cut and polished or otherwise treated for use as jewellery or other ornament. A precious gemstone has beauty, durability, and rarity, whereas a semiprecious gemstone has only one or two of these qualities.

A gem is a gemstone that has been cut and polished.

Diamond, corundum (ruby and sapphire), beryl (emerald and aquamarine), topaz, and opal are generally classed as precious stones. All other gemstones are usually classed as semiprecious.