Precious stones vs semi-precious stones
With the prospect of a sunshine-filled holiday tantalisingly close, it’s the perfect time of year to explore the subject of precious vs. semi-precious stones. The list of gemstones classified as precious is short—diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds—and long for semi-precious, encompassing everything from spinels to peridot, topaz to tsavorite, and garnet to aquamarine. What distinguishes precious stones from their semi-precious sisters, and why are they better suited to your holiday wardrobe? Read on to find out.
Precious stones: The Big Four
Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies, the birthstone of July, are collectively known as the “Big Four” gemstones, a term coined in the 1800s to distinguish those stones that have long been regarded as the most coveted and valuable. These are the stones that have been set in crowns and sacred objects for centuries as symbols of power and nobility, but they are also, with the exception of emeralds, some of the hardest materials on earth.
On the Mohs scale, the international standard for measuring the hardness of minerals, diamonds score a perfect 10, with sapphires and rubies following close behind, both ranking 9. This is why these three gems are always recommended for an engagement ring, a jewel that gets more wear and tear than any other. These are also the stones we recommend wearing in the pool, on the beach, up a mountain or sipping on a cocktail at the swim-up bar. They are the ideal choice if you have no intention of taking your jewellery off for the duration of your holiday.
Semi-precious stones
All other gemstones fall into the semi-precious category. With more than 100 in total, ranging from organic stones like pearls to spinels with their mesmerising range of colours, it’s an incredibly diverse group of gems that includes August’s birthstone, the peridot, a vibrant green gemstone with a juicy lime colour that is so redolent of summertime.
Unsurprisingly given their enormous variety, semi-precious stones range considerably in hardness. At Sophie Breitmeyer, we recommend seeking out the tougher semi-precious gems for regular wear and holidays—stones like the topaz, rated at 8 on the Mohs scale, spinels at 7.5-8 and tsavorites at 7-7.5. Peridots, scoring 6.5-7, should be treated with a little more care, but there is nothing stopping you packing an SB peridot pendant—just avoid wearing it if you’re planning anything active so as not to scratch it.
What about emeralds?
At 7.5-8, emeralds score relatively highly on the Mohs hardness scale, however in terms of toughness, they are rated only fair. Naturally included gems, the microscopic fissures and cavities within an emerald means they are susceptible to being chipped if they come into contact with a hard surface. Undeniably beautiful, these special-occasion gemstones are best handled with care. On holiday, this means treating them with the reverence they deserve and saving them for evening wear.
Sophie’s holiday jewellery advice
Sophie has some wise words regarding your upcoming holiday jewellery wardrobe: stick to wearing well-made, solid-gold pieces (definitely no vermeil!), set with gemstones that will be able to handle the wear and tear of even the most boisterous beach games. And when you get home, give your SB pieces a thorough wash with a soft toothbrush and warm water, with a few drops of washing up liquid added. Sand and sun cream always finds a way of getting into the smallest of spaces, so don’t forget to treat your jewels to a post-holiday clean.
