| Precious Gems Of The World And Where They Come From |
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| Written by Philip Youngwood |
| Wednesday, 17 March 2010 19:45 |
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Dazzlingly beautiful, the precious gemstones of our planet have been highly valued since they were first discovered. Around the world there are particular areas which are known for their gems, where the balances of heat and pressure on rock have been just right to create something magnificent.
Dazzlingly beautiful, the precious gemstones of our planet have been highly valued since they were first discovered. Around the world there are particular areas which are known for their gems, where the balances of heat and pressure on rock have been just right to create something magnificent. Diamonds Probably the most famous of all the precious stones, diamonds have been mined for centuries and are actually the hardest stone known to man. Diamonds that do not have a high enough clarity are usually used for industrial drill bits instead of jewellery. Only one diamond out of every million mined weighs one carat. Rubies Known for their vivid red-purple colour and also as a symbol of love and passion, rubies are one of the most precious stones around. The most stunning specimens of ruby are thought to be from the mines of Burma, which have been active since the 15th century. If you own one of these you almost certainly need some jewellery insurance. Sapphires Most people will immediately picture sapphires being of deep blue in colour, but in fact they come in every colour except red. Sri Lanka and Montana in the US have particularly good quality sapphires, but they can also be found in Australia, Madagascar, Kenya and Tanzania. Emeralds Unlike sapphires, emeralds only come in vivid green and must be made from the mineral beryl to be officially classed as an emerald. The best emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds. They are mined in Colombia, parts of Africa, as well as various states in America. Tanzanite First discovered in the second half of the20th century, Tanzanite is one of the rarest gemstones on Earth. Found only in a small area in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the stone gets its name from its country of birth: Tanzania. Tanzanite is stunning to behold as it displays 'pleochroism' - the double refraction of light - meaning that it appears to be different colours when displayed from different angles. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Philip Youngwood writes on a number of insurance related topics including jewellery insurance. |