Talk:Gemstone

message: Is it possible to create a list depicting the relative rarity of each mentioned gemstone?  I'm no expert on the subject, but that was one thing that seemed missing from my view as a reader. Krushia 20:17, 11 August 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Rarity listing? 

message: "There is a large number of semi-precious stones". 
How "large" as of late twentieth century? If precise number is not known, how about an order? In the 20s? 50s? 200s? 800s? --Menchi 23:36, Aug 13, 2003 (UTC)
I'd say one would be looking in the hundreds. Many stones have a semi-precious form that has, at one time or another, been used as a gemstone. For instance, ribbon chert has been used as a semi-precious gem; coral is occasionally used; and taaffeite is a quite rare stone that is prized particularly by collectors. Obsidian, some forms of flint, zoisite, et cetera, et cetera. I don't think there is a definitive list. thefamouseccles 04:37 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)
Oh boy. This question isn't one which lends itself to a convenient answer. To even begin, we'd have to define a few terms. I'd like to point out that the term "semi-precious" is discouraged and no longer used, as the current attitude is, "all gems are precious!" (I'll edit the main article at some point.) thefamouseccles is otherwise on the right track, in that there is no definitive figure. 
By traditional defintion, a gem material possess the following qualities: beauty, durability, rarity, and acceptability. You couldn't get very far by using this as a guide, however, because there are so many idiosyncratic contradictions. For example, tanzanite (blue/purple zoisite) is certainly beautiful, rare, and acceptable. However, it's not very durable, being no more resistant to abrasion than typical window glass. Needless to say, "beauty" and "acceptability" cannot be defined either, so.. so much for that.
I can say that there are 50 gem species (including organics and not including intraspecies varieties) commonly used as gems, and these are what a gemmologist focuses upon. However, if you include the obscure collector's species, such as the aforementioned taaffeite and even stranger stones like manganotantalite, you'd have well over 200 species. This does not include the myriad artificial products used as gems, which are considered gem materials. An exact total can't be stated, the list continuing to grow annually as new "gemmy" deposits of previously unacceptable material are discovered.
Well, I've rambled enough. I'm unsure how I should tackle the current article, but I do know that I'll be doing something with it, soon. I do hope I've helped. Hadal 15:53, 8 Dec 2003 (UTC)
replies: text: Great info. You don't have to tackle the article once for all and somehow polish it instantly to perfection. Incorporate/better 3 or 4 facts/factoids at a time. If you feel like it, start a new article, however stubby it may be! Have fun! --Menchi (Talk)â 16:36, 8 Dec 2003 (UTC)
thread_title:  Number of stones 

message: I fiddled and juggled a bit :-) - now has a TOC. 
Surely if all gems are considered precious there must be some subclassification - that is a real wide spectrum. Diamond and a tumbled agate are both equally precious? Seems there should be a dividing line somewhere. Also, the article is in need of a good reference section. I can add a couple, but won't cover it all. Maybe also add an image of faceted gems to go with (and balance) the good image of tumbled stones. -Vsmith 19:31, 19 Dec 2004 (UTC)
replies: text: The traditional D,S,R,E is the line between precious/semi-precious. As has been boted the gem has moved against this dilineation see 'What is the difference between precious and semi-precious gemstones ? ' for instance. I know from working in an AGS store, that the AGS also will not make this dilineation, and the GIA certainly would not. This all makes great fodder for article content that is meaningful to the reader. We need quality references for this. The AGTA ref above is great as they are leading authority on colored gemstones. Other refs would be good also. SauliH 20:21, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  hmm... 

message: I recently picked up Gemstone as a hobby and hopefully turn this into a business later on.  Is there any courses that teaches Gemstones?
Regards
Sharon
:This page is to discuss the article.Mapetite526 17:29, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: *Schools accredited by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) —Dogears 19:04, 25 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Courses on Gemstones 

message: The term "semi-precious" exists in old reference books, so a sentence to address the topic in the article can help to disambiguate - such as including the text from above into the article - the term "semi-precious" is discouraged and no longer used, as the current attitude is, "all gems are precious. "Clear"ly there's a difference in stones that are hard enough to be facetted and opaque stones that are formed into cabochons. 
:Yes, I think there should be a little bit more about this. Stores still refer to them as precious and semi-precious here in the states. How about a little section called "Precious vs. Semi-Precious"? -- Mapetite526 20:14, 25 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree and have added a section describing the many different treatments commonly applied to gemstones. I may add more about reconstituted and assembled gems such as with turquiose and amber, which are commonly reassembled. -- Mapetite526 20:14, 25 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Semi-precious

message: Would anyone else be interested in a WP for this subject. I see a lot of holes that could use expansion. Anyone? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by SauliH (talk • contribs) 17:17, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Wikiproject Gemstones and Jewellery???  

message: This page mentions that Rhodochrosite is too fragile to be used in jewelry, etc., but then the Rhodochrosite page says it is used in jewelry. Anyone knowledgeable (I'm not) about the subject want to clear the issue up please? Thanks! -Yupik 09:44, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Rhodochrosite

message: Where did everything go? The entire page is gone! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.74.35.9 (talk) 01:35, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Just sad vandalism, the page is easy to restore from the History log - Adrian Pingstone 15:05, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  WHAT HAPPENED?!! 

message: Should All The Words Like Sapphire, Ruby And Emerald Be Capitalized Throughout As They Are?  Is That The Norm? PseudoEdit 21:25, 20 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Why So Many Capitals? 

message: Perhaps there should be a section on the metaphysical properties of gems, even if it's just for the sake of helping this article to be 'well-rounded'. If not here, then for the individual stone pages.
Anon.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.119.101.28 (talk) 22:27, 3 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: The information you're talking about does exist at Charmstone.  -FisherQueen (talk · contribs) 22:30, 3 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Metaphysics? 

message: there is no difference now between precious and semiprecious stones?  
there is not a broad consensus for that. it is one user's OR. 
while yes sometimes semiprecious stones in jewelry outsell precious ones IF the former have significant known historical value, that does not end the overall distinction.  an amber ring owned by marie antionette of course will outsell a modern low-grade diamond solitaire --but only because of the provenance-value.  remove the historical context and the settings and sell the stones alone and we'll see which stone is worth more.
i could just as well point to silver outselling gold (as might happen if an authenticated ancient greek silver coin with provenance is compared to the sale price of a generic modern piece of bullion gold) but it does not lead to a sweeping assertion like silver is worth as much as gold.   
a 10kt moonstone is going to outsell a 10kt diamond?  really?  not unless that moonstone is on a roman or maybe renaissance era mounting where the history adds to the value.  there a few high-value modern pieces made of base material, but generally only because of high collector interest in the designer or in the era (certain art deco and art nouveau specimens).
also
the 'sources' listed in the lede's first sentence are weak: one link to a dictionary generally (not a specific entry therein) and one link to a bead-necklace maker's guidebook.  
this article needs work of many fronts, but especially on sourcing and on getting rid of that precious=semiprecious OR theme. 
Cramyourspam (talk) 16:17, 2 July 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  semiprecious 

message: There seems to be no discussion of to what extent gemstones are single-crystals or polycrystals. Xxanthippe (talk) 04:07, 10 November 2013 (UTC)
thread_title: Crystal?

message: Some important sections to this article are missing that should answer the following questions: Where are gemstones found? And how are they found? And by whom? Currently this article dose talk about the commercial aspects of refining gemstones into jewelry, but no mention of the processes leading up to that. If someone with more knowledge on the topic could add a section or two on the history of humans acquiring gemstones (including the present), that would help to round out this page. Also there is no talk about the political and economic role that gemstones have played and continue to play in world affairs.(eg. the California Gold Rush, European imperial expansion, etc). A section on this topic would make this article a more comprehensive source of information.
Oh wow really (talk) 13:52, 13 December 2018 (UTC)
replies: text: They are mined at countless locations around the world. Gold is not a gemstone, though South Africa diamonds are. Johnbod (talk) 14:18, 13 December 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  Who, where, and how are gemstones found? 

message: An editor has asked for a discussion to address the redirect Fake minerals. Please participate in the redirect discussion if you wish to do so.  Steel1943 (talk) 21:37, 30 January 2020 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Fake minerals" listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|Redirects for discussion]] 

message: I have just added an image with seven semiprecious stones. It would be nice if someone who has the knowledge could add the types of the gemstones to the image caption. Pittigrilli (talk) 09:59, 1 October 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  New pic in section "colors" in need of description 

message: — Assignment last updated by ChloejWard (talk) 03:40, 15 April 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: Here is a good site for an addition of environmental issues  and child labor from mining.    If the student doesn't add a section to the article I will.  Sectionworker (talk) 02:43, 21 February 2023 (UTC)
thread_title: Wiki Education assignment: ERTH 4303 Resources of the Earth

message: — Assignment last updated by Spencerladner (talk) 20:18, 1 March 2024 (UTC)
thread_title: Wiki Education assignment: ERTH 4303 Resources of the Earth