So what are precious stones?

People often talk about precious stones as belonging to one group of stones and semi precious stones as members of another, as if there were a factual distinction. There is (or was) a thin and flexible line that divides these two categories.

Gemstones have been placed into the categories of 'precious stones' and 'semi precious' stones since the mid-1800s. The term 'precious stone' was once reserved for four types of gems: Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. All other gemstones were placed in the 'semi precious' stone category.

The above classification can be considered as something which has its origin in the past. In the modern landscape, the term 'precious stone' is commonly used to describe almost every other stone apart from Diamond.

A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral, which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity and durable enough to be enjoyed for generations. There are more than 40 popular coloured gem varieties and many rarer collector gemstones.

Many gem specimens inherit extraordinary quality, beauty, durability and glamour and all of them can be used to produce extraordinary jewellery.

Cliveden Jewellers are renowned for their variety of precious gemstone jewellery. We stock an exclusive range of jewellery comprising many of the more desirable precious stones.

Click the relevant links to the right of this page for more detailed information on some of the more popular coloured gemstone types.