There are four main types of “precious” gemstones: diamonds, blue sapphires, red rubies, and green emeralds. Diamonds stand as the hardest naturally occurring substance known to humanity, and while raw diamonds are relatively common, high-quality, jewelry-grade specimens are considerably more scarce. Following diamonds, sapphires rank as the next hardest gemstone and among the most valuable. Sapphires belong to the corundum family of rock minerals, manifesting in numerous hues. All hues, excluding red corundum, fall under the category of sapphires, with blue sapphires being particularly coveted. Ruby, distinguished by its vibrant red hue, represents a variation of the corundum mineral; all other variants of the mineral are deemed sapphires. Like sapphires, rubies rank second only to diamonds in hardness and brilliance, yet they are rarer than diamonds and blue sapphires. Green emeralds stand out as one of the scarcest gemstones. These deeply colored gems belong to the beryl group, including aquamarine. While emeralds are notably softer than diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, their green hue remains unparalleled among gemstones due to distinctive inclusions that render each stone unique.
https://sheilafleet.com/pages/guide-to-precious-stones
https://www.devonsdiamondsdecor.com/blogs/news/the-four-main-precious-stones
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