Gemstone 101: Terminology For Beginners

For every one that shows interest in gemstones and their study, there is that one time in their lives that they try to understand where they should begin. Where everything begins from basics, so does the study of a gemstone. Expert precious gemstone suppliers in Hong Kong often talk about learning the basics as the most important part of gemstone study as these basics stick around for a long time in the field. But what do these basics include?


The basics of gemstones include the very basic terminology that is used while working with these gemstones. Not only would this knowledge help you in improving your work with them, but will also help in saving time and effort on your end. Here are all the terminologies that you need to know while learning the basics of gemstones.

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Basic Gemstone Terminology

  • Carat

Carat is the measure of the weight of a gemstone. A carat usually is about 200 milligrams, or 0.2 gram in weight of a gemstone, and is an important factor in determining the cost of a gemstone.

  • Inclusions

As the stone forms over time, there are chances that it may have formed with another trace mineral or material enclosed within it. These materials or minerals, or even air bubbles, are called inclusions in a gemstone.

  • Lustre

Lustre is the way the light reflects off of the surface of a diamond when viewed from an angle. This affects the visual properties and appearance of the stone and is factored using the angle of light incidence and the refractive index of the stone.

  • Refractive Index

Refraction is the process of light bending as it passes through a solid-state substance. This results in the refraction of light beam of different spectrums at different angles. The measurement of this behaviour is called the refractive index and is another important factor in determining how valuable a gemstone is.

  • Fire

More commonly seen in diamonds, the fire of a gemstone is the way it splits the white spectrum of light, thus giving it a colourful appearance.

  • Mohs Hardness Scale

The Mohs Hardness Scale is the scale that is used to measure how hard a material is. The scale goes from 1 to 10, with 1 being talc, the softest substance on earth, and 10 being diamond, the hardest. According to the top diamond seller in hong kong, the hardness of a gemstone shows how resistant or resilient a gemstone would be to scratching by a substance harder than them. Which means that while diamonds are pretty much scratch resistant, they can scratch softer gemstones like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires

  • Faceted Gemstone

A faceted Gemstone is a gemstone cut to a particular dimension and with precise geometry to refract most of the light that falls onto it. This makes the stone gleam and glisten more under the light. The flat surface that is cut onto the surface of the gemstone is called a facet.

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Gemstones are fascinating in every nature, and to study them is a fortunate opportunity in life. Begin your journey of knowledge with this basic information about gemstones, before you set out into the world of brilliance and shine on your own.