Bucherer_ColoredGemstones

A DEFINITION OF GEMSTONES
Gemstones have been known since about 8000 B.C. Today, the word describes a very
rare, homogeneous mineral, naturally occurring as part of the earth’s crust.
Unfortunately, the term “semiprecious stone” still stubbornly persists in the trade,
although its slightly derogatory connotations should forbid its use. At one time,
less hard stones were referred to as semiprecious stones, but today we refer to them
as gemstones.
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