tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post2576713260301622844..comments2023-07-08T08:03:30.775-04:00Comments on GemWise Moved to http://www.thefrenchblue.com/rww_blog: Semiprecious; A Term In Search of an epitaphRichard W. Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-41568302216489377992009-05-02T00:26:00.000-04:002009-05-02T00:26:00.000-04:00The book Hope Diamond was listed as $12 or somethi...The book Hope Diamond was listed as $12 or something at National Bookstore. I think I might be addicted to buying almost all the gemology related books sold at our local bookstore bcoz this has has never happened before. Though most of them are sold only at the main branch of the capital city. So far I only got Renee Newman Diamond Ring Buying Guide.<br /><br /> Now back to the point. I think Virgilio Elcullada Luib Jr.http://profiles.friendster.com/perfectdiamondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-1357470611294158972007-04-25T04:45:00.000-04:002007-04-25T04:45:00.000-04:00Mr. Wise,I hope you will post the answer that your...Mr. Wise,<BR/><BR/>I hope you will post the answer that your were looking for in your quest to find the answer of what a true precious gemstone is?<BR/><BR/>This has been a wounderful adventure for me. I have learned so much in the research. I have also read the other comments and they have made me think as well.<BR/><BR/>thank you for your wisdom.<BR/>alialigirl712https://www.blogger.com/profile/04975398241882358711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-8961774535759289312007-04-21T21:28:00.000-04:002007-04-21T21:28:00.000-04:00Diamonds are so precious, DeBeers dumps them in th...Diamonds are so precious, DeBeers dumps them in the sea by the drum to create apparent rarity. A 2ct. eye clean white diamond can be found anywhere. Good luck finding a 2ct.eye clean red beryl(a true precious gem). NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-37163274950769308492007-04-17T19:35:00.000-04:002007-04-17T19:35:00.000-04:00HI AGAIN, BEEN THINKING AND READING AND I THINK TH...HI AGAIN, BEEN THINKING AND READING AND I THINK THE MEANING PRECIOUS AND SEMI IS STUPID, I THINK GEMSTONES HAVE A MAGICAL MESTIQUE AND EACH ARE PRECIOUS TO EACH PERSON.I BELIEVE THAT A PRECIOUS STONE WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE THAT WAS RARE,BUT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THAT SPARKLE,THAT A GEMSTONE TALKS WITH.I THINK COLOR HAS INFLUINCES IN A TYPE OF GEMSTONE SO I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WANTED, BUT Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-38707529856161593212007-04-14T18:37:00.000-04:002007-04-14T18:37:00.000-04:00Finially, I get it. I am submitting the following...Finially, I get it. I am submitting the following definition based on the points you are trying to make, the rules of the contest and the several pages of notes I have compiled.<BR/><BR/>The term “Precious Gemstone” is a 20th century classification of the gemstones: diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. Historically, these are the gemstone that were most valued by Royalty, the clergy and the RAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089032266526745865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-526796763506303102007-04-13T20:30:00.000-04:002007-04-13T20:30:00.000-04:00Please forgive me if this is a duplicate.This is a...Please forgive me if this is a duplicate.<BR/><BR/>This is about as close as I think anyone can get. It doesn't include diamonds but it is refering to coloured gems.<BR/><BR/>http://www.gemscape.com/html/ftcguide.htm<BR/><BR/>FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION<BR/>EFFECTIVE DATE: May 30, 1996.<BR/><BR/>F. Precious and Semi-precious Stones (Category V): Secs. 23.18-23.21<BR/>Guides in this part apply RAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089032266526745865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-90947586112450626322007-04-12T21:48:00.000-04:002007-04-12T21:48:00.000-04:00Mr. Wise, Hello, I am a gemstone fanatic,...Mr. Wise,<BR/> <BR/> Hello, I am a gemstone fanatic, thanks to my mother, who started this strange obsession I have with gemstones! I just enjoy researching and learning about gems and all their glory. <BR/> Precious gemstones (diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and amethyst) were highly esteemed by the rich and famous, or wealthy, in the dark ages. These gems were often used in jasusanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620420636555439450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-46414771608340665222007-04-12T09:46:00.000-04:002007-04-12T09:46:00.000-04:00Is it unreasonable to conclude that modern jeweler...Is it unreasonable to conclude that modern jewelers/gemologists refer to diamonds, rubies, blue sapphires, and emeralds as "precious" because that's where they've typically made most of their profits (until the recent discovery of tanzanite, et al., that is)? (And if it's not unreasonable to reach that conclusion, is it unreasonable to believe that perhaps the same was true in ancient times?) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-60336849496644823932007-04-12T09:44:00.000-04:002007-04-12T09:44:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-1595536479313468302007-04-11T21:45:00.000-04:002007-04-11T21:45:00.000-04:00Roberta,If you read the post carefully you will se...Roberta,<BR/>If you read the post carefully you will see that the contest is out to make a point. Traditionally ruby, blue sapphire, emerald and diamond and only those were considered precious.<BR/><BR/>We have a distinction. Some stones are precious and some semiprecious. If that is so then what are the attributes that make those stones stone precious? Obviously there must be some if the Richard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-26867478908994004222007-04-11T18:27:00.000-04:002007-04-11T18:27:00.000-04:00I am not a gemologist, just a person interested in...I am not a gemologist, just a person interested in gems. I purchased your book recently and have found it extremely helpful.<BR/><BR/>This contest however has really opened up a can of worms for me. You mentioned that you had not heard the term "cardinal gems" before, so I tried to do more research on it.<BR/><BR/>Not one to easily give up I have spent a couple of days searching the internet andRAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089032266526745865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-20624911818542299562007-04-09T08:27:00.000-04:002007-04-09T08:27:00.000-04:00Roberta,Interesting, wonder where Wiki got that de...Roberta,<BR/><BR/>Interesting, wonder where Wiki got that definition? I never heard it before and it is historically inaccurate. <BR/><BR/>There are almost as many lists of Precious Gems as their are writers who have mentioned a list, from Marbodius on. All include the big four but I have not heard the term "cardinal gem" before.Richard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-85168380749736469582007-04-08T22:47:00.000-04:002007-04-08T22:47:00.000-04:00Is this what you are looking for?I had to look up ...Is this what you are looking for?<BR/>I had to look up the word "cardinal" to make sense of it. I was't sure if it was refering to the Catholic Church.<BR/>I believe that it is meaning-- main or prevailing.<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemstone<BR/>Traditionally, common gemstones were classified into precious stones (cardinal gems) and semi-precious stones. The former category was RAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16089032266526745865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-20208103515238016162007-04-06T07:09:00.000-04:002007-04-06T07:09:00.000-04:00Aligirl,You make an interesting point. It is true...Aligirl,<BR/><BR/>You make an interesting point. It is true that at certain times and places, color was a defining crterion. The Biblical sapphire was actually Lapis Lazuli. The Egyptians may have confused serpentine with emerald. In some of the old Hindu texts we see rock crystal was believed to be a type of diamond.<BR/><BR/>The ancients did, however, recognize other types of stones and didRichard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-72184560671315189632007-04-06T06:56:00.000-04:002007-04-06T06:56:00.000-04:00J. Wilcox,"The list of precious gems usually inclu...J. Wilcox,<BR/><BR/>"The list of precious gems usually includes: diamond, ruby, blue sapphire and emerald. Right? Well if so what criteria make these gems and only these gems precious?"<BR/><BR/>quote from the blog post above!!! You will note "blue sapphire" which, as we all know, is the only sapphire included in the usual list.<BR/><BR/>From a legalistic point of view your argument has a bit of Richard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-9106456418816161922007-04-06T04:13:00.000-04:002007-04-06T04:13:00.000-04:00Mr. Wise, I have a question about the definition o...Mr. Wise, <BR/>I have a question about the definition of "precious" stones. It seems that when gemstones were coveted before gemology studies became modernized. All red gemstones were considered ruby. All blue gemstones were considered Sapphire. All green gemstones were considered emerald and all gemstones that were transparent were considered diamond. Is the definition of the four precious aligirl712https://www.blogger.com/profile/04975398241882358711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-26559099770797644312007-04-06T03:56:00.000-04:002007-04-06T03:56:00.000-04:00Based on Jewelry glossary.comThere is a consensus ...Based on Jewelry glossary.com<BR/><BR/>There is a consensus that diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires are the "precious" gemstones. Everything else is piled into the semi-precious gemstones category. Many equal in beauty to the four "precious" gemstones. For whatever reason, the four "precious" gemstones are considered more valuable. They are also valued for their beauty rarity and aligirl712https://www.blogger.com/profile/04975398241882358711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-10258354247566531712007-04-05T19:07:00.000-04:002007-04-05T19:07:00.000-04:00Honing my definition gets me closer to giving you ...Honing my definition gets me closer to giving you what you requested. But it appears that you aren't truly looking for a definition, but a way to prove that you are right in your belief that one does not exist.<BR/><BR/>If that's the case, perhaps the definition you're looking for is:<BR/>"Precious (gemstone): A term formerly used to classify diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires as the top Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-78799279305015137642007-04-05T15:55:00.000-04:002007-04-05T15:55:00.000-04:00GEMSTONES OF THE WORLD BY WALTER SCHUMMANN SAYS"TH...GEMSTONES OF THE WORLD BY WALTER SCHUMMANN SAYS"THE TERM SEMI-PRECIOUS HAS GENERALLY FALLEN OUT OF USE BECAUSE OF ITS DEROGATORY MEANING.FORMALLY , ONE MEANT WITH THIS TERM THE LESS VALUABLE AND NOT VERY HARD GEMSTONES,WHICH IS A OPPOSED TO THE "PRECIOUS" STONES."PRECIOUS" AND "SEMI-PRECIOUS" ARE ADJECTIVES, HOWEVER THAT CANNOT BE ADEQUETLY DEFINED TO DESTINGUISH BETWEEN GEMS" DRAGONSTEKDRAGONSTEKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145085808580389967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-30903403832836152822007-04-05T12:53:00.000-04:002007-04-05T12:53:00.000-04:00J. Wilcox,Interesting but getting close to being a...J. Wilcox,<BR/><BR/>Interesting but getting close to being a list. You would exclude the other colors of sapphire by saying that they have not been in consistent high demand throughout the ages? One might use the same argument to exclude the true emerald.<BR/><BR/>For most of recorded history, emerald has been another name for green sapphire. The Colombian sites were only discovered in the Richard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-34820174795057874882007-04-05T10:51:00.000-04:002007-04-05T10:51:00.000-04:00The argument for spinel could go either way, there...The argument for spinel could go either way, therefore I have revised my definition to firmly exclude spinel, bixbite, and morganite and hereby resubmit it for your consideration:<BR/><BR/>PRECIOUS (gemstone): A valuable and highly prized mineral with a crystalline structure that is either isometric or hexagonal, has a minimum hardness of 7.5, is devoid of magnesium and/or manganese, has Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-54853141718025953672007-04-05T07:02:00.000-04:002007-04-05T07:02:00.000-04:00J. Wilcox,Good effort and before I had my first cu...J. Wilcox,<BR/><BR/>Good effort and before I had my first cup of morning coffee I thought you had me but, your definition would have to include every color of sapphire plus spinel, morganite and red beryl would it not?Richard W. Wisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088702432299414336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-61950869774615062392007-04-04T22:43:00.000-04:002007-04-04T22:43:00.000-04:00How about:PRECIOUS (gemstone): A valuable and high...How about:<BR/><BR/>PRECIOUS (gemstone): A valuable and highly prized mineral with a crystalline structure that is either isometric or hexagonal, has a minimum hardness of 7.5, has historically been used for religious or ceremonial purposes, and for which there has been consistent high demand throughout history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-80147140340289701792007-04-04T18:27:00.000-04:002007-04-04T18:27:00.000-04:00I'M NEW TO GEMOLOGY AND A FELLOW G.O.L. NEWBIE,I F...I'M NEW TO GEMOLOGY AND A FELLOW G.O.L. NEWBIE,I FIND THE WORDS PRECIOUS N SEMIPRECIOUS TO BE AN OXIMORON, ALL GEMSTONES ARE MIRACLES OF MOTHER NATURE, WHICH TO ME WOULD MAKE THEM ALL PRECIOUS ,I THINK PEOPLE CONFUSE THE MEANING BY THINKING THAT JUST BECAUSE ITS A DIAMOND,RUBY EMERALD OR SAPPHIRE THAT ITS PRECIOUS,AND ALL THE OTHERS ARE UNWORTHY ,I THINK ITS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED DRAGONSTEKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11908859952630731575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29861993.post-335010729918700332007-04-04T11:37:00.000-04:002007-04-04T11:37:00.000-04:00How about the classic definition of a gem as per J...How about the classic definition of a gem as per John above, and add "those whose principal known deposits were under the control of the big colonial powers (Spain, England, Portugal etc). I have to wonder if the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" were put into use to promote certain gem varieties that "The Empire(s)" possessed in large quantities but that the others had to fork over large Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719425300968999158noreply@blogger.com