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- Material: Typically a mineral crystal, but can also be rocks like opal or organic materials like amber and pearls.
- Appearance: Cut and polished to enhance its beauty, with characteristics like color, shine, and transparency being key factors.
- Characteristics: Each gemstone has unique physical and optical properties, including hardness, clarity (flawlessness), and color (hue, tone, and saturation).
- Value: Determined by a combination of factors including rarity, beauty, durability, and physical properties. While historically categorized as “precious” or “semiprecious,” this is now considered misleading by professionals.
- Measurements: Weight is measured in carats (1 carat = 0.2 grams), while its size is determined by its cut and shape.
