the.com/gemstone
A rock that survived peer review by geology and seduction alike.
means A mineral (or rare organic material) prized enough — for beauty, rarity, and durability — to be cut, polished, and worn.
from From gem, via Old French gemme and Latin gemma, originally meaning a bud or swelling on a vine — a jewel of the plant before the jewel of the earth.
Hardness rulesMohs scale ranks them; diamond crowns it at ten.
Organic outliersPearl, amber, coral count despite zero minerals.
Heat trickeryMany gems are heat-treated to fake better color.
Pricing logicRarity beats prettiness; some plain stones outvalue dazzlers.