Precious and Semi-Precious Stones

"My! What a beautiful ring you're wearing!" This compliment never fails to flatter and honor the lucky wearer of the ring or other pieces of jewelry bedecked with precious or semi-precious stones. Most people know the names of only some of these natural treasures. Many people are surprised to learn that all semi-precious stones can be bought inexpensively, not to mention that the precious stones can also be had for far less than one imagined. However, as with everything else in life, you have to pay for the best quality. This lesson will give the reader both information and tips on gem stones and their purchase.
　　Just what are precious and semi-precious stones? The word semi refers to anything which is half or only partial; thus, semi-precious stones are not precious, by definition. Actually, some high-quality semi-precious stones are far more expensive than some low-grade precious stones, so the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" when applied to stones do not refer necessarily to their cost.
　　All authorities on gems agree that the diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are precious stones. Some of these experts include the opal as a fifth precious stone while others consider the pearl in this class. The latter may surprise the reader, but on reflection, pearls are also a kind of stone, though organically produced by certain shellfish rather than by geologic forces.
　　Semi-precious stones include all other stones considered worthy of use in jewelry. The list of these stones is very long; suffice it to say that there are several hundred such stones, though most people are aware of only a couple of dozen of their names, and few people can readily recognize more than a couple of any type of stone at all.
　　Diamonds and the colored stones ruby, sapphire, and emerald are often considered the most expensive among all stones. This is generally true, though quality is more important than stone type on price. One can buy a "real sapphire" for US$10, but it would be considered not much better than junk to a jeweler. These professionals consider several features of stones before assessing their value. Carat size, or the weight of the stone (one carat = 200 milligrams) is one such feature. The cut of the stone is another. Some styles of cuts are considered more costly than others; besides, in the technical cutting of the gem from the rough stone, great care must be taken not to cut into or scratch the surface of the finished stone. The color is also important. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, for instance, in order to fetch the highest prices, must be solid colored throughout. Finally, clarity or translucence, with neither streaking nor a "cloudy" inner appearance, also determines the final price. Gems with these qualities are far and few between, commanding nearly astronomical prices. A good jeweler will advise you of these characteristics and how to look for and evaluate them yourself. Also remember that for a gem ring or pendant, roughly 70% of the value of the piece of jewelry is in the primary stone(s), with the rest in labor and metal.
　　Specific names of semi-precious stones are too numerous to mention, but jade is well known to Chinese. The finest jade (apple green in color) commands very high bids at auction. The trouble with semi-precious stones is that they are not so hard as precious stones so they far more easily scratch, crack, or chip. If this happens, the value of the semi-precious stones plummets. Diamonds, the hardest natural stone, and rubies and sapphires, the second hardest, are actually rather hard to deface.
　　Don't let anyone sell you a "good deal on a gem" on the street. Go to several professional jewelers before committing yourself —— and your money —— to a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones. Part of the value of that good piece of jewelry is the fact that it can be handed down generation after generation with increasing value. People in all cultures never seem to tire of the brilliance of gems.

　　“哇！你戴的戒指好漂亮！”这种赞美总是能够恭维并让佩戴镶着宝石或半宝石戒指或其它珠宝的幸运儿感到光荣。大部分的人只知道一些这类天然珍宝的名字。许多人得知所有的半宝石都可用低价购得时都感到很惊讶，更别提拥有宝石的代价竟也低得出人意料之外。然而，就像生活中其它一切事物一样，最高质量必须多花钱才能得到。本课将提供读者有关宝石以及如何选购宝石的信息和秘诀。
　　究竟什么是宝石和半宝石呢？ semi 这个字指的是任何只有一半或是部分的东西；因此，就定义来说，半宝石并不算宝贵。但实际上，有些高质量的半宝石远比某些级数低的宝石要贵重许多，所以宝贵和半宝贵的名称用在石头上时，未必是指他们的价值而言。
　　所有的宝石权威都同意，钻石、红宝石、蓝宝石和绿宝石是宝石。其中有些专家把猫眼石列为第五种宝石，而有些专家则认为珍珠才是第五种宝石。后者也许会让读者觉得惊讶，但仔细想想，珍珠也是一种石头，尽管它是某些贝类而不是地质力产生的有机物体。
　　半宝石包括具有珠宝使用价值的其它所有石头在内。这些石头的名单非常长，可以说有好几百种这样的石头，虽然大部分的人只知道廿几个名称，而且仅有极少数人能够一眼就认出任何种类超过两种以上的石头。
　　钻石和红宝石、蓝宝石和绿宝石等有颜色的宝石常被认为是所有宝石中最名贵的。虽然质量对价格的影响比种类更为重要，但一般来说这是事实。虽然你可以用10美金买到一颗“真的蓝宝石”，但对珠宝商而言那颗蓝宝石比垃圾好不了多少。这些专家在评估宝石的价值之前会考虑几项要点。克拉大小，或宝石的重量（1克拉＝200毫克）即是其中一项。宝石的切割是另一项要点。有些切割方式被认为比其它方式价值高；此外，在把原石加工为宝石的专业切割过程中，必须非常小心，避免切到或刮伤宝石成品的表面。颜色也很重要。例如，红、蓝、绿宝石必须要整颗纯色才卖得到最好的价钱。最后，清澈度和透明度——没有细纹或内部色泽非呈“阴暗”——也决定了最终的价格。具有这些质量的宝石非常稀少，价格几乎都高达天文数字。好的珠宝商会告诉你这些特性以及你自己如何寻找并评估它们的价值。此外要记住，就宝石戒指或珠宝首饰而言，原石本身大约占珠宝价格的百分之七十，其它才是工钱和金属的钱。
　　半宝石的个别名称多得不胜枚举，但中国人对玉却一点也不陌生。最好的玉（颜色为苹果绿）在拍卖会上可喊到非常高的价钱。半宝石的缺点是它们不如宝石坚硬，所以比较容易刮伤、龟裂或破成碎片。如果发生这种情形，半宝石的价值就一落千丈。钻石（最坚硬的天然石）和次硬的红、蓝宝石，要刮伤其表面其实相当困难。
　　别让任何人在街上卖你一颗“半买半相送”的宝石。在把自己——以及你的钱——投在一件镶宝石或半宝石的珠宝之前，多找几家专业的珠宝商。好珠宝的部分价值来自于它可以代代相传而价值也愈来愈高的事实。各种文化的人们对于耀眼的宝石似乎永远都不会厌倦。