Precious Stones
The precious stones are the rarest and most valuable gems, prized for hardness, color and brilliance. Their value makes them the most counterfeited stones in circulation, so the identification tests on each page focus on separating natural stones from synthetics and glass.
Mohs hardness in this group runs from 7.5 to 10.
All precious stones (5)
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common precious stones?
The most searched precious stones in the StoneSnap database are Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Alexandrite.
How do you identify precious stones?
Start with luster and color, then bracket the Mohs hardness with a scratch test and check the streak on unglazed porcelain. Mohs hardness in this group runs from 7.5 to 10. Each entry below lists the diagnostic properties and its common look-alikes.
Not sure what you found?
Snap a photo with StoneSnap and get an instant match with properties, value estimates and look-alikes — free to try.
