Whois & Analysis for ross-simons.com

A gemstone (also called a gem, fine gem, jewel, precious stone or semi-precious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments.

However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli) or organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, jet, and pearl) are also used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well.

Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value.

Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone.

Apart from jewelry, from earliest antiquity engraved gems and hardstone carvings, such as cups, were major luxury art forms.

A gem maker is called a lapidary or gemcutter; a diamond worker is a diamantaire.

A bracelet is an article of jewellery that is worn around the wrist.

It may have a function, such as holding a wristwatch or other items of jewellery such as religious symbols or charms.

Medical and identity information is marked on some bracelets, such as allergy bracelets, hospital patient-identification tags, and bracelet tags for newborn babies.

If a bracelet is a single, inflexible loop, it is often called a bangle.

When it is worn around the ankle it is called an ankle bracelet or anklet.

A boot bracelet is used to decorate boots.

Colloquially, handcuffs are sometimes called bracelets.

Bracelets can be manufactured from metal, leather, cloth, plastic or other materials and sometimes contain jewels, rocks, wood, shells, crystals, metal, or plastic hoops, pearls and many more materials.

An earring is a piece of jewellery attached to the ear via a piercing in the earlobe or another external part of the ear (except in the case of clip earrings, which clip onto the lobe).

Earrings are worn by both sexes, although more common among women, and have been used by different civilizations in different times.

A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck.

Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain.

Others are woven or manufactured from cloth using string or twine.

Common features of necklaces include colorful stones (particularly gemstones or jewels), wood (usually carved or polished), art glass, feathers, shells, beads or corals - a hugely wide variety of other adornments have also been used.

If a necklace includes a primary hanging feature, it is called a pendant; if the pendant is itself a small container, it is called a locket.

A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value.

Chemically, the precious metals tend to be less reactive than most elements (see noble metal).

They are usually ductile and have a high lustre.

Historically, precious metals were important as currency but are now regarded mainly as investment and industrial commodities.

Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium each have an ISO 4217 currency code.