Why buy precious or semi-precious stones? I can give you 3 good reasons. But first I'll give you a little bit of history.
Based on evidence gathered from archaeological digs we know that precious and semi-precious stones were highly valued in ancient times, just like they are in today’s world. What we don’t really KNOW but we can probably guess from historical references in records and documents; and the physical findings of archaeologists are the answers to these questions.
- When did people start using gems for personal ornamentation?
- When did people start believing precious stones have magical or healing powers?
- When did people start using signet rings as seals for business purposes?
- When did people start hoarding gems in a treasure chest, burying the chest, and then drawing a map so that they or others could locate this tremendous wealth at a later date? (Or is that part just fiction?)
When I say “we” I really mean “me”. I can’t answer those questions. The majority of my knowledge about gemstones has been gleaned from the Bible; mainly the books of
Exodus and Revelation. In Exodus, the Jewish high priest wore a breastplate with 12 stones, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel. In Revelation, the description of the walls of Heavenly Jerusalem mention 12 stones. I know these stones exist and I know they are considered precious.
Also, a little bit of my knowledge, particularly, about diamonds, was extracted from a script for a James Bond movie.
Sir Donald Munger: Tell me, Commander, how far does your expertise extend into the field of diamonds?
James Bond: Well, hardest substance found in nature, they cut glass, suggests marriage, I suppose it replaced the dog as the girl’s best friend. That’s about it.
M: Refreshing to hear that there is one subject you’re not an expert on!
Dialogue/Quotes from the film “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971)
Even though I may know next to nothing about precious and semi-precious stones, I know enough to answer this question:
Why Buy Precious or Semi-Precious Stones?
Number 1: They are very beautiful.
Number 2: They make a good financial investment.
Number 3: If a man were trying to woo a woman with tastes similar to the late Elizabeth Taylor*, he’d have a very good chance of winning her affection if he gave her diamonds. Ms. Taylor’s love for diamonds made her notorious. She was known to have said: “Big girls need big diamonds.” That’s very likely why, when she created her line of perfumes and fragrance, she named one of her most popular fragrances is “White Diamonds”.
Those sound like 3 sensible reasons. Don’t you think so?
“In the West, precious stones are diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. All other stones are considered semi-precious stones. However, this is a commercial based classification and was a distinction that marketers created years ago which gives the false impression that precious stones are more valuable than semi-precious stones.”
Considering that the price of an engagement ring can range from $1,000 to $4,000 USD and that’s on the low end, whatever reasons you can think of for making such a purchase, hope it’s worth it!
♦
Interesting Link: Cahn, Lauren. Hidden Treasures That Haven’t Been Found Yet. Reader’s Digest, 29 Aug. 2017, www.rd.com/true-stories/hidden-treasures-havent-been-found-yet/.
* Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE aka Elizabeth or Liz Taylor (1932 – 2011)
