Complete Gemstone Glossary & Dictionary 2025 | A-Z Terms Defined | RichosRocks

📖 Complete Gemstone Glossary

500+ Terms A-Z | Expert Definitions | Audio Pronunciation

🔍
C
Carat
/ˈkærət/
A unit of weight for gemstones, equal to 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). Not to be confused with karat, which measures gold purity. One carat is divided into 100 points.
Example: A 2.5 carat sapphire weighs 500 milligrams or half a gram.
Related Terms:
PointWeight
Clarity
/ˈklærəti/
The degree to which a gemstone is free from inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (external flaws). Graded from IF (Internally Flawless) to I3 (Included).
Example: A VS clarity sapphire has minor inclusions visible under 10x magnification but is eye-clean.
Related Terms:
InclusionEye-CleanLoupe
Color
/ˈkʌlər/
One of the 4Cs. For colored gemstones like sapphires, color is the most important factor. Graded by hue (the color itself), saturation (intensity), and tone (lightness/darkness).
Example: A vivid blue sapphire has strong saturation and medium tone, making it highly valuable.
Related Terms:
HueSaturationTone
Cut
/kʌt/
The quality of a gemstone's faceting and proportions. A well-cut stone maximizes brilliance and fire. Graded from Excellent to Poor based on symmetry, proportions, and polish.
Example: An excellent cut sapphire reflects light evenly across the entire stone, maximizing sparkle.
Related Terms:
FacetBrillianceProportion
P
Parti-Color
/ˈpɑːrti ˈkʌlər/
A sapphire displaying two or more distinct colors in a single stone. Highly prized, especially Australian parti-color sapphires showing blue, green, and yellow zones. Extremely rare and valuable.
Example: A Queensland parti-color sapphire might show blue at the top transitioning to green and yellow at the bottom.
Related Terms:
QueenslandColor Zoning

Why Use Our Glossary?

📖

500+ Terms

Comprehensive A-Z dictionary covering all gemstone terminology from beginner to expert

🔍

Live Search

Instant search with autocomplete to find any term in seconds

🔊

Audio Pronunciation

Hear correct pronunciation for difficult gemological terms

🔗

Related Terms

Click related terms to explore connected concepts and deepen understanding

⭐

Save Favorites

Bookmark frequently referenced terms for quick access later

🆓

100% Free

Complete gemstone dictionary at no cost. Print or download anytime

Become a Gemstone Expert

Use our glossary to learn the language of gemstones

Take Free CourseShop SapphiresMore Tools

🇦🇺 Brisbane, Queensland | Expert Definitions | Audio Pronunciation | Free Download

Shop Our Collections

1 3

Our Story in Words

View all
  • Vibrant trilliant cut gemstones in blue and green shades for unique jewelry design inspiration

    Unlocking the Brilliance of Trilliant Cut Gemst...

    Discover the allure of trilliant cut gemstones, where triangular precision meets brilliant light performance. Explore how these distinctive Australian treasures bring unique character to fine jewelry collections.

    Unlocking the Brilliance of Trilliant Cut Gemst...

    Discover the allure of trilliant cut gemstones, where triangular precision meets brilliant light performance. Explore how these distinctive Australian treasures bring unique character to fine jewelry collections.

  • How to build a $50,000 gemstone investment portfolio - Queensland sapphires, rubies, emeralds with appreciation charts - wealth building strategy 2025 - RichosRocks

    How to Build a $50,000 Gemstone Investment Port...

    Learn how to build wealth with gemstones. Complete investment strategy including portfolio allocation, storage, insurance, tax implications, and exit strategies. Real market data from Queensland sapphire experts.

    How to Build a $50,000 Gemstone Investment Port...

    Learn how to build wealth with gemstones. Complete investment strategy including portfolio allocation, storage, insurance, tax implications, and exit strategies. Real market data from Queensland sapphire experts.

  • Perfectly matched purple amethyst gemstone pair on black velvet - identical 2.5ct oval cut stones with same deep royal purple color and eye-clean clarity demonstrating why matched pairs cost 3X more and take 6 months to find

    The 6-Month Search: Why Matched Pair Gemstones ...

    Discover why perfectly matched gemstone pairs take 6+ months to find and cost 3X more than single stones. Expert insights into color matching, clarity grading, and the painstaking process of...

    The 6-Month Search: Why Matched Pair Gemstones ...

    Discover why perfectly matched gemstone pairs take 6+ months to find and cost 3X more than single stones. Expert insights into color matching, clarity grading, and the painstaking process of...

1 3
View all

Join Our Journey

Be part of the RichosRocks family. Get exclusive updates and special offers.