Gemstone Education Course - Module 1

Gemstone Education Course

MODULE 1: WHAT ARE GEMSTONES?

Welcome to Gemstone Foundations: MODULE 1

THIS MODULE INCLUDES:

What Are Gemstones?

Learn exactly what gemstones are and why they’re so special

Gemstone Formation

Explore the extraordinary process of how gems are created by Mother Nature

What Makes a Gemstone?

Know what a gemstone must have for it to qualify as such

Optical Properties: The Basics

Discover the gemstone qualities that make them capture our hearts

The Mohs Scale of Hardness

Find out how strong gemstones are compared to others

Birthstones

Uncover how birthstones came about and what your birthstone is

What Are Gemstones?

Gemstones are nature’s little treasures. They’re minerals, rocks, or organic materials (like Pearls) that form deep inside the Earth under incredible heat and pressure.

Over millions of years, geological magic – think volcanic eruptions, tectonic shifts, etc. – bring the gems to the surface, where we can finally discover them.

Many gemstones are cut, shaped, and polished for jewellery and decorative objects. Their beauty, rarity and strength make each one special, as well as their endless variety of colours and patterns.

Traditionally, gemstones are split into two categories: precious and semi-precious. Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald – known as ‘the Big Four’ - are precious stones, and every other gem falls into the semi-precious category. But regardless of category, all gemstones are cherished for their colour, character, and charm.

Gemstone Formation

Gemstones take millions of years to form deep within the Earth, and their formation mainly happens through one of four geological processes:

Igneous, where minerals crystallise from molten magma

Metamorphic, where heat and pressure transform existing rocks

Hydrothermal, where gemstones crystallise from fluids rich in minerals that seep into cracks in rocks and cool

Sedimentary, where the minerals are deposited and solidified in water

Here are some of the most common gemstones that come from each process:

The specific environment in which gemstones form determine the gem’s unique properties. Everything from the structure of your gem to its colours and patterns is influenced by things like temperature, pressure, and the presence of other elements such as nitrogen or boron.

What Makes a Gemstone?

So, how do we know if the material we’re looking at is actually a gemstone?

For a rock or mineral to be classified as a gemstone, it must have three key qualities:

Beauty, including vibrant colours, attractive patterns, transparency, and sparkle (known as ‘lustre’)

Durability, to be able to be cut, polished, and worn in jewellery

Rarity, because the harder something is to find, the more special it feels

Gemstones are carefully grown over time by Mother Nature. However, in recent years, the market has been flooded with man-made synthetics, grown in a lab rather than from the Earth.

At Gemporia, we believe in offering jewellery that leaves a lasting legacy, providing bespoke collections crafted from only natural gemstones. We pride ourselves on special releases that last a lifetime, rather than massproduced lines, and are passionate about making Mother Nature’s gifts accessible to everyone. Every Gemporia piece is made from 100% natural materials, and arrives complete with a certificate of authenticity to prove it.

Optical Properties: The Basics

One of the reasons that gemstones capture hearts is the way they play with light, referred to as their ‘optical properties’ . It’s almost like nature’s own special effects!

Here are three examples of key optical properties in gemstones:

Brilliance: how much light bounces back out of the gemstone, giving it that bright, lively sparkle

Fire: The rainbow flashes of colour you see when light splits inside a gemstone (also known as ‘dispersion’).

Diamonds are famous for this

Scintillation: A gemstone’s twinkling effect as it moves, flashing light and dark patterns

Together, these properties make a gemstone irresistible to collectors – a little bit of science, a little bit of sparkle, and a whole lot of beauty.

A close-up view of a brilliant cut Diamond

The Mohs Scale of Hardness

How tough is your gemstone? That’s where the Mohs scale comes in.

Created in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs, it ranks minerals by hardness – in other words, which stones can scratch which. The scale runs from 1 (the softest) to 10 (the hardest).

Right at the top is Diamond, the ultimate tough gem that can scratch them all. At the softer end, you’ll find gems like Pearl, sitting around 2.5 - 4.5, which need a little extra care.

For jewellery houses like us, the Mohs scale is a handy guide: it tells us which gems are strong enough for everyday sparkle and which ones deserve gentler, more protective settings.

FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE MOHS SCALE, READ OUR BLOG: A Complete Explanation of the Mohs Scale of Hardness

Birthstones

Birthstones are gemstones traditionally linked to each month of the year – like nature’s personal charms.

The concept goes way back to ancient times, when gemstones were believed to hold special powers and bring good luck, health, or protection to the wearer.

JANUARY

Over the centuries, this history has evolved into the modern list we know today, where each month has its own “official” gemstone. For example, January’s stone is Garnet, July’s is Ruby, and September’s is Sapphire.

Key Takeaways

Congratulations, you’ve completed the first module! Before you move on, here are some key takeaways from this section:

Gemstones form deep in the Earth over billions of years, and are classified as either ‘precious’ or ‘semi-precious’

Gemstones are defined by three qualities: beauty, durability, and rarity

Optical properties within a gemstone, such as brilliance, can contribute to its overall value

The Mohs scale ranks the hardness of gemstones, and whether one can scratch another

Birthstones were introduced following a history of people believing that gemstones held special powers

Did you know???

Gemstones don’t just come from deep underground – some are found in space! Gems like Diamond and Peridot have been found outside our atmosphere, and sometimes, it even “rains” Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune!

Fancy 20% off your next Gemporia purchase? That’s what you’ll receive when you complete the course!

Gem Expert Progress Board

Here are the badges you’ve earned – and the ones still waiting for you.

Ready to unlock Chapter 2?

Let’s go deeper into the world of gems!