Numerous new discoveries of gemstones and peaks and troughs in their supply and demand have, over the years, pointed up the shortcomings of the term “semi-precious”. Jason Holt, managing director of Holts Lapidary stone cutters and the founder of Holts Academy, points out that, whereas 10 years ago stones such as tourmaline were Gemstone Beads more plentiful, therefore cheaper and considered “semi-precious”, most tourmalines are now in limited supply and highly sought-after, so the label no longer applies.
“These are precious stones, because there is a desirability about them and there is a limited supply,” he says. GIA London director Edward Johnson explains that GIA follows World Jewelry Confederation (CIBJO) and US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and advises against the terms “precious” and “semi-precious”. “‘Semi’ is immediately a negative term,” he says. “If people are trying to sell a Gemstone Beads valuable item it is not helpful think to describe it as half the value of something else, describing it in negative terms.”
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