Gemstones are generally minerals that have been, or may be, fashioned to use for personal adornment. As a rule, they are beautiful, rare and durable.
Most are minerals: natural, inorganic materials with a fixed chemical composition and regular internal structure. A few gems, like amber and pearl, come from plants or animals,
and are known as organics. Others, called synthetics, do not have a natural origin, but are made in laboratories. They have very similar physical properties to natural gems, and may
be cut to imitate the real thing.
