Gemstone-grade minerals are mineral crystals that have been artificially cut and refined into collectible items and precious jewelry. A mineral deemed worthy of gemstone quality must fulfill the following 3 conditions:

1. Beauty – gemstones should have bright colors, clean luster, and few imperfections; or possess unusual optical or physical phenomena such as asterism, chatoyancy, and color change.

2. Rarity – the more rare the gemstone is in nature, the higher its value.

3. Durability – the harder the gemstones the more resistant they are to damage. Gemstones are usually ranked 6 or above on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness; precious gemstones can even be ranked 7 and above. Moreover, to last indefinitely, gemstones should be chemically and physically stable to resist corrosion from acids and bases, and have no visible cleavages and fractures.