According to the Indian Gemmology, there are 84 gem stones. Among them, the nine precious stones, namely Ruby, Pearl, Yellow Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Red Coral, Gomeda and Cat’s Eye have been awarded distinct status. These are called the Nav Ratnas. The other stores are semi-precious stones. Some of the semi-precious stones are also very powerful and they should not be considered as inferior to Nav Ratnas. In hardness, lustre, clarity and radiation some of the semiprecious stones work wonderfully.
Nature of the Precious Stones or Nav Ratnas
1. Ruby: This has red colour. Ruby is also found in rose, black, yellow and sky blue colours.
2. Diamond: This is found in white, yellow, red, blue and black colours.
3. Emerald: It is green in colour. The Emerald of peacock feather colour, parrot colour and grass blade colour, have the best qualities.
4. Blue Sapphire: This is found in dark blue, ordinary blue and light blue colours.
5. Cat’s Eye: This is found in yellowish or blackish colours. The stone has a visible shining band inside, which moves when the stone is turned.
6. Pearl: This is found in white, yellow, red or black colours.
7. Red Coral: This is found in orange-red colour. White corals are also available.
8. Yellow Sapphire: This is found in light yellow colour.
9. Gomeda: This is found in honey colour.
Nature of the Most Important and Fortunate Semi-precious Stones
1. Turquoise: This is found in light blue colour.
2. Peridot: Light green colour.
3. Tourmaline: It is available in white, red, green, and blue colours.
4. Topaz: This is found in smoky, yellow and golden colours.
5. Amethyst: Light violet colour.
6. Rock Crystal: It is found in shining white colour.
7. Moon Stone: This is found in white cloud colour. There is a shining band inside which rolls when the stone is turned.
8. Garnet: This is found in blackish red colour.
9. Neeli: This is found in blue colour. It looks like blue Sapphire.
10. Aquamarine: Very light green colour.
11. Jade: Green colour without shining.
12. Blood Stone: Green colour with red spots.
13. Lapis Lazuli: Dark blue colour.
14. Kidney Stone: Light green colour.
15. Amber: Wheat-like colour.
16. Agate: This is found in many colours and is considered auspicious by Muslims.
17. Jaichint: Orange colour. It is a stone for Rahu.
18. Green Onyx: It is in beautiful green colour.
19. Malachite: This is in green colour with white strips.
These semi-precious stones can be used as effective substitutes for the nine precious stones.
Nowadays many stones are manufactured through artificial processes and are available in the market. Although artificial gems look like the precious and semi-precious gems, they have no power at all. They cannot do any benefit to the wearer. Only a gemmologist would be able to find the difference, while an ordinary person is unable to detect this.