Did you know rubies are red corundum, sapphires are other colors of corundum, and both are second only to diamonds in hardness?
Pearls are the only gemstones made by living creatures, formed inside the shells of oysters and other mollusks.
Emeralds are a type of beryl and owe their green color to trace amounts of chromium and vanadium.
Opals are unique as they diffract light, displaying a play of colors called 'opalescence' that changes with the angle of observation.
Amber is fossilized tree resin, often containing prehistoric plant material or insects, providing a window into ancient ecosystems.
Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice, formed deep within the Earth's mantle under extreme pressure and temperature.