Every Gemstone Ranked (Some Are Overpriced)

Gemstones are sold through rarity, prestige, and centuries of mythology, but none of that changes the physics. A stone can be rare, expensive, and famous, and still be a terrible choice for a ring. In this video I rank some of the most common gemstones from best to worst based on durability, aesthetics, and value for money. I’m Mason, a jeweller and founder of Urban Sterling. On this channel I explore the materials science and craft behind jewellery. The industry is extremely opaque, and much of the information about how gemstones actually perform tends to stay inside workshops rather than being explained clearly. My goal with this channel is to open that up a bit, looking at the materials, physics, and craft behind jewellery so you can understand why some stones are genuine heirloom materials while others are overpriced heartbreak. If you’ve ever wondered why some gemstones last for generations while others scratch, chip, or split far too easily, or why cost and quality are often nowhere near as closely linked as people assume, this video should give you a solid overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the most common jewellery stones. My work: https://urbansterling.co My book (Includes gemstone and alloy tier list: https://urbansterling.co/readblackboo... Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:13 Pearls 01:30 Opal 02:16 Emerald 03:12 Feldspar Family 03:56 Morganite 04:50 Aquamarine 05:47 Tourmaline 06:32 Topaz 07:45 Tanzanite 08:29 Quartz Family 08:45 Peridot 09:22 Synthetic Rutile 09:45 Cubic Zirconia 10:12 Moissanite 11:23 Natural Diamond 12:20 Lab Diamond 13:51 Spinel 14:26 Garnet 15:13 Chrysoberyl 15:58 Corundum 17:00 Conclusion Music: Clair de Lune – public domain performance Nocturne in E-flat Major – public domain performance Gymnopédie No.1 – public domain performance MOON MEN and Shona by Jake Chudnow Used with permission, thanks Jake :D    / jakechudnow   Outro music - Xenogenesis by TheFatRat Peridot short:    • The only gemstone not made on Earth   si=bclZvw8FHFkYvYoF DISCLAIMER: I am a jeweller, not a qualified materials scientist or gemologist. I've made all efforts to cross reference and validate any technical information via multiple sources but metallurgy is full of edge cases and complexity. There may be incomplete information presented here and many claims are based on my personal preferences and experiences.