Crystals vs. Gemstones - what are the differences?

One of our Canadian suppliers wrote this quick read that we found fun and insightful! Frequently my boyfriend saunters to the production tables and will ask me “What kind of rock is this one?” as he is marveling an Amethyst - which isn’t a rock at all :) So I thought this might be a good share!

A rock is a rock right? Not necessarily. While some people do use words like “rock,” “stone” and “gem” interchangeably, there are some noticeable differences between these words. The most common misconceptions occurs when you begin talking about “gems” and “crystals” . Are these two words synonymous, or is there an actual difference in the verbiage?

The answer is a gem is a rare mineral. This mineral is of the purest quality, so it is priced highly and considered “gem quality.” Typically these are made into jewlery.

A crystal is a pure substance that has its molecules arranged in such a way that it creates a geometric pattern formation. Here at TINY BANDIT, we are definitely leaning towards crystals and now carry hundreds in our Venice Studio Shop as well as online here if you want to look around :)

Because a gem is a rare, high-quality mineral, it can certainly be crystalline in nature. However, not all crystals will be made of a rare, high-quality mineral. Thus, these terms aren’t synonymous BUT they may coincide with one another. You may have already used this distinction in your everyday life and not have known! Consider sugar and salt crystals - you wouldn’t call a unit of salt or sugar a gemstone. Sometimes a gem can be a crystal, and sometimes a crystal is just a crystal.

Gems are made organically through minerals or organic matter. Crystals are defined solids that contain atoms, molecules and ions in a fixed order. These then go on to extend to three dimensions, creating a crystalline shape.

Classification Systems

The way we classify both gems and crystals varies, though a gem that is crystalline will occur and fall into both categories. Gems are usually categorized based on their chemical makeup -- what makes this gem the gem that it is? What trace minerals can be found within it that make up its colour scheme? How is it structured? Gems are then typically cut to size after their value is determined

Crystals, on the other hand, are usually classified by their shape. This can mean a cubic crystal, a tetragonal crystal, a or a hexagonal crystal. Other crystal classifications include orthorhombic, monoclinic and rhombohedral. Crystals are also categorized by their crystal system, which refers to a subcategory of the above lattice systems.

Gemology and crystallography lingo can be confusing to many if they’re unfamiliar with the nuances of these studies. At the end of the day no one is going to judge you hard on the terminology but its fun to get a little deeper insight.

Whoa, that just got nerdy fast but we’re crystal obsessed and if you are too, come check out our Crystal Candles HERE.

On a fun note, tonight is our Crystal Candle Workshop at Tripli-kit in Playa Vista. If you’re free come join us. Click our Events tab to learn more.

xx Heather