Is Pearl a gemstone?

[digitring]

Someone told me Pearl is a Pearl, not a gemstone. But someone told me Pearl is a gemstone. Can any experts here help my confusion?

Is Pearl a gemstone?

 

[rubydick]

A gemstone is simply a material that is used for ornamentation in jewelry. Thus a pearl is certainly a gemstone.

However, pearl differs from most gems in that it is not a mineral, but a product of organic processes (it grew in an oyster). Such organic gems are sometimes termed "mineraloids."

A mineral is a naturally occurring substance that has a defined chemical composition and an orderly atomic structure.

Materials such as glass lack the orderly structure, and thus are not minerals.

Minerals can also be man-made. These are termed synthetic minerals. An example is synthetic diamond or synthetic ruby.