| Gems
are among the most fascinating and exciting of
objects. They have intrigued mankind since before
the dawn of recorded history. Even today nothing
creates quite as effective an image of pure, tangible,
concentrated value as a box overflowing with jewels
.
This mystique is unrivaled
among the commodities held precious by mankind.
The fact that the mystique exists is seldom questioned,
but its nature is harder to determine. Basically,
the entire lore, history, and value of gems is
based on the combination of beauty and utility
they possess. Man has a deep-seated need to create
artistic works and to adorn himself. Although
many kinds of natural materials; such as mineral
pigments, can be applied to this end, gems occupy
a special place. jewels are found among the remains
of most human civilizations, and tell us as much
about their creators in some cases as pottery,
clothing, and tools.
The
historical record of gems indicates a strong level
of general acceptance, akin to that reserved for
the precious metals. Fashion might cause temporary
rises and dips in the market value of particular
gem varieties, but gemstones in general have proven
to be time-honored means of storing value. And
few other commodities allow a person to store
as much value in as small a space.
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