semi-precious stones
Preserved but no longer current.
Gems suitable for jewellery and for ornamenting other sorts of goldsmith's work; but not sufficiently beauti- ful, durable or rare to be ranked with such precious stones as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Examples of semi-precious stones are amethysts, cairngorms, cornelian, lapis-lazuh, moonstones, and onyx.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “semi-precious stones” mean?
Gems suitable for jewellery and for ornamenting other sorts of goldsmith's work; but not sufficiently beauti- ful, durable or rare to be ranked with such precious stones as diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Examples of semi-precious stones are amethysts, cairngorms, cornelian, lapis-lazuh, moonstones, and onyx.
Is “semi-precious stones” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.