How well do you know your gemstones?

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You may be dripping in diamonds, rubies and topaz - but can you answer these 20 questions about all things precious and semi-precious?

1. There are 4 gemstones which are considered precious because they’re all extremely rare and there is a limited supply of them.

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The first three are diamond, ruby and sapphire. What is the fourth?

Pearl

Emerald

Amethyst

2. Who sang “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” in the hit 1953 movie

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

3. The word "diamond" derives from the word "adamao", used to describe the hardest substance known to man.

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What ancient language does adamao originate from?

Egyptian

Basque

Greek

4. This marine gemstone can be found in deep water reefs and forms in rocky seabed’s, typically in dark environments. Its distinguishing characteristic is it’s durable and intensely coloured red, pink or orange skeleton, which can be used for making jewellery.

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Name the gemstone

5. Name the Gemstone

Amber

Agate

Tiger’s Eye

6. What do you call the study of precious and semi-precious stones?

7. Perhaps one of the most well-known diamonds in the world, "The Hope Diamond" has a long history and was first owned by King Louis XIV of France in 1668.

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What colour is it?

8. The story of "The Hope Diamond" bears many similarities to the diamond necklace worn by Kate Winslet in the 1997 blockbuster film, Titanic.

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What is the necklace called in the movie?

9. A green gemstone, a type of money plant and a popular girl’s name can all be called this.

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Name the gemstone

10. Name the Gemstone

Amazonite

Aquamarine

Aventurine

11. Poised between sapphire blue, vibrant violet and rich purple, this exotic gemstone is a variety of the mineral zoisite, and it’s found in only one place on earth, close to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

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Name the gemstone

12. Which is the official birthstone for the month of January?

Citrine

Peridot

Garnet

13. Holly Golightly is a party animal and socialite who spends her time in the best jewellery stores in New York, wishing she had enough money to buy diamond necklaces and cocktail rings.

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What movie is this and which actress plays Holly?

14. What is the name of the largest rough diamond ever found?

15. A famous oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer was the inspiration behind the 1999 historic novel and the 2003 romantic drama film with the same name.

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What is the name?

16. Which one of these is not considered a gemstone?

Lapis

Zirconia

Jet

Mother of Pearl

17. The "4C’s of Diamond Quality" is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world. The first three C’s are: Clarity, Cut and Carat.

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What is the fourth C?

18. On Valentine’s Day 2019, this actor proposed to his popstar girlfriend with a flower-shaped engagement ring featuring a deep pink oval-shaped ruby at the centre, accented by diamonds.

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Name the celebrity couple

19. St. Edward’s Crown, The Sovereign’s Orb and The Sceptre and rod are all part of what collection?

20. Name the Gemstone

Pearl

Moonstone

Opal

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Blog by Alice Glover

Answers

1. Emerald

2. Marilyn Monroe

3. Greek

4. Coral

5. Amber

6. Gemology

7. Blue

8. Heart of the Ocean

9. Jade

10. Aquamarine

11. Tanzanite

12. Garnet

13. Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn

14. The Cullinan Diamond

15. Girl with a Pearl Earring

16. Zirconia

17. Colour

18. Orlando Bloom & Katy Perry

19. The Crown Jewels

20. Opal

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