Gemstone Glossary - P

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PLANETARY - Of, relating to, or resembling the physical or orbital characteristics of a planet or the planets.

PLEOCHROISM - A gemstone changes color, depending on the angle it is viewed at.

POLISHING- Gemstones are usually polished to a mirror-like finish to aid light reflection from the surface of the stone (or refraction through the stone, in the case of transparent materials).

PRECIOUS - The common precious gemstones are diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

PREFORM - An object that has been subjected to preliminary, usually incomplete shaping or molding before undergoing complete or final processing.

Solar System