Traditionally, gems only refer to natural jewelry and jade, that is, minerals, rocks and organic materials that are produced in nature, colorful, crystal clear, hard and durable, and rare and can be carved into jewelry and handicrafts. Natural jewelry and jade are the mainstream products in the jewelry and jade industry at present. Man-made products are mainly used in fashion jewelry, handicrafts, decorations and others such as watches, clothing, leather goods and lamps.

Natural gems refer to natural, beautiful, durable and rare mineral single crystals or double crystals that can be processed into decorative skins;

Natural jade refers to the mineral aggregate produced in nature, which is beautiful, durable, rare and has technological value, and a few are amorphous; The specific varieties of jade are mainly divided according to the main mineral components that constitute the mineral aggregate, and some things are named according to the origin and traditional names.

Natural organic gemstones refer to materials that are generated by natural organisms, partially or completely composed of organic substances, and can be used for jewelry and decorations. Cultured pearls (referred to as "pearls") also belong to this category.

Up to now, although there are more than 3,000 kinds of minerals found in nature, only more than 230 kinds can be used as raw materials for gems, and only more than 20 kinds of high and medium-grade gems are found in the international jewelry market, which is less than 10%. Visible mineral rocks must have some specific conditions to become gems, and gems are the essence of many mineral rocks.

Jewelry and jade, referred to as gems, are the essence of nature. At present, there are two concepts: narrow sense and broad sense. (1) Jewelry and jade in a narrow sense refers to the minerals or rocks in nature that are magnificent in color, crystal clear, hard and durable, rare and can be polished and carved into jewelry or handicrafts, and some are organic gems. (Some people further limit the narrow sense of gem to natural single crystal minerals, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. ); (2) Gems in a broad sense refer to all materials that can become jewelry or handicrafts after pondering and carving, that is, natural jewelry, jade and artificial products.