precious stone crossword – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk, your ultimate resource for solving even the trickiest crossword clues. On this page, you'll find comprehensive solutions for "precious stone crossword," organized by letter count, along with detailed explanations and helpful tips for your next puzzle adventure.
Solutions for "precious stone crossword" by Letter Count
4 Letters
RUBY: A deep red precious gemstone, a variety of corundum.
OPAL: A hydrated amorphous form of silica, known for its unique play-of-color.
JADE: An ornamental stone, typically green, consisting of nephrite or jadeite.
ONYX: A chalcedony that is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz, often black with white bands.
5 Letters
AGATE: A translucent variety of chalcedony, often banded, used as an ornamental stone.
PEARL: A hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk, prized as a gem.
TOPAZ: A silicate mineral, often yellow, blue, or colorless, used as a gemstone.
6 Letters
GARNET: A group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives, commonly reddish.
7 Letters
EMERALD: A brilliant green precious gemstone, a variety of beryl.
DIAMOND: A highly valued mineral, the hardest known natural substance, composed of pure carbon and renowned for its brilliance.
8 Letters
SAPPHIRE: A precious gemstone, typically blue, a variety of the mineral corundum.
More About "precious stone crossword"
The clue "precious stone crossword" is a classic in the world of crosswords, designed to test your knowledge of geology and valuable minerals. These clues can range from common terms like RUBY or EMERALD to slightly less common but still well-known stones like AGATE or OPAL. The key to solving them often lies in the letter count and any intersecting letters you might already have in your grid.
Understanding the general categories of gemstones can be immensely helpful. While traditional classifications divide them into 'precious' (Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) and 'semi-precious' stones, crosswords sometimes blur these lines, using 'gem' or 'stone' more broadly. Therefore, always keep a wide range of possibilities in mind, considering both the historically 'precious' and other valuable stones like amethyst, topaz, or pearl.
Often, the difficulty of such a clue increases when it's combined with other cryptic elements, such as anagrams or wordplay. However, for a direct clue like "precious stone," a straightforward list of common gemstones by length is usually the quickest path to the solution. Our comprehensive list above is designed to give you all the common answers you might need.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Check Letter Count First: Always count the empty squares in your grid. This is the single most important piece of information for narrowing down possible answers for "precious stone" clues.
- Look for Intersecting Letters: If you have any letters filled in from crossing words, use them to eliminate possibilities. For example, if you have an 'M' as the second letter for a 7-letter word, EMERALD becomes a strong candidate.
- Consider Common Gemstones: Start with the most famous ones: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire. If these don't fit, expand to other well-known gems like Opal, Pearl, or Jade.
- Think Beyond the Obvious: Sometimes, a crossword might use a less common, but still valid, precious or semi-precious stone. If typical answers don't work, consider consulting a broader list of gemstones.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a 'precious stone' in crosswords?
In crosswords, 'precious stone' generally refers to a gemstone considered valuable and rare, such as a diamond, ruby, emerald, or sapphire. Sometimes, it can also include semi-precious stones if the clue allows for a wider interpretation or specific letter count.
How can I quickly find the answer for a precious stone clue?
The fastest way is to consider common gemstones and their lengths. Think about the first letter if you have any, or count the available spaces. Websites like Crosswordanswer.co.uk provide lists of possible answers sorted by length, which can be very helpful.
Are 'precious' and 'semi-precious' stones interchangeable in crosswords?
While historically some stones were classified as 'precious' (diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald) and others as 'semi-precious', this distinction is largely outdated in modern gemology and often in crosswords. Clues might simply use 'stone' or 'gem' to refer to either, depending on the context and required answer length. Always consider both categories if the strict definition of 'precious' doesn't fit the letter count.