Which gem is the “queen of gems”? Well, it all depends on who you are talking to.
Many experts will say that it is the pearl that is the queen of gems. This is because the peal isn’t actually a stone, it is found within a living creature — the oyster — and is the only one that typically requires no cutting or polishing. Nowadays, unfortunately, most pearls on the market are cultured pearls – not accidentally discovered treasures.
But the opal is also called the queen of gems. (Some sources say that William Shakespeare bestowed this title, but I haven’t been able to find proof of that. He only mentions opal once, in Twelfth Night, and not in a very complimentary way!
Most often, though, it is the opal that is referred to as the queen of gems.