They typically include hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and real assets, although this investment category is fluid, and new products are constantly being developed. Alternative investments use techniques and instruments that are unavailable in traditional investment approaches.
Pearls are a popular gemstone, especially in jewelry-making. Gemstones. Turquoise, a popular gemstone, is used to make jewelry. Diamonds. Promise rings often feature gems such as amethyst. Quartz is a common type of gemstone. Diamonds are traditionally given as an engagement ring during a marriage proposal.
A few gemstones are used as gems in the crystal or other form in which they are found. Most however, are cut and polished for usage as jewelry. The picture to the right is of a rural, commercial cutting operation in Thailand.This small factory cuts thousands of carats of sapphire annually.ven the same gemstone can occur in many different colors: sapphires show different shades of blue and pink and fancy sapphires exhibit a whole range of other colors from yellow to orange-pink, the latter called  padparadscha sapphire .