"Jewels" has been called the first full-length abstract ballet. It has three related movements: "Emeralds", "Rubies", and "Diamonds" (usually separated by intermissions). It can also be seen as three separate ballets, linked by their jewel-colored costumes. Balanchine commented: "The ballet had nothing to do with jewels. The dancers are just dressed like jewels." Each of the three acts features the music of a different composer: "Emeralds" is set to the music of Gabriel Fauré, "Rubies" to the music of Igor Stravinsky and "Diamonds" to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.