semiprecious
adjective
semi·pre·cious ˌse-mē-ˈpre-shəs 
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
of a gemstone
: of less commercial value than a precious stone
Example Sentences
semiprecious stones such as aquamarines and garnets
Recent Examples on the Web Cathy Waterman, another California designer with a thing for plant life, chose opaque carnelian, a semiprecious gemstone used for adornment since the Bronze Age, for a pair of earrings modeled after clovers and accented with tiny diamonds. 
Diana Tsui, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2022 In reality, the semiprecious metal effect was all an illusion and was made possible by one nail polish alone. Sara Miranda, Allure, 10 Feb. 2022 The bill’s authors acknowledge that California waters are not a rich source of metals that are typically targeted in seabed mining, though the North Coast could yield gold, titanium, and other precious and semiprecious metals. Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2022 The kurgan was filled with riches, including what was left of a garment decorated with semiprecious stones and gold, precious metal cups, weapons and tools. NBC News, 19 Jan. 2022 Hundreds of beads, semiprecious stones, gold, ceramic vessels, metal cups made from precious metals, weapons, and tools were included in the grave. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Jan. 2022 Charcoal is a common medium, but some filter through semiprecious stone or platinum. Betsy Andrews, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2021 Rubens is also thought to have owned one oversize gem on view — a foot-wide plaque from the 4th century, framed in 1628 with semiprecious stones. Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2021 As a middle-aged adult living in New York City decades later, Lam started a business selling beauty products, some of them made from the same green semiprecious stone. Will Evans, Wired, 18 Nov. 2021 See More
Diana Tsui, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2022 In reality, the semiprecious metal effect was all an illusion and was made possible by one nail polish alone. Sara Miranda, Allure, 10 Feb. 2022 The bill’s authors acknowledge that California waters are not a rich source of metals that are typically targeted in seabed mining, though the North Coast could yield gold, titanium, and other precious and semiprecious metals. Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2022 The kurgan was filled with riches, including what was left of a garment decorated with semiprecious stones and gold, precious metal cups, weapons and tools. NBC News, 19 Jan. 2022 Hundreds of beads, semiprecious stones, gold, ceramic vessels, metal cups made from precious metals, weapons, and tools were included in the grave. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Jan. 2022 Charcoal is a common medium, but some filter through semiprecious stone or platinum. Betsy Andrews, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2021 Rubens is also thought to have owned one oversize gem on view — a foot-wide plaque from the 4th century, framed in 1628 with semiprecious stones. Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2021 As a middle-aged adult living in New York City decades later, Lam started a business selling beauty products, some of them made from the same green semiprecious stone. Will Evans, Wired, 18 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1858, in the meaning defined above