seal stone A gem carved in intaglio producing a design in relief, when pressed into clay, usually the owner's signature or emblem.
secondary When referring to hue, the second or modifying color; an orangy red gem has an orange secondary hue.
Seal stone engraving: value added
The carving of gems became an important art in ancient times with the introduction (circa 3500 BC) of seal stone engraving by the Babylonians.
Most of the individuals belonging to the greater set of women in the Roman times used to be dressed in wide-ranging amounts of gold or carved stone that mostly included a seal stone for wax-sealing the important documents.
Hematite was often used as seal stones, cut as intaglio. It is also used as beads and is faceted, carved or cut as a cabochon for use as a gemstone. The ancient Egyptians carved hematite into scarabs.
Some finger rings acted as purely decorative jewelry and others were engraved as signets or featured engraved seal stones.
 See also: Diamond, Stone, Seal, Precious, Cut
  
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