treasure / preciousness
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treasure
A very valuable, rare, or expensive object. Often used in the plural to describe a collection of such objects.
Das Museum stellt in einer Vitrine seine wertvollsten Kostbarkeiten aus.
The museum displays its most valuable treasures in a glass case.
preciousness
The abstract quality of being valuable, noble, or of great ideal value.
Erst in der Fremde wurde ihm die Kostbarkeit seiner Muttersprache bewusst.
Only when he was abroad did he become aware of the preciousness of his native language.
The noun 'Kostbarkeit' (treasure/preciousness) is derived from the adjective 'kostbar' (valuable/precious). The ending '-keit' forms a noun that describes the quality expressed by the adjective.
Er schätzte die Kostbarkeit dieses seltenen Buches sehr.
He greatly valued the preciousness of this rare book.
'Kostbarkeit' (treasure/preciousness) can be countable or uncountable. In the plural ('die Kostbarkeiten' — treasures), it refers to valuable objects. In the singular without an article, it describes the abstract quality of being valuable.
Das Museum bewahrt seine schönsten Kostbarkeiten in einem Tresor auf.
The museum keeps its most beautiful treasures in a safe.
In its abstract meaning, 'Kostbarkeit' (preciousness) is often used to emphasize the ideal value of non-material things. Typical phrases are 'die Kostbarkeit des Lebens' (the preciousness of life), 'der Freundschaft' (of friendship), or 'des Augenblicks' (of the moment).
In der Stille der Natur spürte er die Kostbarkeit des Moments.
In the silence of nature, he felt the preciousness of the moment.
jewel / gem
When referring to an outstanding individual object, Juwel is often a figurative accolade that emphasizes its special quality. Kostbarkeit, on the other hand, literally means a rare or expensive object and is also used for several valuable objects in a collection.
Die seltene Vase wird zusammen mit anderen Kostbarkeiten der Sammlung sicher aufbewahrt.
The rare vase is kept safely together with the collection's other treasures.
Die außergewöhnlich schöne Vase ist das Juwel der Sammlung.
The exceptionally beautiful vase is the gem of the collection.
