When visiting a jeweler to find the next piece for your jewelry collection, it’s easy to stick with what you know and like. Of course, you know that you are getting something that you are going to wear often and that will be at home among the rest of your fine jewelry, but don’t you ever think about pushing the boat out by picking something that you have never gone for before?
Many people stick to plain gold and silver jewelry but shy away from pieces containing gemstones, except when picking engagement rings.
There are so many beautiful colors of precious stones to choose from that it can sometimes be overwhelming when you are faced with them in the store. For that reason, it helps to have some knowledge and understanding when you want to buy a diamond or a colored gemstone. The accessibility of colored stones has never been wider, so why not make the most of what the jewelry world has to offer?
Here is a guide to all of the colored gemstones that you are likely to find in retail jewelry pieces. Read through this guide to figure out which gemstone color might work best for you in achieving that all-important pop of color that is so on trend right now!
What are Gemstones?
Before we go any further, the most basic knowledge you need is about gemstones in general. A gemstone is a “rock” of a material considered to have financial or aesthetic beauty. It is cut, polished, and most often used in a piece of jewelry.
There are two classifications: precious stones and semi-precious stones.
The precious stones are diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires.
Semi-precious stones are everything else and include everything from agate to zirconium.
Some organic materials are classed as gemstones - pearl, amber, coral, and jet are some examples.
So now let’s look at gemstones in more detail and for ease, we’re grouping them by their main color.
Red Gemstones
The most popular types of red stones are rubies and garnets. They range from deep scarlet to pinkish-red color hues across the spectrum. Red hues are more often than not associated with passion and love, which makes ruby and garnet pieces perfect for romantic gifts to mark special occasions like engagements or anniversaries.
Because of their classic fiery glow, experts say that garnets and rubies are best suited to pairing with yellow gold jewelry. The amber hues of yellow gold can bring out the stunning deep shimmer of the red color.
Another positive is that red gems are so striking that you can often get away with purchasing a smaller-carat stone without negatively affecting the visual impact.
We recommend these darling ruby stud earrings for their classic, timeless appeal.
Pink/Purple Gemstones
The stones with the most beautiful pink and purple tones are amethyst, pink sapphire, morganite, spinel, and tourmaline, ranging from very light pink to dramatically deep purple. Thanks to the versatility of the color range, pink and purple gemstone jewelry are suitable for any occasion, both casual and formal.
Amethyst and tourmaline in particular can look great paired with any type of precious metal, but a rose gold setting, in particular, is a recommended choice because the pinkish hues of the metal accentuate the natural coloring of the stone. It is a very sweet and classic combination.
A bright stone, however, can look fabulous in any setting as seen in our amethyst stud earrings.
Blue Gemstones
If you are looking for stones that run the spectrum from deep navy to light sky blue, look for aquamarine, zircon, blue sapphire, turquoise, lapis lazuli, tanzanite, and blue topaz. Blue is a color that looks great on anybody, and it can work with any kind of outfit which makes it an easy choice for any type of occasion.
In terms of pairing, there is no doubt that blue gemstones look the most stunning when set with diamonds on platinum or white gold pieces of jewelry. From sapphire rings to aquamarine necklaces to topaz earrings, you really can’t go wrong with any blue gemstone piece in your collection.
We love how the blue of this sapphire pops, even though it is a small part of the Hamza Pendant Necklace. Wear it with a pair of sapphire studs and you have a beautiful complementary twosome.
Green Gemstones
The most gorgeous examples of green gemstones are emerald, peridot, green tourmaline, and green alexandrite. They boast hues ranging from the very deepest forest greens to the very lightest green-yellow shades, arguably one of the most versatile colors that you could hope to incorporate into your personal style.
Green gemstone jewelry is one of the most elegant choices, and even better, it is also one of the most neutral despite its striking color. You can feel free to wear green with any kind of outfit from everyday work wear to once-a-year formal occasions. If you want to make the most of the green pop of color that these stones provide, they are best paired with glowing yellow gold. It’s an unbeatable jewelry duo!
See it work to great effect in our Four Leaf Clover Pendant.
Yellow/Orange Gemstones
Stones in the yellow family can range in hues from deep glowing orange to a faint canary yellow, and the best examples include citrine and yellow sapphires. Both of these stones can add a beautiful summery glow to any ensemble.
The amber hues presented by yellow and orange gemstones are some of the most unique across all jewelry, and they can certainly turn heads no matter where you wear them on your body. To get the most out of these particular gems, they should be in yellow-gold settings as it’s a combination that cannot be beaten.
White Gemstones
The most obvious “white” gemstone is the diamond and as you know, it isn’t white but clear. We’re not going to delve deep into diamonds here because that’s a whole other world but we will tell you other clear stones are not diamonds. These include white topaz, white sapphires, moissanite, zirconium, goshanite and white quartz.
If you want white, not colorless, there are pearls, opals, moonstones, white jasper, and white jade. White gemstone colors range from pure white to milky white and some may have hints of other colors.
The most popular and arguably most beautiful is the classic pearl. Along with clear diamonds, you could say that pearls are the most beloved and timeless gemstones in the world. They have always been the epitome of elegance and sophistication, no matter how or where you choose to wear them.
Many believe that pearls are just as versatile as diamonds because they can be paired with pretty much every other item in your jewelry collection and wardrobe. They can be dressed up, but they can also be dressed down with a cute cardigan and a pair of jeans.
Birthstones
One of the most popular ways that jewelry wearers connect a particular stone color to their style is to wear the gemstone that represents their birth month. For many, finding out this information leads to a discovery of a new favorite color. Take a look at this list to find out which of the wonderful colored gems is your birthstone.
January: Garnet
February: Amethyst
March: Aquamarine
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
June: Pearl
July: Ruby
August: Peridot
September: Sapphire
October: Tourmaline
November: Citrine
December: Turquoise
The Perfect Gemstone?
Don’t set out on a quest to find the perfect gemstone. There might be a perfect diamond or sapphire in that it doesn’t have any inclusions (flaws) but you have to factor in the type of jewelry, the setting, the overall design, and how you feel about it. It’s all about showcasing your style with every choice that you make.
