Gemstone Guide
Gemstones are a complicated matter, and finding the right one for you isn't always a clear choice. This guide will give you a better understanding of the appearance, characteristics, and physical properties of some of the gemstones you might find in your jewellery.
Diamond
The king of all gemstones, diamonds are formed over millions of years, deep within the earth. Diamonds are graded based on cut, clarity, colour and carat size, with unlimited possibilities and variants. To see our full diamond guide, click here.
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Colours: All
Mohs Hardness: 10
Rarity: Precious
Sapphire
Part of the corundum family, sapphires can occur in any colour of the rainbow (with the exception of red; see rubies), with the most sought after sapphire colours being Cornflower and Royal blue, primarily found in Kashmir, Burma and Sri Lanka.
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Colours: All but red
Mohs Hardness: 9
Rarity: Precious
Ruby
The red sibling of sapphire, ruby is also part of the corundum family. Colours range from pink, to the highly valuable 'pigeon blood red'. The best rubies are found in Myanmar, with more common varieties mined in countries such as Cambodia, Australia and Madagascar.
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Colours: Red, Pink, Maroon
Mohs Hardness: 9
Rarity: Precious
Emerald
A beautiful soft stone, emeralds are a variety of beryl. Commonly hailing from Australia, Brazil, and Zambia, the best emeralds are found in Columbia, often boasting beautiful rich greens and excellect clarities. All emeralds are relatively heavily included however, and as such, they can be more susceptible to cracking.
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Colours: Green
Mohs Hardness: 7.5-8
Rarity: Precious
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is another member of the beryl family, named after the water-like pale blue colour it commonly occurs in. Most famously found in Brazil, aquamarine can be relatively inexpensive, however high quality, truly blue examples can be very valueable.
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Colours: Pale blue, Turquoise, Light green
Mohs Hardness: 7.5-8
Rarity: Semi-Precious / Precious
Tanzanite
Tanzanite is one of the most exclusive gemstones on the planet, mined only in a 5 square mile area in Tanzania. Naturally occuring in blue, violet, and brown, they are typically heat-treated to emphasise the hues and enhance clarity. Since 2019, the primary tanzanite mine has since closed, making tanzanite an increasingly scarce mineral.
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Colours: Violet, Blue, White
Mohs Hardness: 6.5
Rarity: Precious
Topaz
A jack-of-all trades, topaz can occur in almost every colour and various levels of clarity. Mined all over the world, topaz is an inexpensive gemstone due to its abundence, topaz is a great choice for more affordable jewellery, or any piece designed with gemstones of multiple colours in mind.
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Colours: All, rarely red and pink
Mohs Hardness: 8
Rarity: Semi-Precious
Citrine
Citrine is a yellow variety of quartz, primarily found in Brazil. Often referred to as the 'Merchant's Stone', some believe it to bring prosperity to those who wear it. With hues varying across the yellow colour spectrum, it pairs brilliantly with yellow gold settings, and can is a good way to have a large statement piece at an affordable price.
Colours: Pale yellow-brown
Mohs Hardness: 7
Rarity: Semi-Precious
Amethyst
A purple variety of quartz, amethyst is named after the ancient Greek word 'amethystos', meaning 'not drunk' as it was believed that the gemstone would protect the wearer from intoxication. Amethyst is a popular choice for jewellery around the world, as its purple hues vary widely in tone and clarity, creating a highly versatile gemstone.
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Colours: Purple, Violet
Mohs Hardness: 7
Rarity: Semi-Precious
Opals
Opals are a hydrated form of silica, famously found in Australia and Ethiopia. Opals can occur in a wide range of colour combinations with base colours of white, green, grey and black, and varying levels of iridescence in their layers seen visible throughout the stone, referred to as 'fire'. The rarest and considered most valuable combination is an Ethiopian black opal with high levels of red and orange fire,
Colours: White, Black, Iridescence
Mohs Hardness: 5.5-6
Rarity: Precious