types of gemstones

Types of Gemstones from A to Z

Types of Gemstones A to Z

This types of gemstones directory is based on information from Gemological institute of America. GIA is considered the world authority on gemstone and diamond research, grading and education.

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GemstoneCharacteristicsMohs Hardness
AlexandriteBluish green in daylight, purplish red under incandescent light; hard and durable8.5
AmberYellow, orange or golden brown; a fossilized resin, inclusions sometimes preserve ancient life2.5
AmethystPurple to pastel gems from African and South American mines. Browse amethyst jewelry >7
AmmoliteEach gemstone displays captivating, iridescent rainbow colors. Browse ammolite jewelry >3.5-8
AquamarineClear blue to greenish-blue variety of the mineral beryl. Browse aquamarine jewelry >8
CitrinePopular yellow variety of quartz that ranges from yellow to brown-orange color. Browse citrine jewelry >7
DiamondValued for their colorless purity, but found in all rainbow colors; most diamonds are over a billion years old10
EmeraldBlue green to deep green variety of beryl, sourced from Africa, South America and Asia. Browse emerald jewelry >8
GarnetFound in all the colors of the rainbow, known for red, orange and green; colors vary in their rarity. Browse garnet jewelry >7.5
IoliteBlue to violet hue, that can also display a pale yellow or colorless hue when viewed from certain directions7.5
JadeGreen jade dates to the pre-historic era and is actually two separate gems: nephrite and jadeite43989
Lapis LazuliRoyal blue with golden streaks of pyrite; this rock is made of several minerals: lazurite, calcite and pyrite5.5
MoonstoneA colorless, semi-transparent appearance with a light blue or silver sheen known as adularescence6.5
OpalOpal’s light diffraction results in a play of many colors; the color range and pattern help determine its value. Browse opal jewelry >6.5
PearlPearls take years to form and are produced in the bodies of marine and freshwater mollusks3
PeridotYellow-green gemstone found in volcanic and mountain rock and meterorites. Browse peridot jewelry >7
RubyDeep red color; known as the “king of precious stones.” Browse ruby jewelry >9
SapphireFound in a variety of colors including yellow, green, orange, pink and purple; prized for their deep blue saturated hue. Browse sapphire jewelry >9
SpinelSpinel, often sourced in red and blue, is sometimes confused with ruby. Browse spinel jewelry >8
TanzaniteBlue-to-violet or purple hues; recently discovered in Tanzania in 1967. Browse tanzanite jewelry >7
TopazWide color range of brown, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. Browse topaz jewelry >8
TourmalineOne of the widest color ranges of any gem; prized for intense violet blue gems of Paraíba, Brazil. Browse tourmaline jewelry >7.5
TurquoiseOpaque blue to green; among the world’s oldest found jewelry of ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesoamerica and China6
ZirconBlue, yellow, green, red, brown and colorless hues; known for bright and lustrous light reflection; not to be confused with cubic zirconia7.5

 

Related:

Sources:
Jewelers of America
GIA

Last Updated on December 29, 2020 by JewelryNStyle

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