Gemstone Guide

Gemstones have long been admired by people for their vibrant colors and magical sparkle. Since we love using gemstones in our jewelry, we’ll go into detail about each one and share everything you need to know. 

 


Popularly known for their ties to birthstones, gemstones have been a centerpiece of sentimental jewelry for a long time. People are drawn to gemstones for different reasons, whether it be their birthstone, favorite color, or an energy they are drawn to. Gemstones are also connected to magical metaphysical properties that are specific to each type of stone. The powers of gemstones are very interesting and deeply rooted in history and traditions. Gemstones are a beautiful wonder of the Earth, and keeping them close to you in the form of jewelry is a perfect way to harness their powers and express yourself. 

We love featuring a wide range of gemstones in our jewelry and design our pieces to cater to their specific needs. Each gemstone is ranked on the Mohs Scale of Hardness which indicates a stone’s durability and hardness. Diamonds score a 10, which is the highest rank available, and this is because they are the hardest known substance on Earth. All of the other gemstones fall somewhere on the chart and we use this information to decide what gemstones to use for different types and styles of jewelry. Gemstones are also classified into precious and semi-precious categories which reflect their difference in value. We design engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, and everything in between with gemstones.

Alexandrite

Alexandrite is one of the most magical gemstones found on Earth because of its ability to completely change color. This stone can change from a deep purple all the way to a glowing green. What separates Alexandrite from other color changing gemstones is that when it transforms, it changes the stone in its entirety, rather than refracting different colors like an opal would. Alexandrite has a hardness score of 8.5 making it the perfect gemstones for engagement rings and everyday jewelry alike. Color changing abilities aside, this gemstone has metaphysical properties as well. This gemstone has long been considered a good omen and can help the owner find their inner purpose. Alexandrite is also said to help one enjoy the small beauties of everyday life. Alexandrite is the birthstone for June but its unique beauty is fitting for anyone who appreciates the mystical appearance of this stone. 

Amethyst

 

Amethyst’s deep purple and cloudy white coloring makes it an extremely calming gemstone. Known for soothing anxiety, it helps remove the stress of fearing the unknown. An additional benefit of amethyst is that it increases a person’s intuition and opens more pathways to creativity. It’s the birthstone for the month of February, but anyone who feels drawn to this lavender hued stone can reap its soothing benefits. It scores a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is a great hardness for jewelry, but may not be the best for an everyday piece like an engagement ring. We love adding little pops of purple in our jewelry with amethyst because it perfectly complements other gemstones, or creates an eye catching piece on its own. 

Aquamarine

Aquamarine’s light and playful blue color makes it stand out in any piece of jewelry, and it compliments any metal color. Known as the birthstone of March, this light gemstone welcomes in springtime. Aquamarine is known for its capability to help the wearer seek truth and happiness. This truth also encompasses the ability to look at your true self and see things for how they really are. Its crystal clear blue color has long been associated with water and specifically the ocean. This connection to the water element allows aquamarine to wash away any toxicity in your life and cleanse yourself to make room for positivity. This gemstone is also connected to an ability to communicate more clearly with those around you, and enhance people’s understanding of your communication as well. Aquamarine’s Mohs hardness scale of 7.5-8 makes it a wonderful stone for all types of jewelry, and can be used as an accent stone for engagement rings as well. 

Blue Topaz

With a harness scale of 8, there aren’t many limitations on the gemstone Blue Topaz. This sky blue gemstone is said to help bring clarity to unclear or undecided situations. This is done by allowing the wearer to gain a different perspective than one they may be stuck in. Blue Topaz promotes not only trust in your relationships, but also trust in yourself. Its watery blue color is also a symbol of prosperity. Blue Topaz is the birthstone for those born in December. You can feel confident wearing Blue Topaz, not only because of its durability, but also because of its positive qualities. 

Citrine

Glimmering in gold and yellow hues, Citrine is a beautiful addition to any piece of jewelry. It’s warm tones go beautifully with yellow or rose gold, and contrasts white gold wonderfully. Associated with the power of the sun, Citrine helps the wearer accept all of the joy in their life. Helpful in dissolving stress, fear, and anger, Citrine allows your true self to shine through. Its golden aura is also associated with not only obtaining wealth, but also maintaining it. Citrine is connected to manifestation and is a great stone for people who have a goal they want to achieve. Its comforting sunshine color brings warmth to those born in November, as it is their birthstone. 

Diamond

Diamonds are infamously known as the gemstone for engagement rings. However, they make beautiful accents and center stones for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets as well. We love incorporating diamonds in our designs because they pair beautifully with any colored gemstone. Diamonds set the standard for durability, scoring a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so they can be used for any kind of jewelry. Everyone knows diamonds symbolize eternal love, but they have other lesser known meanings as well. It is said that diamonds are conductors of energy, so if the wearer of the diamond is positive, then they will radiate light and positivity. Diamonds are also tied to beauty and the divine, making them an even more attractive gemstone. Diamonds are the birthstone for April, but they are popular far beyond that. Diamonds also come in a variety of colors, some of the most popular being champagne diamonds that have a golden hue, and gray diamonds which vary from black to speckles of gray. 

Emerald

Emeralds have been used in jewelry for centuries, and they continue to be a highly sought after gemstone. Its deep green color represents loyalty and commitment, making it a perfect stone for engagement rings and jewelry you want to give to your partner. Emeralds even have a gemstone cut associated with them. An emerald cut is a popular shape to cut diamonds and other gemstones into, and has a vintage feel to it that we love. Although there is nothing more classic than an emerald cut Emerald, this forest green gemstone shines no matter what cut it’s in. Emeralds are connected to the goddess Venus, who rules love and romance. Emeralds are said to have the power to help one overcome misfortunes and create hope, encouragement, and abundance of love. Those born in the month of May are lucky enough to call Emeralds their birthstone, but this gemstone is perfect for so many other occasions. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, Emeralds are stronger than most stones, but require extra maintenance and care. We recommend Emeralds for special occasion jewelry, not every day pieces. 

Garnet

Garnet is found in several different colors, but it’s most commonly red or green. This stone is highly associated with passion and love. Garnet is said to remove inhibitions and increase confidence which is the perfect mix for spicing up your love life. In addition to passion, Garnet is tied to sincerity, meaning this passion is more than lust-- it’s a sincere connection. It’s deep and entrancing colors makes it a beautiful gift for someone you love, or for yourself. Garnet is also a gemstone for increasing your creativity and balancing energy. For creative people, or those who want to tap into their creative side, Garnet is a perfect gemstone. As the birthstone for January, Garnet can be associated with re-birth and new beginnings as well. Its Mohs hardness scale of 6.5-7.5 makes it best for jewelry that won’t be getting tough everyday wear and tear. 

Labradorite

Labradorite can aid in increasing your ambition, especially when it comes to creative tasks. However, it also keeps you grounded and present so that you don’t get distracted and can maintain productivity. Labradorite is also closely tied to self-discovery and can be helpful to those on a journey for learning more about themselves. This iridescent stone is color changing and is said to contain the magic of the Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis. This stone comes in a variety of colors, but lives within the realm of cool tones like blues, purples, and greys. With a hardness of only 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, we don’t recommend this stone for an engagement ring. However, we love using this stone in our designs for just about everything else. Labradorite is loosely connected to the month of March for a birthstone. This completely entrancing gemstone is not only great for those with creative wandering minds, but is also simply magical to look at.

Moonstone

Moonstone is one of the most magical gemstones because of its mystical appearance. This gemstone’s appearance varies, but all of them have what seems to be a hidden blue aura within them. Moonstone is one of our favorite gemstones to design with because each one is so unique and holds such magic. This gemstone holds the power to increase a person’s intuition and help one gain a higher perspective in life. Obviously named in connection to the moon, this gemstone is connected to cycles in life, just like moon phases. It reminds us that life goes through phases and there is no need to fear new chapters. Rather than letting you get lost in the cyclical nature of life, moonstone encourages you to find harmony in some of the repetition, while also creating new beginnings for yourself. Moonstone is considered an alternate birthstone for the month of June, but this stone is loved by many. With a hardness scale of 6-6.5, this stone is not recommended for engagement rings, but it makes a beautiful centerpiece for other jewelry. 

Opal

Opals are another unique gemstone because of the wide range of colors and types they are found in. Opals can appear white, black, or blue, but they all display an entire spectrum of the rainbow within them. Due to their highly refractive and colorful nature, these stones are connected to transformation. Opals are said to highlight all of the good and the bad things about oneself so that they may transform into a better version of themselves. Additionally, it increases feelings of self-worth and confidence so that these positive changes can be made. Opals will also help you control your emotions, express your true self, and communicate authentically. This fiery gemstone offers support by creating a protective aura around you. Although it is the birthstone of October, Opals are very popular in jewelry and many people are drawn to their energy. With a low Mohs hardness scale of 5.5-6.5, we don’t recommend Opals for your engagement ring, but they make beautiful jewelry for every other occasion. 

Peridot

The bright green gemstone, Peridot, is known for bringing joy into one's life. Just like the blooming green colors in spring and summer, this gemstone brings renewal and acceptance. Its bright color makes it very fitting as the birthstone for August, soaking up all of the warmth and color before fall. Peridot’s cheerful color improves the wearer’s disposition and makes room for positivity. The legends say that Peridot’s magic works best when worn on your right side, but regardless of where you wear it this gemstone makes a beautiful addition to anyone’s jewelry collection. Some people have coined this gemstone the “study stone” because of its apparent ability to help you get tasks done and stay focused. Coming in at a 6.5-7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, this gemstone isn’t best for an engagement ring. However, we design with Peridot and create pieces of jewelry that cater to the softness of the stone and protect it. If you have your heart set on a softer gemstone, there are ways to ensure it will be safe, like encasing it in a bezel setting so that it isn’t as exposed.

pearl jewelry meaning

Pearls are unique gemstones formed within the soft tissue of mollusks such as oysters and mussels. When an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters the mollusk, it secretes layers of nacre (the iridescent substance that forms the outer coating of pearls) around the irritant, eventually forming a pearl. We absolutely love pearls and their unique creation story, but they do require extra care! We recommend using a soft cloth to wipe your pearl piece after wearing. This type of gentle cleaning is the best way to retain the iridescent luster of the pearl looking it's best. Please do not submerge your piece in water and avoid chemicals, lotions, and perfumes. Take off pearl jewelry when cleaning, working with your hands, exercising, and doing water activities. Our team loves working with a wide range of gemstones, but pearls are one of the stones that we do not work with in custom designs. Working with gemstones as long as we have, we find that pearls are more challenging to set in fine jewelry due to their softer composition. For the integrity of our design, we suggest working with more durable materials when creating custom pieces.

Ruby

Rubies are a deep red gemstone that is known for its history in the jewelry and crowns of royals. This red hot gemstone is perfect for the birthstone of those born in the summer month of July. Their powerful burgundy color symbolizes nobility and passion. Often associated with sensuality, this gemstone makes a perfect gift for a significant other. Wearers of rubies are said to have the confidence to live life to the fullest and succeed at positive opportunities thrown their way. A ruby is perfect for an engagement ring because it is only slightly less hard as a diamond, with a hardness score of 9. Rubies can add an extra pop of color to any piece of jewelry. 

Sapphire

Although sapphires are found in every color except for red, they are known for their deep blue color variation. Sapphires are commonly used in the jewelry of royals even today (like Princess Kate). Sapphires are deeply connected to commitment and loyalty. This romantic gemstone is the perfect centerpiece for an engagement ring because it symbolizes devotion. Not only that, but it also scores a 9 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness making it extremely durable. Also tied to wisdom and intuition, featuring a sapphire in your jewelry collection goes far beyond its beauty.

spinel meaning

You may not recognize Spinel at first sight because it comes in such a variety of colors. This gemstone ranges from a bright red, to lilac purple, blue hues, green and black. In ancient times Spinel was often confused for Rubies and Sapphires. It's rising in popularity and is now even a birthstone for the month of August. It ranks as an 8 on the Mohs hardness scale making it a great gem for everyday accessories. Similar to Rubies, Spinel's fiery red color has been associated with passion and devotion. It's also said to boost physical and mental stamina. Spinel is a beautiful and unique gemstone that might just be your next favorite jewelry purchase. 

Turquoise

Turquoise is connected to tradition and is full of meaning and magic. Symbolizing peace and serenity, this gemstone brings calm to those who wear it. This opaque gemstone is said to bring someone the power of self-actualization and the ability to fully step into their potential. Turquoise is also helpful to those who seek empathy and empathize highly with others, as it creates a window into the lives of those surrounding you. The teal color of turquoise and its very organic feel are counterintuitive to the fact that this gemstone helps one set boundaries and speak up for themselves. A softer gemstone, Turquoise scores only a 5-6 on the Mohs scale. However, it is usually left in a more organic form and often in a bezel setting, which is highly protective. With the correct setting and design, Turquoise can be a long lasting addition to your jewelry collection. A lesser known birthstone, turquoise is an alternative to blue topaz for the month of December. 

If you’re interested in purchasing a gemstone piece from us, you can visit our website and browse our diverse collection. Or if you’re dreaming up your own gemstone piece, we can create a custom piece of jewelry using a gemstone of your choice with a one of a kind design.