Gemstone Guide

Looking to add some color to your jewelry wardrobe? Gemstones are the perfect way to add some flare to your outfits. With different colors and other properties, there are endless ways to make your outfit stand out from the rest. Let's go through a few fan favorites together!

Gemstones

Amethyst

These gemstones have a deep purple hue. The gemstones also give off sparkles of blue and red when shining in the light. Amethyst is the birthstone of February, and is beautiful when paired with yellow gold settings!

Aquamarine

This gemstone’s name almost speaks for itself! Aquamarine has a beautiful light blue color, as it is named after the color of the sea. Sometimes these stones can give off a slightly green undertone. Aquamarine is the birthstone of March, and it is complemented well by silver and white gold.

Citrine

Citrine’s color ranges from pale yellow to a deep red-orange. These gemstones are a great way to add a pop of color to your jewelry, as they are abundant and affordable! Citrine gets its name from the French word for lemon, ‘citron’. Citrine is one of the birthstones for November, and it is showcased beautifully in white gold and silver.

Emerald

Emerald gemstones possess a deep, rich green hue. These gemstones are very well known and popular for fashion jewelry.  Emeralds, the birthstone of May, are great when set in either yellow gold or white gold, making it a very versatile gemstone!

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is a vibrant blue gemstone that is typically used in fashion jewelry. The stone often has inclusions that can lower its value, but many find these markings add to the stone’s beauty. Lapis is highlighted well with silver and white gold settings and accents.

Malachite

Malachite is a similar shade of green to emerald, but it is typically deeper in hue and is opaque rather than transparent. When polished, malachite takes on a swirling and banded look, making rings of green shine through. Malachite is paired well with yellow gold settings and accents.

Morganite

Morganite has a light pink color to it, and it has recently grown in popularity. The gemstone is now very popular for fashion rings, specifically those set in rose gold as the two colors work extremely well together. 

Onyx

Onyx is an opaque, typically black gemstone that is very common in fashion jewelry. This bold gemstone is extremely versatile and has become popular in rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Onyx is showcased well in white gold and yellow gold. 

Opal

Opal is such a unique gemstone that it falls into its own category.  These stones typically have a white body with vibrant colors shining through at every angle. These colors range from red to a deep blue-purple, practically covering the whole rainbow. Opals make great jewelry stones for all types of pieces. Opal is another very versatile stone, as it works well in white, yellow, and rose gold settings. Opal is one of the birthstones for October. 

Pearl

Pearls are the only gemstones found in living creatures, although many pearls for jewelry are now cultivated. Pearls are extremely popular in jewelry. From small stud earrings to long strings of pearls, they are very versatile and timeless. Pearl is the traditional birthstone of June, and it sits well in white and yellow gold. 

Peridot

Peridot is typically a light green-hued gemstone, but it can range from a near yellow color to olive green. This gemstone is the only birthstone of August, and it is well complemented in yellow gold. 

Ruby

Rubies are a very traditional and timeless gemstone. Their deep red hue and durability make this stone a great jewelry addition. From pendants to rings, rubies are a great way to add some color to your jewelry. The ruby is the only birthstone for July and looks beautiful set in white and yellow gold. 

Sapphire

Sapphires are another classic gemstone. These gems come in almost every color of the rainbow other than red. This variety of colors makes sapphires a widely used stone in fashion jewelry. Blue sapphires are the most commonly thought of when their name is mentioned, and typically are the most commonly used in fashion jewelry. Sapphires of all colors are the birthstone of September and look great in all metal colors due to their versatility. 

Topaz

Topaz is a very popular gemstone in jewelry. The most commonly known colors of topaz are deep yellow and light blue, but topaz can come in pink, orange, red, and colorless. Yellow topaz is the birthstone of November, and blue topaz is one of December’s birthstones. Due to its variety of colors, topaz can work well with all metal colors!

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a very unique gemstone in comparison to those listed before. It can come in a variety of colors, including multi-colored gems, also known as bicolor tourmaline. Tourmaline can be found as a colorless stone to a black stone. It is abundant in nature, making it a very affordable stone to add to your jewelry collection. Its wide range of colors allows tourmaline to work well with all metal colors. 

Gemstone Jewelry

These are only a few of the most popular gemstones found in the jewelry industry. There are plenty of other shapes, sizes, and colors of stones to choose from. If you’re looking to add any of these or other gemstone pieces to your jewelry collection, we would be happy to help you find or create the perfect one! Visit James & Sons in Chicago, Naperville, Orland Park, or Schererville to find your perfect pop of color.