Humans have been covering themselves with gemstone jewellery for thousands of years, and jewellery is one of the most common uses for gems worldwide. There is a variety of gems from which you can choose, and each has different properties. There is also a wide selection of colours available, so there is something suitable for aal tastes. Below are some of the most common gemstones in no specific order you can use for jewellery to help you decide what you want to buy.
Diamonds
When you mention gemstone jewellery, many people will automatically think of diamonds. They are the hardest known gemstone, which means they can last for a long time, and they are available in various shades of colour. It is common to use diamonds for wedding jewellery, so you will often see them in engagement and wedding rings, although they are also used in other types of jewellery.
Garnets
Another gemstone you can choose for your jewellery is garnets, a deep reddish and purple gemstone, and you can also get hues of green, pink, orange, and brown. The garnet is the birthstone for January, and it is a relatively hard material, scoring between 6.5 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale. If this is an appealing gem for you, there are plenty of reputable dealers where you will find high-quality loose garnets for sale that you can use in jewellery.
Emeralds
Emeralds have been popular for a long time with people wearing jewellery, especially royalty. They are another popular choice for wedding jewellery and can look fantastic when set with diamonds or other types of gemstones. Emeralds are predominantly green but can have hues of blue-green and yellowish-green. They are a robust and durable gem and score between 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, and they are also affordable, being about one-tenth of the cost of diamonds.
Aquamarine
Another exquisite gem that you can choose for your jewellery is aquamarine, and it is another common choice for engagement rings. Aquamarine has a beautiful pale blue hue to it, but you can also get more greenish-blue shades. It is a durable gemstone suited for jewellery that is worn everyday and scores between 7.5 – 8 on the Mohs scale. The paler colours are suitable for most budgets, but the highly bright blue gems can be expensive, so they will not suit all budgets.
Rubies
Rubies are another type of gemstone that humans have used for jewellery for thousands of years. People love the intense red of rubies, and they are the second hardest gemstones scoring nine on the Mohs scale, with only diamonds being harder. They are ideal for the jewellery you will wear daily, and they can look spectacular when you combine them with other gems, such as diamonds or aquamarine.
Topaz
You can also consider using topaz for your jewellery, and this is available in many colours, including:
- Blue
- Brown
- Yellow
- Pink
- Green
- Orange
A yellow or orange topaz is the birthstone for the month of November, while blue topaz is the birthstone for December. They have a rating of 8 Mohs, which means they are strong and durable and suited to being worn daily.
