With so many gemstones in the market, it can be tricky to distinguish one from the other and ensure you are getting the perfect one for you.

Learn some of the most popular gems in the jewelry world, from their history, quality, and reputation. We also include affordable gemstone engagement rings for each semi-precious stone, so you can establish your favorites before you buy your next luxurious accessory.

 

Amethyst

Description: Sometimes referred to as “raspberry,” many associate amethysts with the color purple. It is the most valued variety of the quartz mineral species, often in demand for designer pieces and mass-market jewelry.

History: In Ancient Greece, the name “amethystos” means “not drunk” because of its association with Bacchus, the god of wine, believing that it prevents intoxication. The first one was discovered by Spanish conquistador in the 1600s when he got it as a dowry from a princess from the Ayoreo tribe.

Color: The finest gem possesses a strong reddish-purple to purple with no visible color zoning.

Clarity: Without magnification, you will not usually find inclusions in most gemstones.

Cut: Amethysts come in standard calibrated shapes, particularly round and oval cuts.

Carat Weight: Gems are available in all size ranges for various jewelry settings.

Symbolism: Spirituality and peace

Healing Powers:

• Relieves stress and strain;
• Balances mood swings, dispelling anger, rage, fear, and anxiety;
• Dissolves negativity, alleviating sadness and grief;
• Opens intuition and enhances psychic abilities

Birthstone & Anniversaries:

• Birthstone for February;
• The gem for 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries;

 

Topaz

 

Description: Topaz is a lustrous gem that has a vast color range. It has light absorbing properties, the color caused by impurity elements or crystal structure defects. It is also pleochroic, with the gem showing various colors in various crystal directions.

History: Scholars trace Topaz’s origins to Sanskrit, with  the word “topas” or “tapaz,” meaning “fire.” The first discovery of yellow crystals was in 1737, Germany. Meanwhile, imperial topaz originates in 19th century Russia, with exclusive ownership to the royal family.

Color: The most valuable topaz is orangy-red to red. Other varieties include yellow, brown, pink to purple-red, blue, light green, and colorless.

Clarity: Topaz jewelry is often eye clean with no visible inclusions.

Cut: Since their formation is often columnar, yields are better when they are oval or pear-shaped.

Carat Weight: Topaz formations are often large, yielding sizable cut gems.

Symbolism: Nobility, love, passion, good fortune, and purpose

Healing Powers: Topaz can soothe, heal, stimulate, recharge, and align the meridians of the body by directing energy to where it is needed most.

Birthstone & Anniversaries:

• Precious topaz is a birthstone for November;
• Blue topaz is a birthstone for December;
• Blue topaz is the gem of the 4th anniversary;
• Imperial topaz is the gem of the 23rd anniversary.

 

Diamond

Description: The Roman naturalist Pliny once said, “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones but of all things in this world.” It is the only gem composed of one element: carbon. The gem also undergoes much heat and pressure before it makes it to a jeweler’s case.

History: Many diamond formations took shape over a billion years ago. However, it was only in the 1400s when diamonds became fashionable accessories for Europe’s elite.

Color: Less color means a higher grade. Even the slightest hint lessens the gem’s value dramatically.

Clarity: Quality grading depends on the number, size, clear or white inclusions on the diamond’s appearance, and position of inclusions and blemishes.

Cut: A diamond’s facets interact with light. Its measurement depends on the cut, accounting for the gem’s proportions, symmetry, and polish.

Carat Weight: The larger the diamond of the same quality means it is more rare and worth more per carat.

Symbolism: Purity, commitment, treasures, and knowledge

Healing Powers:

• Clears emotional and mental pain
• Reduces fear and brings about new beginnings
• Stimulates creativity, inventiveness, imagination, and ingenuity
• Brings clarity of mind, aiding in one’s enlightenment

 

Birthstone & Anniversaries:

• Birthstone for April;
• The gem for 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

 

Citrine

Description: Often confused for topaz due to its tawny color, citrine is a variety of quartz that is rare in nature. It is the top-selling yellow-to-orange gem, well-loved for its attractive color, durability, and affordability. While usually available in standard shapes and sizes, it also comes in unusual cuts for jewelry and carvings.

History: Citrine became the name for the standard yellow quartz in 1556. It has been loved for thousands of years since the Hellenistic Age in Ancient Greece as a decorative gem. 

Color: Citrine’s colors ranged from yellow to orange to orange-red, with earth tones being more popular.

Clarity: Eye-visible inclusions are not typical, but value decreases if they are present.

Cut: For jewelry, the stones are either carved, custom-cut, or calibrated.

Carat Weight: Citrine comes in a wide range of sizes and jewelry styles.

Symbolism: Vitality, health, happiness, and success

Healing Powers:

• Heals solar plexus/third chakra issues
• Helps strengthen self-esteem
• Promotes positive, vibrant flow of energy in and around one's body

 

Birthstone & Anniversaries:

• Birthstone for November;
• The gem for 13th wedding anniversary

 

Rose Quartz

Description: One of the many quartz varieties, rose quartz is popular for its delicate color. Apart from jewelry, carvers make dainty or whimsical figures out of the stones. Its finest sources come from Brazil, India, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka.

History: The first recorded sighting of the gem dates back in 7000 BC, Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Greek civilizations had many uses for rose quartz such as an ownership seal or an ingredient in healing potions to prevent aging and balance emotions. 

Color: It comes in a range of delicate shades from very light pink to medium-dark pink.

Clarity: Because of their microscopic mineral inclusions, rose quartz possess a cloudy translucence.

Cut: The transparent gems are often faceted while translucent gems are cabochon-cut or carved.

Carat Weight: The larger the gem, the more intense it is in (pink) shade and more valuable.

Symbolism: Universal and unconditional love and infinite peace

Healing Powers: It heals the heart and opens up the heart chakra to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace.

Birthstone & Anniversaries: 

• The gem for 5th wedding anniversary

Sapphire

Description: Sapphires are easily distinguished by their durability and vivid, saturated hues. Most people believe sapphires only come in blue, but there are also violet, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and intermediate hue varieties.

History: For centuries, royalty and nobility traditionally adorn their robes with sapphires, believing they grant protection from envy and harm. The first ones were discovered in 1865 by miners in the Missouri river, Montana.

Color: Sapphires come in all colors, except red. There are some that also come in a combination of different colors.

Clarity: While they typically come with inclusions, they have better clarity compared to rubies.

Cut: They come in brilliant pattern cuts on the crown and a step cut pattern on the pavilion.

Carat Weight: Blue sapphires come in different sizes, and large blue ones are readily available .

Symbolism: Wisdom, virtue, prosperity, and holiness (for royals); faithfulness and sincerity (for engagement rings)

Healing Powers: 

• Restores balance within the body;
• Brings serenity and peace of mind
• Stimulates concentration;
• Brings lightness, and joy

Birthstone & Anniversaries: 

• Birthstone for September;
• The gem for 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.

 

Moonstone

Description: Derived from Feldspar mineral, the ethereal and long-established heritage gem is favored by Art Nouveau jewelry designers for its adularescence, which is the metallic iridescence that occurs when light is reflected in the gemstone (and the occasional cat’s-eye effect).

History: Hindu mythology believes moonstones come from solidified moonbeams while other cultures associate it with the moonlight. It was once called “adularia” since it was first discovered in Mt. Adular, Switzerland (now St. Gotthard).

Color: Moonstones are colorless to white, gray, green, peach, or brown, but the finest ones are of glassy purity with electric blue shimmer.

Clarity: Typical inclusions include tiny tension cracks called centipedes.

Cut: Cabochon cut is often preferred to display the stone’s optical phenomenon best.

Carat Weight: Moonstones come in a variety of sizes and weights.

Symbolism: Hope, sensitivity, and abundance

Healing Powers:

• Opens up one’s crown chakra and divine feminine energy;
• Inspires intuition and psychic abilities

Birthstone & Anniversaries: Birthstone for June

The Best Place to Buy Handcrafted Semi-Precious Gemstone Rings

Now that inspiration has struck, you might be looking forward to getting your hands on new jewelry. The best jewelry store to buy engagement rings would be Heaven-Roc. We are a New York-based brand offering wearable luxury with our collections of handcrafted semi-precious gemstones. Get a better look at our collections, featuring most of the gems in this guide.

Dolce Vita Collection

• The Charlotte, $3200 (amethyst, white topaz)
• The Elizabeth, $4700 (blue topaz, diamonds)
• The Eva, $2800 (yellow citrine, diamonds)
• The Sophia, $3900 (green quartz, tsavorites, diamonds)

Riviera Collection

• Dreams, $3800 (pink and yellow sapphire, amethyst, rose quartz, diamonds)
• Ocean, $3800 (blue sapphire, tsavorites, lime quartz, blue topaz, diamonds)
• Sunset, $3800 (orange sapphire, orange moonstone, citrine, champagne diamonds)
• Forest, $3800 (orange sapphire, tsavorites, green sapphire, milky quartz, peridot, diamonds)

Jewelry is not a mere fashion statement; it is a reflection of us and our story. Make your next purchase more meaningful, and choose the best semi-precious that represents you.

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