Emerald:
Emeralds have an incredibly beautiful, intense and radiant green color and belong to the large gemstone family of the beryls. They have good hardness, at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. The emerald isn’t only one of the most beautiful gemstones, but is also one of the most valuable. Fine inclusions do not diminish the high regard in which an emerald is held. In top quality, fine emeralds are more valuable than diamonds. Some of the most famous emeralds are in museums and in collections. One of the largest is the “Mogul Emerald”, weighing 217.80 carats. The emerald has been thought of as a holy gemstone, as well as a stone that brings good luck and enhances well-being. The emerald is the birthstone for the month of May.

Diamond:
The diamond is the birthstone for the month of April. Diamonds were worn in ancient times to promote strength, invincibility and courage. People think of diamonds as clear, white stones, however, they also come in other fabulous colors such as pale pinks and blues, pale to bright yellows, oranges, greens and browns. The diamond is rock hard, at a 10 on the Mohs scale, and is virtually fireproof. Diamonds are weighed in carats. In order to produce a single one carat diamond, 250 tons of earth will be mined. There is only one “open to the public” diamond mine in the world, where the public can pay to mine for diamonds. It is The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

Citrine:
The stone that is the yellow of a lemon, to a clear radiant yellowish to brownish red is the citrine. It is the birthstone for the month of November. The citrine is a member of the large quartz family, thus comes it’s hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Citrine is said to dispel sadness, anger, and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect them from death. It is also reputed to make men handsome and intelligent, and sterile women fertile and happy.

Jade:
Jade comes in several shades of green, but also in shades of white, grey, black, yellow, orange, and in delicate tones of violet. Jade has been regarded as a lucky and protective stone. It is also said that jade stimulates creativity and agility, while also having a harmonizing effect. It has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale, and is used for other fine objects, as well as for jewelry. A visit to a jade market can give some idea of the significance this gem has for the people of Asia.

Chrome diopside:
Chrome diopside has a beautiful rich green color. It is mostly available in smaller sizes, and is rare in large sizes. It has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale. It is mostly mined in Yakutia and Siberia. Chrome diopside is the most affordable gemstone in a pure rich green: however, sometimes the color is so rich that it is very dark.

Amber:
Amber is fossilized pine tree resin, ancient and valuable. To some it has become known as the Jurassic gem, because of the popularity it received after the movie Jurassic Park was released. More than 1,000 extinct species of trapped insects have been identified encased in amber. Amber is used in adornment, and its prices can range from $20 to $40,000 or even more. Amber is said to have supernatural properties and has even been used to worship.

Morganite:
Morganite is a well known gemstone from the colorful group of beryls. It is beryllium aluminum silicates that is rich in minerals. Morganite has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It comes in several colors which include fine pink hues, lilac, light violet and even with a hint of orange. This stone makes a wonderful gift, because even in stressful times, it shows up the brighter aspects of life.

Turquoise:
Its shiny sky blue color is one of its most distinguishing traits. It also comes in a range of colors from sky blue to grey-green. It has been discovered however, that the turquoise certainly can change color. In many cultures the turquoise has been esteemed as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune, has been worn as a protector against the powers of darkness and is said to be responsible for faithfulness in relationships. Turquoise is copper aluminum phosphate with a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale. Being relatively soft, they are sensitive. Rarely are they ever faceted. The most well known deposits are in the USA, Mexico, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan and China.

Chalcedony:
Chalcedony is found in all 50 states, in several colors and combinations of colors. It is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones including carnelian, sard, plasma, prase, bloodstone, onyx, sardonyx, agate, flint, jasper, petrified wood and petrified dinosaur bone. They are found in several types of rock. Chalcedony was used in earlier times for containers, tools and knives.

Agate:
Agate is creatively stripe by nature, and is chalcedony quartz that forms in layers, creating a wide variety of colors and textures. The layers in the agate are bands like the rings of a tree trunk. The agate is said to quench thirst and protect against fever. It was also used to divert storms. Agate is used to make bowls and ornaments, as well as for jewelry. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is 6.5 to 7.

Zircon:
Zircon is made up of zirconium silicate. It comes in many colors including green, dark red, yellow, brown, orange and blue. The blue zircon is considered a birthstone for the month of December. The blue can be a pastel blue or even can be a bright blue. Zircon is one of the heaviest gemstones there is. It has a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Zircon was said to aid sleep, bring prosperity, and promote honor and wisdom in its owner. The word zircon comes from a Persian word meaning “gold colored”.

Garnet:
Garnets are the deep, warm red birthstone for the month of January. Most people are not aware that garnets also come in various shades of green, tender to intense yellow, a fiery orange and some fine earth colored tones. It does not come in blue however. On the Mohs scale, it has a hardness of 7 to 7.5. The garnet was thought of as a talisman and as a protective stone. It has also been believed that it lights up the night and protects its bearer from evil and disaster. It’s also been said that Noah used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark nights.

Tsavorite:
This young, shiny green gemstone is only found in the bush land of East Africa. It is sometimes also called tsavolite. It is a green grossularite, which comes from the gemstone family of garnets. Tsavorite comes in colors ranging from vivid radiant green, spring like light green, to an intense blue-green or deep forest green. Another positive characteristic of this stone is its hardness, which is a 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Rarely can you find a cut tsavorite of more than two carats; so when one is found, it is a precious thing!

Mandarin Garnet:
This gemstone is loved by specialists and gemstone lovers alike, because the magnificent colors and high brilliance of these orange-red treasures are unique! It is a rare orange gemstone variety known as spessartine, which comes from the large colorful garnet family. Its color is an intensely radiant orange-red color. Another way to describe the color would be a range of hues from ripe peach to deep reddish orange. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

Ruby:
The color, which is the ruby’s most important feature, of this gemstone is red. It is known as the “king of Gemstones”. Rubies have been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. Ruby is the red variety of the mineral corundum, which is one of the hardest minerals on Earth. It has magnificent color, excellent hardness at a 9 on the Mohs scale, and outstanding brilliance. It is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities. Star rubies are precious rarities as well. Inclusions within a ruby are looked at as a fingerprint; a statement of its individuality and as proof of its genuiness and natural origin. Ruby is the birthstone for the month of July.

Opal:
An opal is the birthstone for the month of October. They shine and sparkle continuously, changing colors that are full of fantasy-which is known as opalising. They come in different colors and shapes, some such as the Dark or Black Opal, White or Light Opal, Milk or Crystal Opal, Boulder Opal, Opal Matrix, Yowah Nuts, Mexican and Fire Opal. If they lack typical play of color, they are Common Opals. Opals are gel from silica, with varying percentages of water. All opals contain water, and they usually contain between 2 and 6 percent water, but sometimes even more. They are said to have healing powers and help its wearer find true love. Opals have a hardness of 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale.

Fire Opal:
Fire opals range in color from orange-red to yellow and orange. The more transparency and “fire” it has and the more intense the deep red of its body color, the more valuable it will be. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is between 6 and 6.5. People believe opals bestow courage, stamina, will power and energy on its wearer. Today, the fire opal is regarded as the national gemstone of Mexico, which is where the most significant fire opal deposit in the world lies.

Amethyst:
Amethyst is the deep violet purple gemstone which is the birthstone for the month of February. It belongs to the quartz family, and has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Some amethysts pale in color, to almost being colorless in daylight. The amethyst is said to protect its wearer against seduction, protect crops against locusts, bring good fortune in war and in the hunt, drive out evil spirits and inspire intellect.

Ametrine:
Sometimes amethyst and citrine colors are found in the same crystal of quartz. This creates a bicolored stone, which is an ametrine! If you’re a Vikings fan, you’ll love this stone! This stone comes from only one mine in the world, located in Bolivia. Ametrine is usually faceted in a rectangular shape. Most sizes and shapes are available, but the color contrast is most pronounced in sizes over seven carats. It has a hardness of around a 7 on the Mohs scale.

Sapphires:
The sapphire is the deep blue colored birthstone for the month of September. Blue is the main color of the sapphire, however it comes in a range of colors from a transparent grayish-blue, to yellow, green, white, pink, orange and purple. All other colors besides the blue are considered “fancy sapphires”. The sapphire symbolizes loyalty, love and longing. They come from the corundum group, and have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. It is the hardest mineral on earth, next only to the diamond. Star sapphires and top quality diamonds are rare. Their value depends on their size, color and transparency. Generally, the clearer and more vivid the color, the more valuable the sapphire.

Aquamarine:
Aquamarines range in several blue shades. They can be as light as a soft sky blue, to as dark as a deep sea blue. It is a fascinating beautiful gemstone. This stone is said to promise a happy marriage and bring the woman who wears it joy and wealth. It belongs to the beryl family, and has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. The more intense the color of the stone, the more value is put on it. Aquamarines are almost entirely free of inclusions. They are the birthstone for the month of March.

Topaz:
Topaz is most commonly found in the color yellow. It comes in several other colors however. These include yellow-brown, honey yellow, flax, brown, green, blue, light blue, red, and pink and sometimes with no color at all. The blue topaz is the birthstone for the month of December. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. Topaz is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect them from sudden death. One of the largest stones is the topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, which weighs 1,680 carats! It was so light in color that for a long time, it was thought to be a diamond!

Tiger Eye:
The tiger eye has a rich yellow and golden brown color, with a fine golden lustre when polished. They have bands that alternate in yellow or brown, all through the stone. Tiger eye is quartz that contains oriented fibers of crocidolite that have been replaced by silica. Tiger eye is used to relieve high blood pressure, offer protection during travel, strengthen convictions and confidence and is beneficial for the weak and sick.

Peridot:
The peridot has a vivid green color, with just a slight hint of gold through it. This color is perfect for a summer outfit, which is maybe why it’s the birthstone for the month of August. The radiant green color does not change in this stone. It is one of the few gemstones that only comes in one color. The color can range in shades of yellowish green to olive, or even to a brownish green. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Onyx:
Onyx is chalcedony quartz with a fine texture. Most commonly known and used in fine jewelry is the black onyx. Onyx also comes in a reddish brown and white color, which known as sardonyx, which was highly valued in Rome. The onyx is the birthstone for the month of February in German speaking countries. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Bloodstone:
For a long time, years ago, this green jasper dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide, was used as a birthstone for March. It is chalcedony quartz, and has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Finely pulverized bloodstone is used as a medicine in India. It is said that the origin of the bloodstone was when Christ’s blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Bloodstone is mined in India, Australia and the United States.

Jasper:
Jasper is an ornamental rock composed mostly of chalcedony and microcrystalline quartz, as well as other minerals. This is what gives it the colorful bands and patterns it has. Jasper is named after the particularly distinctive pattern it showcases. Some examples are landscape jasper, ribbon jasper, picture jasper and orbicular jasper. It is used in jewelry, as well as to create bowls and other objects, and to adorn buildings. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Corals:
Corals grow in nature in a variety of colors. They range from red to white and from blue to brown to black. The reds, blacks and golds are very popular and are very much in fashion. Blue corals are the ones that are very rare. Corals are the products of tiny living beings which settle in enormous colonies in the depths of warn seas long before our time. They live anywhere from three to 300 meters in the water. The coral species used for jewelry are not the protected species of the ocean. Coral is said to have a protective and invigorating force about it. It has a hardness of 3.5 on the Mohs scale.

Chrysoberyl:
Chrysoberyls are aluminum oxide containing beryllium. They, in spite of their name, are not beryl at all. They have excellent hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Chrysoberyl comes in many colors between lemon and greenish yellow, in honey colors and shades from mint green to brownish green. This stone resembles a cat’s eye that winks at you. Thus is the reason for its short name of “Cat’s Eye”. Chrysoberyl cat’s eyes are genuine rarities which are found only in a few deposits in the world. These stones have been regarded as protectors of their wearers and of keeping disaster at bay.

Kunzite:
This gemstone is the youngest member of the spodumen family. Kunzite has only been known of for a little over a hundred years. It can appear violet, pink or even colorless. Pale pink kunzite was discovered in 1902 in California. The pink stone is popular as a healing stone. Kunzite is also said to deliver us from worry and anxiety, and moods of depression. This gemstone has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Alexandrite:
The alexandrite, a chrysoberyl, is the beautiful birthstone for the month of June. It has a very unique characteristic, which is its ability to change its color. Green to bluish-green in daylight, alexandrite turns a soft shade of red, purplish-red or raspberry red in incandescent light. The more distinct the color change, the more valuable the stone. It has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and is considered a stone of very good omen. It is also said to aid creativity and inspire the imagination.

Moonstone:
The moonstone is the feldspar variety known as “adulria”, a potassium aluminosilicate of gemstone quality. They come in mostly beige-brown, green, orange and brown colors. There have also been some moonstones found that are a smoky color, the color of champagne, some black and some reddish ones. The more intense in color, the larger and more transparent, the more highly valued the moonstone is. Moonstone has a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale. This stone is surrounded by a good deal of mystique and magic, is regarded as a holy stone, and evokes tender feelings and safeguards the true joys of love.

Iolite:
Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly. It can also look, when cut into a cube, more or less violet blue, clear as water, or even a honey yellow color. The richer the blue color, the better. Iolite is relatively hard, with a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. The Viking mariners used thin pieces of this stone as the world’s first polarizing filter lens. Thus is the reason it’s considered the gem of the Vikings.

Tanzanite:
This gemstone was discovered in 1967, in the East African state of Tanzania. This is the only place in the world where tanzanite is found. Thus is why the tanzanite is named after Tanzania. It has a blue color which is surrounded by a fine hint of purple. It can range in color from ultramarine blue to light violet-blue. It also depends on which angle you are looking from. It may appear blue, purple or even brownish yellow. Tanzanite is a very highly prized gemstone because it’s only found in one place in the world. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale.

Spinel:
Spinel can be found in a range of gorgeous pastel shades of pink and purple, as well as in a hot pink with a tinge of orange color. It also comes in a beautiful blue tone called cobalt spinel, which is very, very rare. It is mostly faceted in oval, round or cushion shapes and is not usually found in calibrated (common) sizes due to its rarity. Spinel has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale.

Lapis lazuli:
Lapis lazuli is an opaque rock that mainly consists of diopside and lazurite. It has a hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale. Lapis lazuli has colors from deep dark blue with gold inclusions to opaque, deep blue. When ground up into a powder and stirred up together with binding agents, the gemstone can be used to manufacture radiant blue water colors, tempera or oil paints. Lapis lazuli was regarded as a holy stone, a stone of friendship and truth, and is said to encourage harmony.

Beryls:
Beryls are beryllium-aluminum-silicates. They, when pure, are colorless, but also range in color from a golden tone, to yellowish-green, blue, green, yellow, pink and a rare red. Aquamarine, emerald and morganite are all beryl. Beryls are well suited to rectangular or square step cuts, since it takes a clear design to bring out the transparent beauty of this colorful gemstone family to the full. It has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.

Tourmaline:
Tourmalines come in many colors, from red to green and from blue to yellow. They often have two or more colors. There are also tourmalines that change their color when the light changes from daylight to artificial light. There are no two tourmalines exactly alike. Tourmalines are mixed crystals of aluminum boron silicate with a complex and changing composition. It is the gemstone of love and friendship, and is said to render them firm and long-lasting. This gemstone has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Tourmalines can become electrically charged when heated and then allowed to cool. They can then have a positive charge on one end and negative at the other.

Multicolored tourmalines:
Tourmaline crystals often grow in close proximity to one another. This is when a multicolored tourmaline is formed. These stones with two or more different, well represented colors are particularly desirable. Multicolored tourmalines have a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. They are popular not only in jewelry, but also as therapeutic stones.

Blue tourmaline:
A tourmaline which is pure blue is a very rare thing. They are most valuable when they show an intense, clear, radiant blue which is not too dark. Therapists believe that a blue tourmaline makes people both honest and tolerant. A blue tourmaline has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

Green tourmaline:
Green is regarded as the classical tourmaline color. There are green tourmalines in fine sleek hues, but also in intense yellowish green, olive green and brownish green nuances. They also range from blue-green to dark bottle-green, which are its best colors. Green tourmalines of good color and transparency are a rare thing, and if they are free of inclusions, they are even more highly coveted. They have a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

Yellow tourmaline:
Until recently, there were no pure yellows in the rich color range of this gemstone. Most yellow tourmalines have a slight tinge of brown within the stone. This stone has fine traces of magnesium that are responsible for the electrifying yellow color. The yellow tourmaline has a fine smell to it, that the wearer will not notice, but the cutter will. It has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.

Rubellite:
Rubellite is a red or pink tourmaline. They come in nuances from red to shocking pink, tender pink, intense violet and bold ruby red. Many gemstones change color depending on the light source. A true rubellite does not! A rubellite with only a few inclusions is more valuable than one with inclusions that are clearly visible. The color of this gemstone is pure seduction. It has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.