Gems are an excellent way to add sparkle and style to any wardrobe. Humanity has used natural gemstones for thousands of years, whether for an engagement ring, a pendant necklace, or simply a fashion statement. And they remain as popular today as they ever were.
But do you know the different kinds of natural gems out there? Let’s look at all the types of natural gemstones you can choose from.
Many people don’t understand what a natural gem is or where it comes from, even though they know they should value it highly.
So, let’s dig out more about these natural wonders.
What are Natural Gemstones?
Untreated or unaltered by humans, natural gemstones are formed by the forces of nature. They form through a combination of geological activities like the crystallization of minerals, water erosion, volcanic activity, or the changing temperature of a particular environment over time.
These gems can come from different places, such as mines and rivers, but they are unique because they are not artificially produced. Natural gemstones come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, some more common than others, such as diamonds and rubies.
But one thing is for sure: these stunning stones will leave you breathless with their captivating beauty. These gems have been around for centuries, adorning people’s jewelry, homes, and clothing, with some even being used as currency at one point in history.
They usually have smooth surfaces that catch light in different ways when exposed to sunlight, making them alluringly gorgeous!
Types of Natural Gems Found on Mother Earth
Organic gemstones (those created by living organisms) and inorganic gemstones (those not produced by organisms) make up the bulk of the natural gemstone market.
Let’s get a better grasp on things by getting our definitions straight.
Organic Gems
Organic gems include pearl and coral, while inorganic gemstones include quartz crystals and diamonds, among many others. However, most organic gems do not show the same brilliance that makes inorganic ones stand out so much!
Inorganic Gems
Inorganic gemstones are non-crystalline materials that exhibit attractive and unique characteristics, giving them the look of organic gemstones. The term “inorganic gems” refers to those fashioned from inorganic materials like minerals, metals, or even glass. One of the most popular types is lab-created stones, created using advanced technology to replicate the appearance of genuine precious gems.
The beauty of inorganic gems lies in their versatility—they come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Some examples include coral, opalized wood, ammonites, tektites, obsidian, and turquoise. These gemstones are typically seen as more environmentally benign than their natural counterparts since they do not need mining.
List of Natural Gemstones: Some Popular Gems
When talking about natural gemstones, some popular ones today include diamond (the most precious stone), ruby (the king of red gems), emerald (the queen of green gemstones), sapphire (the blue gem), opal (the milky white stone), turquoise (the blue-green gemstone), and topaz (the yellowish-gold stone), among many more!
Each type holds its own charm, which makes them highly sought after by collectors, horoscope gemstone seekers, and jewelry lovers alike! Let’s explore them one by one.
Diamonds
Of all the most popular gemstones, diamonds are perhaps the most sought-after. Known for their extreme durability and ability to take on many shapes, diamonds are pure carbon atoms arranged in a lattice structure. This lattice configuration makes diamonds some of the hardest substances in existence.
Diamonds used in jewelry are typically cut into one of two shapes: the brilliant cut and the rose cut. These names refer to the different ways in which the diamonds sparkle when illuminated from the inside.
Furthermore, before diamonds hit the market, they are graded according to clarity (the number and size of any internal flaws) and color (from colorless to faint yellow).
While primary diamond producers include countries such as Russia, India has become one of its largest secondary markets, with numerous diamond traders working in hubs like Mumbai and Surat.
Sapphires
As far as the list of natural gemstones goes, sapphires come in second place after diamonds due to their immense popularity in jewelry and other decorative items like watches or sculptures. Sapphires come in various colors, from blue-green to pink, although blue remains by far the most widely used shade due to its higher level of desirability.
Similar to diamonds, sapphires form through highly compressed carbon atoms, but their lattice structure is slightly different. Due to this difference, they are less hard than diamonds while still rugged enough for everyday wear when set into jewelry pieces.
Plus, sapphires can be graded according to clarity (similarly known as “inclusions”) and color intensity, which adds even more value if you’re looking for high-end pieces with unique hues like pink or yellowish sapphire varieties.
Primary sources for these stones include Sri Lanka, while Thailand is their biggest secondary market worldwide.
Rubies
Although rubies may appear similar at first glance to sapphires, their chemical structure is entirely different due to their presence of chromium ions instead of titanium, which provides them with their deep red hue (the name ruby itself derives from the Latin word “ruber,” meaning red).
This makes them incredibly rare compared with other precious stones, so only certain parts of Southeast Asia have significant deposits, such as Myanmar or Thailand, where almost 90% of the world’s production comes from!
Rubies can also be graded similarly to diamonds, so if you’re going for high-end rubies, look out for rich color and a good clarity rating too!
Emeralds
With their solid green tones, emeralds are one of those natural gems that can instantly draw attention wherever they go! Unlike rubies, emeralds contain beryllium ions instead, which gives them that distinctive green tint when exposed to light, making them truly distinguishable amongst other varieties too!
Just like other natural gemstones, they must pass strict tests before becoming part of the public trade, allowing us discerning buyers to get excellent quality gemstones without worrying about authenticity too much!
Colombia produces most of the world’s emerald deposits, but several African countries, such as Ethiopia, yield interesting results sometimes!
Opals
For eons, people have held opals in high esteem. Used in jewelry, religious artifacts, and more, these natural gemstones are truly mesmerizing. Their stunning colors and remarkable formations make for a captivating experience. But what exactly is it that makes them so unique?
Opals are unique gemstones composed of silicon dioxide and water, giving them excellent iridescent colors. The amount of water contained within the stone is what ultimately determines its vibrant hues.
There are several types of opal on the market today, classified according to their origins: Australian opal, Ethiopian opal, Mexican fire opal, and Peruvian pink opal, to name a few. You can find these stones in many shapes and sizes.
Whether you appreciate their brilliance as jewelry or admire them simply for their geological beauty, there’s no denying that opals are extraordinary gems that have captivated us since ancient times!
Pearls
It’s a common misconception that pearls originate when a predator attacks an oyster, and the mollusk’s defensive mechanisms miraculously generate a pearl within the oyster’s shell.
When an irritant like sand enters the oyster’s body, it produces chemicals called conchiolin, which help coat the particles with layers of calcium carbonate, creating a pearl over time.
This process can take anywhere from 2–6 years! Pearls come in many shapes, including round, baroque (irregularly shaped), semi-baroque (semi-round), drop or teardrop shaped, and more—all determined by the type of mollusk it comes from.
Today, there is an industry dedicated to farming pearls sustainably and ethically harvesting wild ones, something significant for certain species, such as South Sea pearls or Tahitian pearls, which can take up to 10-15 years before reaching maturity.
A sustainable pearl farm will rotate stock throughout different stages of growth with constant monitoring by experienced farmers—all done to ensure quality pearls while protecting delicate ecosystems from being depleted too quickly or inappropriately harvested.
Corals
Corals are some of the most beautiful gemstones nature has to offer. In terms of type, corals are organic gemstones composed of calcium carbonate secreted by marine invertebrates. They come in various hues, from white to pink, red to orange.
Harvesting coral occurs in many different countries, including Japan and Indonesia. Blue finger coral and lapis lazuli are two very uncommon types of coral.
These gems also enter secondary markets, where they get cut into jewelry pieces or polished into beads, among other things, before being sold at retail stores worldwide. This process adds more value to the stones initially mined from remote areas abroad, making them even more valuable!
Additionally, coral can be bleached and dyed to enhance its natural color or create unique hues not found in nature.
Turquoise
Turquoise is a hydrated copper aluminum phosphate with traces of iron and manganese; it appears either opaque or translucent with shades ranging from sky blue to green. When it comes to production around the world, Turkey is known for its production of turquoise.
As for primary producers, small mining companies are often responsible for mining turquoise. Turquoise has various forms, such as spider web matrix turquoise or bright Sleeping Beauty turquoise, mined only in Arizona.
Their intricate beauty and healing powers make them stand out as some great treasures mother nature created millions of years ago!
So, the actual value of turquoise lies in its connection to nature and its symbolic power as a gemstone. Additionally, its scarcity contributes to its high cost, as the quality and availability of turquoise are often limited.
Topaz
Topaz is an inorganic mineral composed primarily of aluminum silicate with traces of fluorine. It is usually transparent or translucent but can come in other colors, like yellow and blue. Topaz is noted for its brilliance and Mohs hardness of 8, making it versatile and easy to shape.
In primary production, much larger enterprises are involved in topaz extraction. It is also occasionally found in nature in a rare orange-red color called “precious topaz” or “Imperial topaz.”
As for topaz’s other types, there are yellow sherry topaz and London blue topaz, which is a dark grayish-blue stone often mistaken for blue sapphire or aquamarine. Rarer yet are the pink and peach colors, which go by names like “pink champagne” and “pink topaz.”
Though synthetic versions also exist, nothing beats owning a genuine natural gemstone like topaz—they are simply one-of-a-kind!
FAQs
One should verify the gemstone’s authenticity and origin and inspect the stone for any imperfections or signs of wear before making the purchase. Moreover, the seller should be able to provide the proper paperwork, such as certificates of authenticity and other documents related to the origin and type of gemstone.
Natural gemstones provide many benefits, such as the assurance that they are genuine and ethically sourced and cut in an environmentally conscious manner. Additionally, compared to lab-created gems, natural gemstones tend to have more character and individual beauty and higher resale values.
Natural gemstones often have unique, one-of-a-kind characteristics, such as inclusions, which are not seen in lab-created stones and can help to identify them. You can also ask a jeweler or gemologist for a professional evaluation, as they have the expertise to distinguish natural stones from their lab-created counterparts.
Furthermore, you may find a credible answer about the nature of natural gemstones for sale in a certificate of authenticity or grading report issued by an accredited laboratory like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Congratulations on Graduating from the Natural Gemstones Guide
All these types provide some unique options when looking for natural gemstones, so no matter what you choose, rest assured that your chosen stone will last many generations without fading away anytime soon, either!
Not only do they possess remarkable physical characteristics, but these natural gemstones also carry centuries worth of stories of discovery and crafting traditions that still live on today!
And now that you know everything there is to know about natural gemstones, from how they form to what kind of color variations exist, you can start building your collection today! Whether you’re into collecting pieces or creating unique items using these precious stones – the possibilities are endless!
