Accessories: The Best Gemstones for Jewelry

Gemstones are beautiful, comprising a larger variety than just the clear diamonds that everyone knows about, and they can be used in much more than just the typical engagement rings we see all too often.

Stones from topaz all the way to sapphires can be placed into many different pieces of jewelry to create gorgeous accessories. Here are some examples of the best gemstones for jewelry that aren't just diamonds.


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Amethysts

Amethysts are the quintessential purple gemstones. Formed by quartz, these beautiful gemstones are perfectly suited to jewelry because of their calming color scheme. They range from light purple to deep, dark purples that draw people in. Amethysts also score a seven on the Mohs hardness scale, which means that they're hard to scratch and that they can avoid dust damage.

Rubies and Sapphires

These can be a bit on the expensive side, but we've grouped them together because they're made from the same rocks. Corundom is a mineral that forms both rubies and sapphires; the only difference between the two gems is that rubies are red and sapphires come in just about every other color. Both of these gemstones are nines on the hardness scale, second only to diamonds in terms of toughness.


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Emeralds

These green gems are highly sought after for their variety of green hues, which range from dark to light green. Emeralds are reminders of the green beauty of life. They have a hardness of eight, which means they cannot be damaged easily. However, they often have natural fractures that can add some fragility to the stones—along with uniqueness.


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Garnets

Although people often think of them as red gems, garnets come in a wide variety of colors. With many different varieties and species, garnets are prized for their usefulness in creating jewelry of unique colors and styles. They range a bit lower on the hardness scale, starting at around a 6.5 and ending at around a 7.5. This means they can be damaged more easily than some other gems can.


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These really are the best gemstones for jewelry that aren't just diamonds. They work beautifully as the centerpieces of an accessory, or they can appear as accents. It really is up to personal taste.