Gemstones - Colours

Can also be yellow. A form of chrysoberyl. Ordinary chrysoberyl is a yellowish-green. When the mineral exhibits good pale green to yellow colour and is transparent, then it is used as a gemstone.

Can also be green. A form of chrysoberyl. Ordinary chrysoberyl is a yellowish-green. When the mineral exhibits good pale green to yellow colour and is transparent, then it

A brownish-yellow (amber) colour. Can also be reddish. Amber is fossil tree resin. Good quality amber is used for jewellery. Although not mineralised, it is often classified as a gemstone.

A brownish-yellow (amber) colour. Can also be reddish. Amber is fossil tree resin. Good quality amber is used for jewellery. Although not mineralised, it is often classified as a gemstone.

A brownish-yellow (amber) colour. Can also be reddish. Amber is fossil tree resin. Good quality amber is used for jewellery. Although not mineralised, it is often classified as a gemstone.

A brownish-yellow (amber) colour. Can also be reddish. Amber is fossil tree resin. Good quality amber is used for jewellery. Although not mineralised, it is often classified as a gemstone.

A violet variety of quartz often used as an ornamental stone in jewellery

Known as trystine or its trade namebolivianite, it's a variety of quartz. It is a mixture of amethyst and citrine. Ametrine is most typically faceted in a rectangular shape with a 50/50 pairing of amethyst and citrine.

Aquamarine is pale greenish blue or bluish green variety of beryl. Aquamarine is a pastel gemstone, and while colour can be quite intense in larger gemstones, smaller aquamarines are often less vivid.

Aquamarine is pale greenish blue or bluish green variety of beryl. Aquamarine is a pastel gemstone, and while colour can be quite intense in larger gemstones, smaller aquamarines are often less vivid.

The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue, or grey. A form of quartz and plagioclase feldspar, characterised by its translucency and the presence of mineral inclusions that give a shimmering effect called aventurescence. Most material is carved into beads and figurines with only the finer examples made into jewellery.

A rare silicate mineral, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. It fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light. Benitoite's hardness makes it suitable for use as a gemstone, though its rarity has limited this use.

A form of chalcedony quartz. According to the legend bloodstone was first formed when drops of Christ's blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Also known as Also Heliotrope (from Greek helios - Sun, and trepein - to turn) because of the manner it reflects light.

Also purple and yellow. Blue John is a rare, semiprecious mineral, it is a blue/purple and white/yellow banded variety of fluorite. Seldom found in jewellery because of its rarity. From the French Bleu Jaune (blue yellow).

Also purple and white. From the French Bleu Jaune (blue yellow). Blue John is a rare, semiprecious mineral, it is a blue/purple and white/yellow banded variety of fluorite. Seldom found in jewellery because of its rarity.

A form of chalcedony - microcrystaline quartz. Used in a variety of types of jewellery.

A red, orange or reddish-brown variant of chalcedony. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times 2,000 years before the present era to make signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or documents because hot wax does not stick to Carnelian.

A red, orange or reddish-brown variant of chalcedony. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times 2,000 years before the present era to make signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or documents because hot wax does not stick to Carnelian.

A white and red form of onyx, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Often made into beads or shaped and polished as opposed to faceted.

Gemstone quality diopside is found in two forms: black star diopside andchrome diopside (chromium giving it a rich green colour).

Can also be green or blue-green. Commonly occurs only as porous crusts unsuitable for gem use, but high quality, gem grade chrysocolla can be translucent and is highly prized.

Can also be blue or blue-green. Commonly occurs only as porous crusts unsuitable for gem use, but high quality, gem grade chrysocolla can be translucent and is highly prized.

A gemstone variety of chalcedony (microcrystaline quartz) that contains small quantities of nickel. Its colour is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. Also known as chrysophrase.

Citrine is a variety of quartz. Most commonly yellow it can be orange or brown. Citrine has ferric impurities, and is rarely found naturally. Most citrine used in jewellery is in fact artificially heated amethyst or smoky quartz.

A crystalline mineral (Calcium boron silicate) similar to topaz. It is usually colourless, like quartz, but can be also either pale yellow, yellowish-brown, or pink. It has a relatively new history compared to other gemstones, having only been discovered in 1839. It has become popular as a substitute for stones like topaz. It is a relatively hard crystal and can be polished to produce a brilliant finish.

Demantoid is the green gemstone variety of the mineral andradite, a member of the garnet group of minerals. Andradite is a calcium- and iron-rich garnet. It is the most expensive and rare of garnet gemstones

Most commonly clear but can be brown, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, red, grey or black depending on the impurities present. Diamond is the hardest natural substance. The hardness, brilliance, and sparkle of diamonds make them prized for jewellery.

A green variety of the mineral beryl coloured by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Almost all emeralds contain flaws, cracks, and inclusions, which can negatively affect the clarity. Most emeralds are oiled as part of the post lapidary process, in order to improve their clarity.

Fire opals are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colours yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red and they do not show any play-of-colour. Amorthous silica is a solidified jelly so it has no crystal structure.

Fire opals are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colours yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red and they do not show any play-of-colour. Amorthous silica is a solidified jelly so it has no crystal structure.

Fire opals are transparent to translucent opals with warm body colours yellow, orange, orange-yellow or red and they do not show any play-of-colour. Amorthous silica is a solidified jelly so it has no crystal structure.

Garnets are most often seen in red, but are available in a wide variety of colours spanning the entire spectrum. Pure crystals of garnet are used as gemstones.

Pure beryl (goshenite) is colourless, but it is frequently tinted by impurities; possible colours are green, blue, yellow, red, and white. It has been used as a gemstone since prehistoric times. The earliest crystal balls were made from goshenite.

Heliodor is the yellow or yellow-green variety of beryl. A beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate. Varieties of beryl have been considered gemstones since prehistoric times.

Heliodor is the yellow or yellow-green variety of beryl. A beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate. Varieties of beryl have been considered gemstones since prehistoric times.

A pale to emerald green variety of spodumene that is sometimes used as a gemstone. It is an attractive gem mineral, but is rare and mostly only bought by collectors.

Cordierite (mineralogy) or iolite (gemology) is a magnesium iron aluminium cyclosilicate. It is a transparent, violet-blue, light blue, blue, rich blue-violet stone, less commonly it can be yellow.

Jacinth (also known as hyacinth) is a red or orange transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone.

Jacinth (also known as hyacinth) is a red or orange transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone.

The term jade is applied to two different rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals. Nephrite jade (also known as greenstone or pounamu) consists of the calcium- and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite. The rock called jadeitite consists of sodium- and aluminium-rich pyroxene. Nephrite can be found in a creamy white form as well as in a variety of green colours, whereas jadeitite shows more colour variations, including blue, lavender-mauve, pink, and emerald-green colours.

An opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow or brown in colour, can be green. Jasper is opaque, fine-grained or dense variety of the silica mineral chert. Can be highly polished for use in jewellery.

The pink or lilac form of spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate. The colour comes from small amounts of manganese. Kunzite gems are known their brilliance. They are difficult to cut.

A silicate mineral. Kyanite is used as a gemstone, though this use is limited by its anisotropism (lacking consistent hardness on all surfaces) and perfect cleavage.

Lapis lazuli is not a mineral but a rock coloured by lazurite. In addition to the sodalite minerals in lapis lazuli, small amounts of white calcite and of pyrite crystals are usually present. Its deep blue colour makes it prized for jewellery.

Blue gem variant of pectolite. High quality jewellery uses stones between sky-blue and volcanic blue. Extremely rare gemstone that has been found in only one location in the Dominican Republic. Varies from light blue to blue-green in colour

A carbonate mineral normally known as copper carbonate. It is a banded green gemstone. Most malachite is smelted, but the finest pieces are worked into silver jewellery.

Moissanite or silicon carbide is a rare mineral that can be found in meteorites as well as terrestrial samples. Used as a replacement for diamonds in jewellery.

The most valuable variety of feldspar with an rainbow sheen. Other colours include grey, brown, yellow, orange, green, or pink. It owes its name to a shimmer which looks different when the stone is moved and is known in the trade as 'adularescence'. Clarity ranges from transparent to translucent. It is relatively soft which limits its uses for jewellery.

Moonstone is the most valuable variety of feldspar with an rainbow sheen. Other colours include grey, brown, yellow, orange, green, or pink. It owes its name to a shimmer which looks different when the stone is moved and is known in the trade as 'adularescence'. Clarity ranges from transparent to translucent. It is relatively soft which limits its uses for jewellery.

A rare light pink to rose-coloured gem-quality variety of the mineral beryl.

Obsidian is a naturally occurring glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools without crystal growth.The presence of hematite produces red and brown varieties, and the inclusion of tiny gas bubbles may create a golden sheen. Obsidian in attractive and variegated colours is used as a semiprecious stone. It possesses the property of presenting a different appearance according to the manner in which it is cut.

Banded. A cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Often made into beads or shaped and polished as opposed to faceted.

Opal consists of amorthous silica, a solidified jelly that has no crystal structure. Opal ranges from clear through white, grey, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white, blues and greens are the most common. The play of colour in many opals is truly exceptional and unsurpassed.

Opal consists of amorthous silica, a solidified jelly that has no crystal structure. Opal ranges from clear through white, grey, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white, blues and greens are the most common. The play of colour in many opals is truly exceptional and unsurpassed.

Opal consists of amorthous silica, a solidified jelly that has no crystal structure. Opal ranges from clear through white, grey, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white, blues and greens are the most common. The play of colour in many opals is truly exceptional and unsurpassed.

A borosilicate mineral. Turquoise-blue to neon-blue to neon-green to emerald-green. Even heavy inclusions are accepted for jewellery, as there are hardly any flawless paraiba tourmalines of good colour.

A borosilicate mineral. Turquoise-blue to neon-blue to neon-green to emerald-green. Even heavy inclusions are accepted for jewellery, as there are hardly any flawless paraiba tourmalines of good colour.

Other colours are white, grey, blue, yellow, lavender, green, and mauve. A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc. It is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form

Other colours are cream, grey, blue, yellow, lavender, green, and mauve. A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc. It is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form

Peridot (Magnesium iron silicate), also called precious olivine, is a gem-quality transparent green olivine. It occurs in lime, yellowish green, olive green or medium dark green hues. Peridot was greatly prized by Egyptian Kings. Some of Cleopatra's emeralds were in fact peridots.

Also known as green-quartz or vermarine. It is a green form of quartz. It is usually produced artificially by heat-treating amethyst.

Also known as iron pyrite, it is an iron sulfide. Its metallic luster and brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold. Pyrite is often used in jewellery such as necklaces and bracelets.

Sometimes called rock crystal. Quartz is made up of a lattice of silica. Pure quartz is colourless or white; coloured varieties include rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and many others. Clear Quartz crystals are worn by some as pendants for good luck.

Sometimes called rock crystal. Quartz is made up of a lattice of silica. Pure quartz is colourless or white; coloured varieties include rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and many others.

Quartz is made up of a lattice of silica. Pure quartz is colourless or white; coloured varieties include rose quartz. Rose quartz is one of the most desirable varieties of quartz for jewellery and other ornamental uses. The colour is caused by iron and titanium impurities.

A variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The common red colour is caused mainly by the element chromium. Prices of rubies are primarily determined by colour. The brightest and best "red" called pigeon blood red,

Gem varieties of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide, when it is a colour other than red (ruby). Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium and chromium give corundum their blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange or greenish colour. The most common colour used for gemstones is blue.

A reddish brown and white form of onyx, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Often made into beads or shaped and polished as opposed to faceted.

Bluish or brownish-black to black. Schorl tourmaline is the most common form of tourmaline. It is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron and sodium. Jwellery made from schorl tourmaline, is quite uncommon because it's rare to find gem-quality stones of this fascinating gem

Serpentine is a translucent, waxy silicate of magnesium that is often confused with jade. It is primarily some shade of green, vary­ing from yellowish-green to blackish-green. This colour may be uniform or mottled, or may include spots of other minerals, such as the white of calcite, or cherry-red from iron oxide. Prized for its lustre and translucency.

Named for its sodium content it is classed as a feldspathoid. Most commonly a rich royal blue it can also be grey, yellow, green, or pink. The more uniformly blue material is used in jewellery, where it is made into cabochons and beads.

These were often confused with actual rubies in ancient times. The Black Prince's Ruby in the British Crown Jewels is in fact a spinel.

Sugilite (also known as luvulite) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral. Discovered in 1944. It is used in jewellery and as a mineral specimen

Sugilite (also known as luvulite) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral. Discovered in 1944. It is used in jewellery and as a mineral specimen.

Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite. Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddish brown colour. It is heated to bring out the classic blue violet of the stone for use in jewellery.

Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite. Tanzanite in its rough state is usually a reddish brown colour. It is heated to bring out the classic blue violet of the stone for use in jewellery.

Thulite (also called rosaline) is a deep pink manganese-rich variety of the mineral zoisite. It is used as a gemstone and carving material in the manufacture of jewellery and ornamental objects.

Also known as tiger eye. It is quartz that contains oriented fibres of crocidolite that have been replaced by silica. Undulating, contrasting bands of colour and lustre. It is mainly used for jewelry-making and ornamentation.

Topaz is an aluminum fluorite silicate containing fluorine. Pure topaz is colourless, but can also be yellow, blue, pink, peach, gold, green, red, and brown. Has been used for jewellery since ancient times. Blue topaz is usually made by irradiating and then heating clear crystals.

Topaz is an aluminum fluorite silicate containing fluorine. Pure topaz is colourless, but can also be yellow, blue, pink, peach, gold, green, red, and brown. Has been used for jewellery since ancient times.

Tsavorite or tsavolite is a variety of the garnet group species grossular, a calcium-aluminium garnet. Not often found in jewellery because of its rarity.

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.

Zircon (zirconium silicate) known as a colourless stone used to imitate diamonds, but also comes in: blue, yellow, orange, red, brown and green.