Gemstone Meanings: Your Comprehensive Guide to Special Stones

Did you know that gemstones don’t just differ in color, they also have different chemical compositions? On top of that, many of the world’s most beautiful gemstones have been used to symbolize spiritual and cultural meanings throughout history. The desire for virtues like healing, luck, and protection have led global cultures to revere and ritualize these stones as so much more than simple accessories. Let’s take a look at the most popular gemstone meanings and the best ways to incorporate them into your jewelry. 

32 Popular Gemstones and their Meanings

Here are some of the most popular gemstones and a little about them:

Alexandrite

• Color: Changes from blue and green in daylight to reddish purple at night
• Mohs Hardness: 8.5
• Meaning: Luck, prosperity, and intellect

Amber

• Color: Yellow, orange, brown
• Mohs Hardness: 2.0 – 2.5
• Meaning: Courage and self-confidence

Amethyst

• Color: Purple
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0 
• Meaning: Intuition, rest, and love

Amazonite

• Color: Blue, green
• Mohs Hardness: 6.0 – 6.5
• Meaning: Creative expression and confidence

Aquamarine

• Color: Light blue
• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 – 8.0
• Meaning: Youth, happiness, congeniality, and quick intellect

Citrine

• Color: Yellow, orange, orangish red
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0
• Meaning: Positivity and optimism

Clear Quartz

• Color: Colorless, transparent
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0
• Meaning: Awareness, clarity, and energy

Diamond

• Color: Colorless, transparent
• Mohs Hardness: 10
• Meaning: Faithfulness, fortitude, and pure insight

Emerald

• Color: Deep green
• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 – 8.0
• Meaning: Abundance, inspiration, and eloquence

Garnet

• Color: Deep red
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5
• Meaning: Love, friendship, and heart

Iolite

• Color: Blue, purple, gray
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0 – 7.5
• Meaning: Exploration, potential, and intuition

Jade

• Color: Green
• Mohs Hardness: 6.0 – 7.0
• Meaning: Serenity, harmony, and balance

Kunzite

• Color: Pink, purple
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.0
• Meaning: Love, communication between heart and mind

Lapis Lazuli

• Color: Indigo blue
• Mohs Hardness: 5.0 – 6.0
• Meaning: Enlightenment, wisdom, and courage

Moonstone

• Color: Opalescent, pink, purple, blue, yellow, green 
• Mohs Hardness: 6.0 – 6.5
• Meaning: New beginnings, intuition, and harmony

Moissanite 

• Color: Colorless, transparent
• Mohs Hardness: 9.25 
• Meaning: Luck, potential, and determination 

Morganite

• Color: Soft pink, orangish pink
• Mohs Hardness: 7.5 – 8.0
• Meaning: Romance, compassion, and self-esteem

Obsidian

• Color: Jet black
• Mohs Hardness: 5.0 – 5.5
• Meaning: Protection, strength, and groundedness

Opal

• Color: Rainbow hue, opalescent
• Mohs Hardness: 5.0 – 5.5
• Meaning: Passion, hope, and protection

Pearl

• Color: White, black, opalescent 
• Mohs Hardness: 2.5
• Meaning: Faith, wisdom, and integrity

Peridot

• Color: Light green, yellowish green
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.0 
• Meaning: Light, protection, and good luck

Rhodonite 

• Color: Reddish pink
• Mohs Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5
• Meaning: Compassion, unconditional love, and balance

Rose Quartz

• Color: Rosy pink
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0
• Meaning: Love, compassion, gentleness, and tenderness

Ruby

• Color: Red
• Mohs Hardness: 9.0
• Meaning: Energy, passion, and power

Sapphire

• Color: Deep blue
• Mohs Hardness: 9.0
• Meaning: Nobility, divinity, and sincerity

Spinel

• Color: Red, blue, purple, pink
• Mohs Hardness: 8.0
• Meaning: Revitalization, devotion, and optimism

Sunstone

• Color: Orange, yellow, red, pink
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.2
• Meaning: Leadership, benevolence, and warmth

Tanzanite

• Color: Blue, purple, violet
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.0
• Meaning: Higher consciousness, relaxation, and peace

Topaz

• Color: Yellow, orange, brown, pink, red, purple red, blue, light green, or colorless
• Mohs Hardness: 8
• Meaning: Affection, passion, and gentle energy

Tourmaline

• Color: Black, blue, pink, green, red, or purple
• Mohs Hardness: 7.0 – 7.5
• Meaning: Generosity, gentleness, and prosperity

Turquoise

• Color: Light, opaque blue
• Mohs Hardness: 5.0 – 6.0
• Meaning: Communication, protection, and abundance 

Zircon

• Color: Yellow, green, red, or blue
• Mohs Hardness: 6.5 – 7.5
• Meaning: Motivation, guidance, and inspiration

Gemstone Characteristics

Now let’s look at what makes these gemstones different from each other physically. Each stone has a different chemical composition that affects its appearance and also its strength and durability. These characteristics are important because they influence the best ways to incorporate each gemstone into wearable jewelry.

Gemstone Hardness: Mohs Hardness Scale

The Mohs Scale of Hardness provides insight into the durability of a gemstone. The scale uses a ranking system from one to 10, with one indicating the softest minerals (like pearls) and 10 indicating the hardest gemstones (like diamonds). The harder the gemstone, the less likely it is to become scratched or damaged. That’s one of the many reasons diamond rings are popular, but pearls are more often found in necklaces or earrings (where they’re less likely to bump up against hard surfaces).

Gemstone Cut: Faceted vs. Cabochon

Another characteristic of a gemstone is how it is cut. The most popular options in this category are faceted and cabochon cuts. Faceted gemstones have flat surfaces, called facets, that are cut into the stone to create a geometric and often symmetrical pattern that reflects and disperses light to maximize the stone's brilliance and sparkle. Faceted gemstones are popular in engagement rings, earrings, and other jewelry pieces where the stone's beauty and sparkle are highly valued. Some common faceted cuts include round brilliant, princess, emerald, and marquise gems.

 

Cabochon-cut gemstones have a smooth, rounded surface with a convex top and a flat or slightly curved bottom. The word “cabochon” comes from the French word “caboche,” which means head. Cabochon gemstones are often cut from opaque or translucent stones such as turquoise, moonstone, and opal, which highlight the stone's natural color and texture. Cabochon cuts are popular in statement rings, pendants, and earrings, where the gemstone's unique shape and color are the main focus.

Ways to Incorporate Gemstones into Your Jewelry

There are all kinds of ways to incorporate gemstones into your jewelry. Here are some of our favorite unexpected approaches:

#1: Acrostic jewelry

Spelling out a word with gemstones is a fun way to incorporate a secret message into a piece of jewelry. You’ll want the first letter of the name of each gemstone to stand in as part of the word. For example, an “ADORE” ring could include the gemstones Aquamarine, Diamond, Opal, Rhodonite, and Emerald.

#2: Birthstones

Using someone’s birthstone in jewelry is a nice way to add a personal touch. Whether you’re getting someone a gift, adding your children’s birthstones to a ring or pendant, or celebrating an anniversary with someone special, birthstones make gemstone jewelry just a little more meaningful.

#3: Toi et Moi 

Toi et moi, which is French for “you and me,” is a type of ring that features two primary stones representing your partnership. Toi et moi rings are sweet acknowledgements of an important relationship; celebrities like Ariana Grande, Megan Fox, and Kylie Jenner all wear toi et moi engagement rings. The two gemstones could be your birthstones, your favorite stones, or any gems that are important to you. 

 

Now you’ve got all the information you need to find the best gemstone for you. Our experts at Quick Jewelry Repairs would be happy to help you swap the gemstone in your jewelry for something new, and we can even help you source your new stone. Or try creating something completely unique to you by designing a custom piece of jewelry from scratch. We’ve got your back!