How to Choose the Right Gemstone

Alexandrite - The Alexandrite stone is known for its natural color-changing abilities in different lights, from rich green to a brown or a purple. This stone, if naturally grown, is rare and can be fairly expensive. These gems are naturally mined in Brazil, East Africa, Russia, and Sri Lanka. Love & Promise Jewelers carries both the natural and synthetic version of the stone. Shop Alexandrite Products

From light pastel lilac to a deep concord grape color, the amethyst comes in a variety of purples. An abundance of natural amethyst stones makes the gem affordable. These stones are found primarily in Brazil, Zambia, Uruguay, and Sri Lanka.

Known for its icy bluish hues in a variety of shades, the aquamarine is usually blessed with very few if any imperfections. The intensity of this stone’s color is directly correlated with its depth; the larger the stone, the richer the color. These gems are found in Brazil, China, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia. Shop Aquamarine Products

Citrine - This stone ranges in color from a light yellow to a deep burnt-orangish yellow. Part of the quartz family, citrine is a close relative of topaz and amethyst. Citrines are found in Bolivia, Spain, and Brazil.

Famous for its rich green colors, the emerald was first discovered in Egypt and was known to be the favorite stone of Cleopatra. The most beautiful emeralds are found in Colombia and Zambia. Emeralds can also be found in Pakistan, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Russia. Even though this stone measures highly on hardness, this stone ranks fair to poor in toughness so it must be worn with extra care! Shop Emerald Products

Moissanite by Charles & Colvard©- Moissanite is the number one alternative to a naturally occurring diamond. Color is bright and clear, appearing like a standard diamond. Shop Moissanite Products

Discovered on the African island of Madagascar, morganite was hailed as an exciting new gem. As Madagascar's morganite declined, Brazil became the gem's top producer. The gem's finest color is a deep magenta; however, most morganites are a pale pink. The gem's beauty and limited availability make it a favorite of collectors. Shop Morganite Products

Perhaps the best-loved among gemstones, pearls are treasures from the Earth's streams, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans and are naturally occurring organic gems that form in the bodies of certain mollusks. The pearl occurs in a wide variety of colors. The most popular are white and cream, although black, gray, and silver are also common colors. Cultured pearls are formed in mollusks that are raised specifically for culturing and require human intervention and care. Among the many different types of pearl are Akoya, South Sea, and Freshwater. Pearls are very soft and easily scratched.

The ancient Egyptians called peridot the "gem of the sun." The stone is usually transparent, though it also comes in a range of colors from brownish or yellowish green to greenish yellow. The most sought-after colors are bright lime green and the more subdued olive greens. The gem is relatively inexpensive and plentiful. Peridot is found in Burma, Pakistan, and the United States.

The most common and affordable transparent gem, quartz, often known as Smoky Quartz, varies in color from light to dark brown. Smoky Quartz rarely comes in sizes under a carat. Larger stones are available in most standard shapes and sizes. The gem has good durability, so it's suitable for any type of jewelry. Smoky Quartz is found in Brazil, Switzerland, and the United States.

The world's best-known red gem, the ruby was worn in Medieval Europe to promote health, wealth, and wisdom. Large, fine-quality rubies are extremely rare and valuable. The most expensive ruby color is a deep red. Other colors include light pink, purple, or orangy red. Rubies are found in Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. Shop Ruby Products

For centuries, sapphires have been associated with royalty and romance. Many sapphires are blue, but the gem comes in many other colors including green, purple, and yellow. Colorless sapphires are popular diamond imitations. Sapphires come in many sizes and grades and many are easily available.The gem is found across the globe in Australia, Cambodia, China, Kenya, Thailand, and the United States. Shop Sapphire Products

Blue is the most available color for topaz, though it also comes in a wide range of colors from brown, blue, and green to yellow, red, and purple. Topaz is a good alternative to aquamarine as it is lower in cost and more intense in color. Topaz is found in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, and the United States. Shop Topaz Products

The name of this gemstone is derived from toramalli, a Sinhalese word meaning "mixed gems." Tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any gem species coming in various shades of almost every hue and is often mistaken for rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Tourmaline is found in Brazil, Madagascar, Burma, Russia, and the United States.