Your Guide to Gemstones
Every colored gemstone has its own unique beauty and story. From the rich blue of a sapphire to the vibrant green of an emerald and the fiery red of a ruby each gemstone offers something truly distinctive. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, creating a custom piece, or searching for the perfect birthstone our team and on-staff GIA Graduate Gemologist are here to help you confidently choose a gemstone you'll enjoy for years to come.
Why We Love Colored Gemstones — And Think You Will Too
No two colored gemstones are exactly alike. Their natural variations in color, character, and brilliance make each one uniquely beautiful. We love helping our customers discover the gemstone that reflects their personality, commemorates life's special moments or simply becomes a piece they'll treasure for generations.
Amy Hunnefield
Manager, GIA Graduate Gemologist
Expert Guidance from Our GIA Graduate Gemologist
Choosing a colored gemstone involves more than simply selecting your favorite color. Factors such as color, clarity, durability, rarity, treatments, and whether a gemstone is natural or lab-grown all contribute to its beauty and value. At Pickett Brothers Jewelers our team and on-staff GIA Graduate Gemologist will help you understand these differences so you can make an informed decision with confidence.
A GIA Graduate Gemologist has completed extensive education in diamond grading, colored stone identification, gemstone grading, and gemology using industry standard techniques and equipment. That expertise means you can ask questions, compare options, and receive trusted guidance whether you're selecting a birthstone, designing custom jewelry, or searching for a truly exceptional gemstone
Emerald: Nature's Most Captivating Green
As the birthstone for May, emeralds have been treasured for centuries for their rich green color and timeless beauty. They are often associated with renewal, hope, and lasting love making them a meaningful choice for anniversaries, birthdays, and custom jewelry.
The most desirable emeralds display a vivid evenly distributed green color. Unlike many gemstones, natural inclusions are common and expected, often serving as part of an emerald's unique character. Fine emeralds are prized for their exceptional color, transparency, and rarity. While they are beautiful in rings, emeralds are also popular in pendants, earrings, and heirloom-quality custom designs.
Sapphire: Beauty Beyond Blue
As the birthstone for September, sapphire is best known for its rich blue color but many people are surprised to learn that sapphires occur naturally in nearly every color of the rainbow including pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, and white. The only exception is red which is classified as ruby. These beautiful colors result from trace elements that become part of the crystal as the gemstone forms deep within the earth.
Sapphires are one of the most durable gemstones making them an excellent choice for everyday wear, including engagement rings. Color is the most important factor affecting value with vivid, evenly saturated gemstones being the most sought after. Whether you prefer a classic blue sapphire or a unique fancy color they all offer exceptional beauty and versatility.
Why so many colors?
Tiny amounts of naturally occurring elements such as iron, titanium, and chromium become incorporated into the crystal during formation, creating the remarkable variety of sapphire colors found in nature.
Ruby: The King of Red Gemstones
As the birthstone for July, ruby has long symbolized love, passion, and courage. Its vibrant red color has made it one of the world's most treasured gemstones for centuries and fine natural rubies are among the rarest and most valuable colored gemstones.
When evaluating a ruby, color is the most important quality factor. The finest rubies display a rich vibrant red with excellent transparency and brilliance. Their exceptional durability makes them well suited for rings, earrings, pendants, and custom jewelry designed to be enjoyed every day. Whether chosen to celebrate a July birthday or simply for its striking beauty a ruby is a timeless addition to any jewelry collection.
Birthstone Chart
From January's garnet to December's blue zircon each birthstone offers its own distinctive beauty and character.
Use this chart to explore the gemstones associated with each month of the year and discover the one that's uniquely yours.
Availability varies by gemstone. Our team can help you explore natural, lab-grown, and other options to find the gemstone that's right for you.
Choosing a gemstone is about finding the one that's right for you. While every gemstone has its own unique beauty considering a few key factors will help you select a gemstone you'll enjoy wearing for years to come.
🎨 Color Comes First
For most colored gemstones color is the most important quality factor. Look for a gemstone with a rich vibrant color that catches your eye.
Whether you prefer bold vivid hues or soft subtle tones the right color is ultimately the one you love most.
✨ Size Isn't Everything
A larger gemstone isn't always the better choice. Color, brilliance, cut, and overall quality often have a greater impact on a gemstone's beauty than size alone. Sometimes a smaller exceptional gemstone will stand out more than a larger one with less vibrant color.
Choosing Your Gemstone
💎 Consider Durability
Some gemstones are better suited for everyday wear than others. Mohs Hardness measures a gemstone's resistance to scratching - the higher the number the more durable the stone.
Sapphires and rubies are excellent choices for rings worn daily while softer gemstones are often better suited for earrings or pendants.
💚 Find the Right Fit for Your Budget
Beautiful gemstones are available at a wide range of price points. Different gemstone varieties, colors, sizes, and qualities offer options for nearly every budget.
Our team will help you compare choices and find a gemstone you'll love without feeling overwhelmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Durability is an important consideration for jewelry worn every day. Sapphires and rubies are among the most durable colored gemstones making them excellent choices for rings. Other gemstones may be better suited for earrings, pendants, or jewelry that receives less daily wear. Our team can help you choose a gemstone that fits both your lifestyle and design preferences.
Absolutely. Many couples choose colored gemstones for engagement rings because they offer beautiful color and a unique alternative to a traditional diamond. The best gemstone depends on your lifestyle, color preference, and how often the ring will be worn. Durable gemstones such as sapphire and ruby are excellent choices for everyday wear while other gemstones may be better suited for occasional wear.
Both natural and lab-grown gemstones are available for many gemstone varieties. Natural gemstones are formed within the earth over millions of years while lab-grown gemstones have the same chemical composition and crystal structure but are created in a controlled environment. Our team will explain the differences and help you choose the option that's right for you.
Yes. Many gemstones receive treatments to enhance their appearance such as improving color or clarity. Some treatments are common and widely accepted within the jewelry industry. We believe in transparency and are happy to explain any known treatments so you can make an informed decision.
Yes. Every gemstone has a different level of hardness, which affects its resistance to scratching. Harder gemstones, such as sapphire and ruby are more resistant to everyday wear than softer gemstones like opal or pearl. Choosing the right gemstone for how you plan to wear it helps ensure it stays beautiful for years to come.
Regular cleaning and periodic inspections help keep gemstone jewelry looking its best. Some gemstones require special care because they can be sensitive to heat, harsh chemicals, or ultrasonic cleaners. We recommend bringing your jewelry in for complimentary cleaning and inspection and our team can provide care recommendations specific to your gemstone.
Yes. Our on-staff GIA Graduate Gemologist can examine your gemstone and perform gemstone identification services. If needed we can provide a Gemstone Identification Report using professional gemological testing methods to help determine the type of gemstone you have.
Yes. Our on-staff GIA Graduate Gemologist provides professional gemstone appraisals for insurance and other purposes. While determining a gemstone's exact geographic origin often requires advanced laboratory testing we can also submit eligible gemstones to GIA for origin reports upon request.
Some gemstones are accompanied by reports from independent gemological laboratories while others are not. Laboratory reports provide information about a gemstone's identity and, depending on the report, may include details such as treatments or geographic origin.
If you're purchasing an important gemstone our team can explain the available documentation and recommend the appropriate report for your purchase.
Absolutely. Through our trusted network of suppliers, we can source many rare and unusual gemstones, including those selected for custom jewelry. If you're looking for a specific gemstone, color or origin, we'll work with you to find options that match your vision.
Ready to Find Your Gemstone?
Every gemstone is unique and finding the right one should be an enjoyable experience. Whether you already know what you're looking for or are just beginning to explore your options our team is here to answer your questions, show you beautiful gemstones, and help you choose one you'll treasure for years to come.