GEMSTONE GUIDE

Amber

Amber is fossilised tree resin, most famously sourced from the Baltic region. Known for its warm golden and honey tones, it has a Mohs hardness of 2–2.5 and is prized for its natural inclusions and ancient organic beauty

Amethyst

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, with notable sources including Brazil, Uruguay and Africa. Known for its rich violet tones and brilliant clarity, it has a Mohs hardness of 7 and is prized for its elegant colour and durability

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a blue-green variety of beryl, with notable sources including Brazil, Madagascar and Africa. Known for its clear ocean-blue tones and elegant brilliance, it has a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8 and is prized for its refined colour & popular choice in gemstone jewellery

Bloodstone

Bloodstone is a dark green variety of chalcedony, traditionally sourced from India, Brazil and Australia. Known for its distinctive red flecks of iron oxide, it has a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and is prized for its bold, natural appearance and historic significance

Cameo

Cameos are traditionally carved from layered shell or onyx, with Italy renowned for fine cameo craftsmanship. Known for their contrasting cream, coral and white tones, their Mohs hardness varies by around 3–4 for shell. They are prized for their intricate raised portraits and timeless classical style

Citrine

Citrine is a golden-yellow variety of quartz, mainly sourced from Brazil. With a Mohs hardness of 7, it is known for its warm honey tones, bright clarity and rich, sunlit colour

Diamond (White)

Natural white diamonds are formed deep within the Earth, with major sources including Africa, Canada and Russia. Known for their colourless brilliance, fire and sparkle, they have a Mohs hardness of 10 and are among the world’s most treasured gemstones

Diamond (Yellow)

Fancy yellow diamonds are prized for their vivid golden colour, exceptional brilliance and rare natural beauty. With a Mohs hardness of 10, they combine luxurious elegance with outstanding durability.

Diamond (Pink)

Natural fancy pink diamonds form deep within the Earth and have notable origins in Australia, Africa and Brazil. Lab-grown fancy pink diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments using advanced diamond-growing technology. Both are known for their captivating pink hues, exceptional brilliance and Mohs hardness of 10

Diamond (Green)

Natural fancy green diamonds form deep within the Earth, with notable sources including Africa and Brazil. Lab-grown fancy green diamonds are created in controlled laboratory environments. Both are known for their rare green hues, exceptional brilliance and Mohs hardness of 10

Diamond (Blue)

Fancy blue diamonds are exceptionally rare and highly coveted, admired for their captivating natural colour and extraordinary brilliance. With a Mohs hardness of 10, they offer timeless luxury with exceptional durability.

Emerald

Emerald is a treasured green precious stone, celebrated for its rich colour, natural character and timeless elegance. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8, it offers beautiful durability while benefiting from careful wear.

Fire Opal

Fire opal is a captivating gemstone celebrated for its fiery orange, yellow and red tones, bringing exceptional warmth and individuality to fine jewellery. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5, it should be worn with a little extra care.

Garnet

Garnet is a richly coloured gemstone admired for its deep, luxurious range of colours, including red, green, orange and even rare colour - changing varieties. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7.5, it offers good durability for fine jewellery.

Garnet (Tsavorite)

Tsavorite garnet is a rare and vibrant green gemstone, prized for its intense colour, brilliance and exceptional natural beauty. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is both luxurious and well suited to fine jewellery. Tsavorite was discovered in East Africa and takes its name from Tsavo National Park in Kenya

Morganite

Morganite is a pink to peach variety of beryl, with notable sources including Brazil, Madagascar and Africa. With a Mohs hardness of 7.5–8, it is known for its soft blush tones, clarity and elegant romantic appeal

Lapis

Lapis lazuli is a deep blue gemstone historically sourced from Afghanistan, with other deposits in Chile and Russia. With a Mohs hardness of 5–5.5, it is known for its intense royal-blue colour and distinctive golden pyrite flecks

Moonstone

Moonstone is a variety of feldspar, with notable sources including Sri Lanka, India and Madagascar. With a Mohs hardness of 6–6.5, it is known for its soft milky tones and enchanting blue-white glow, known as adularescence

Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is an iridescent organic material formed inside mollusc shells, with major sources including Australia, Asia and the South Pacific. With a Mohs hardness of around 2.5–4.5, it is known for its luminous white, cream and rainbow-like sheen

Onyx

Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, with notable sources including Brazil, India and Uruguay. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7, it is best known for its rich black colour, smooth lustre and bold, sophisticated appearance

Opal (Natural)

Natural Australian opal is primarily sourced from regions such as Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge and Queensland. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5, it is known for its mesmerising play-of-colour. No stone attached to the back, giving it a slightly translucent appearance

Opal (Doublet)

Opal doublets are created by bonding a thin layer of precious opal, often Australian in origin, to a dark stone backing. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5, they are known for their vivid play-of-colour and striking flashes of blue, green, red and rainbow tones

Opal (Black)

Black opal is most famously sourced from Lightning Ridge, Australia. With a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5, it is known for its dark body tone and dramatic flashes of blue, green, red and rainbow colour. Black opal is considered rarer than doublets

Pearl (Akoya)

Akoya pearls are cultured primarily in Japan. Typically white or cream with delicate rose overtones, they have a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4.5 and are renowned for their exceptional lustre, round shape and classic elegance

Pearl (South Sea)

South Sea pearls are cultured mainly in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Typically white, silver or golden, they have a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4.5 and are renowned for their exceptional size, satin-like lustre and luxurious appearance

Pearl (Tahitian)

Tahitian pearls are cultured mainly in French Polynesia. Known for their naturally dark grey, charcoal & black tones, they have a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4.5 and are prized for their rich silver lustre

Pearl (Golden)

Golden pearls are cultured mainly in the Philippines and Indonesia. Ranging from soft champagne to rich golden hues, they have a Mohs hardness of 2.5–4.5 and are prized for their warm colour, luxurious lustre and rarity

Peridot

Peridot is a vivid green gemstone found in locations including Arizona, Pakistan and Myanmar. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7, it is known for its fresh lime-to-olive green colour and distinctive natural glow

Quartz (Smoky)

Smoky quartz is a brown to grey variety of quartz, with notable sources including Brazil, Scotland and Switzerland. With a Mohs hardness of 7, it is known for its rich smoky tones, transparency and sophisticated earthy appearance.

Rubellite

Rubellite is a rich pink to red variety of tourmaline, with notable sources including Brazil, Mozambique and Madagascar. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is known for its vivid raspberry-red colour and exceptional depth of tone

Ruby

Ruby is a red variety of corundum, with famous sources including Myanmar, Mozambique and Sri Lanka. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its deep red colour, rarity and exceptional brilliance

Sapphire (Blue)

Blue sapphire is a variety of corundum, with famous sources including Sri Lanka, Kashmir and Madagascar. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its rich blue colour, brilliance and timeless prestige

Sapphire (Green)

Green sapphire is a variety of corundum, with notable sources including Australia, Sri Lanka and Madagascar. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its elegant green tones, brilliance and distinctive rarity

Sapphire (Orange)

Orange sapphire is a variety of corundum, with notable sources including Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its vivid orange tones, brilliance and striking rarity

Sapphire (Pink)

Pink sapphire is a variety of corundum, with notable sources including Sri Lanka, Madagascar and East Africa. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its delicate blush-to-vivid pink colour, brilliance and romantic appeal

Sapphire (Purple)

Purple sapphire is a variety of corundum, with notable sources including Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Tanzania. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its rich violet-to-purple colour, brilliance and distinctive rarity

Sapphire (Yellow)

Yellow sapphire is a variety of corundum, with notable sources including Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Australia. With a Mohs hardness of 9, it is known for its bright lemon-to-golden colour, brilliance and elegant warmth

Spinel

Spinel is found in regions including Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. With a Mohs hardness of 8, it occurs in vivid red, pink, blue and purple tones and is known for its brilliance, rich colour and rarity

Sunstone

Sunstone is a variety of feldspar, with notable sources including India, Norway and Oregon in the USA. With a Mohs hardness of 6–7, it is known for its warm peach, orange and golden tones and its distinctive sparkling effect, known as aventurescence

Tanzanite

Tanzanite is found exclusively in Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro. With a Mohs hardness of 6–7, it is known for its captivating blue-to-violet colour, strong pleochroism and exceptional rarity.

Tigers Eye

Tiger’s eye is a golden-brown variety of quartz, with notable sources including South Africa, Australia and India. With a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7, it is known for its rich striped colour and distinctive silky, tiger's-eye effect

Topaz (Blue)

Blue topaz is found in countries including Brazil, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. With a Mohs hardness of 8, it is known for its clear sky-to-deep blue colour, bright brilliance and elegant appearance

Tourmaline (Paraiba)

Paraíba tourmaline was first discovered in Brazil, with later sources found in Mozambique and Nigeria. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is known for its vivid neon blue-to-green colour, exceptional glow and remarkable rarity

Tourmaline (Green)

Green tourmaline is found in countries including Brazil, Mozambique and Namibia. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is known for its rich forest-to-vivid green colour, brilliance and natural depth of tone

Tourmaline (Teal)

Teal tourmaline is found in regions including Brazil, Mozambique and Namibia. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is known for its striking blue-green colour, rich depth and distinctive ocean-inspired tones

Tourmaline (Pink)

Pink tourmaline is found in regions including Brazil, Mozambique and Madagascar. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is known for its soft blush-to-vivid pink colour, brilliance and romantic appeal

Turquoise

Turquoise matrix is typically a treated or imitation material, often created from dyed howlite or magnesite. Known for its vivid blue colour and contrasting dark veining, it usually measures around 3.5–4.5 on the Mohs scale