Precious Gemstones List

There is something special about porcelain. Once part of everyday life, it is transformed into jewellery that holds both history and individuality, offering a deeply personal way to mark life’s meaningful moments.

Diamonds are some of the most sought after gemstones on earth. The hardness of diamond and light dispersion through the facets causes that well loved ‘fire’ and brilliance. Diamonds are also the hardest material on earth. It is 58 times harder than anything else on earth.

Tourmalines are some of the most colourful gemstone varieties. The various colours are commonly believed to be the result of certain minerals being present in the Earth’s core as the gemstone was forming. For example, Iron and Titanium are responsible for the Blue and Green hues, and Manganese lends Tourmalines those coveted Pink and Yellow Hues.

The oldest Emeralds ever found are from South Africa, and they date back 2.97 Billion years. So it is safe to say this is one special gemstone specimen. The first known Emerald mines were in Egypt, from about 330 BC, and it is known that it was a favourite with Cleopatra, as she used it in many of her royal adornments.

In 2014, a specimen of Zircon was found in Australia that was dated at 4.4 billion years old, almost as old as the Planet Earth. Zircon is a very underrated gemstone, as it was used in the 19th century as a cheaper alternative to Diamond, and more recently it has been confused with the lab manufactured Cubic Zirconia. Zircon has an impressive double refraction, which means that when it is faceted in the right way, you are able to see twice as many facets and ‘fire’ as you would with another gemstone faceted in the same way.

Although Red Garnet is the most well known variety, “Garnet is actually a group of several minerals. Five of these – pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular and andradite – are important as gems.

Precious Opal displays an incredible play-of-colour, meaning it shows a variable interplay of its internal colours. Opal consists of 0.2 micron sized spheres of silicon dioxide molecules, arranged in close knit grid like patterns.

Aquamarine is part of the Beryl family. Like Emerald, it is a colour variety of the mineral Beryl. Aquamarines form in large, elegant six sided crystals, that can on rare occasions be longer than a foot in length.

Morganite is a gemstone that is becoming increasingly popular in the world of jewellery. This beautiful gemstone has a delicate pink color that ranges from a pale blush to a deeper peachy pink. Morganite is a type of Beryl, the same family of gemstones as Emerald and Aquamarine.

Rubies are some of the most coveted gemstones. The word is derived from the Latin word for ‘Red’. Ruby is a part of the Corundum family, and it gets its colour thanks to the presence of Chromium.

Amethyst, with its mesmerizing spectrum of deep purples to lilac hues, has captivated humanity for centuries. This gemstone is not only revered for its beauty but also for its supposed metaphysical properties. Historically, amethyst was believed to prevent intoxication—its name derives from the Ancient Greek word 'amethystos', meaning "not intoxicated". Beyond this, it is said to bring clarity of mind, calmness, and courage to its wearer.

Pearls have captivated humanity for centuries with their understated elegance and mesmerizing glow. Similar to the precious opal's play-of-color, pearls offer their own unique allure through the phenomenon known as 'orient'—a delicate interplay of surface colors that seems to change under different lighting conditions. While opals are celebrated for their brilliant spectral colours, pearls are revered for their soft, ethereal lustre.

Sapphires are part of the Corundum family of gems. Rubies are also a part of this family. Sapphires come in so many different colours. Most people associate Sapphire with the deep blue that is the colour of the centre stone in Princess Diana (Now the Duchess of Cambridge’s) Engagement ring.

Diamonds are some of the most sought after gemstones on earth. The hardness of diamond and light dispersion through the facets causes that well loved ‘fire’ and brilliance. Diamonds are also the hardest material on earth. It is 58 times harder than anything else on earth.