There are dozens of different gemstones that are strong enough for daily wear, odds are you haven't heard of EVERY single one, or at least you don't know all about them. This list below will share some of our favorite less-popular but beautiful gemstones to give inspiration for your next special piece!
Source: Multicolour
Hessonite Garnet
Garnets come in almost every color of the rainbow and there's even different types of garnet within the same colors. When thinking of an orange garnet, most will think of Hessonite's cousin, the Spessartine garnet (also called a mandarin garnet) which gives a bright "Fanta orange" shade. Hessonite is the more moody counterpart, darker oranges and subtle flashes of light alongside their famous microscopic inclusions which give the stone a "whiskey in water" blurriness in the center create a stone full of character and life without a bright, attention-seeking color!
Source: WillWork Jewelry
Morganite
Named after the famous financier J.P. Morgan who helped fund this and many others gemstones discovery, Morganite is actually in the same gemstone family as aquamarine and emeralds. Most Morganite exhibits either a peach/salmon tone or a bubblegum pink tone, the latter can command higher prices. Morganite is often on the paler side, with deeply saturated stones being highly sought after and usually only seen in large carat weights. Not as pricey as precious stones, Morganite is the perfect stone for subtle color and for larger jewelry pieces where its size can really stand out!
Kunzite from California, Source: GIA
Kunzite
A newer yet largely unknown gem, Kunzite is an inexpensive member of the spodumene mineral family perfect for large scale jewelry pieces. Named after Tiffany's chief gemologist George Kunz, who helped identify it, Kunzite was only discovered in 1902 from a deposit in San Diego County, California. Kunzite is famous for its delicate pink to violet hues and is often cut quite deep and large to keep the color as vibrant as possible. Due to its availability and being largely unknown, Kunzite is quite the affordable stone even in large carat weights. However, an important detail to keep in mind is that Kunzite is referred to as an "evening stone", its color can fade permanently when exposed to heat, sunlight and any other ultra-violet light. It is recommended to be stored in a closed jewelry box when not being worn. Despite its limited notoriety, Kunzite is a beautiful stone perfect for story-telling!
Source: GIA
Sunstone
Sunstone is the perfect option for someone who loves earthy colors and stones from the United States! A member of the feldspar mineral group including moonstone, Sunstone can occasionally be found transparent enough to facet, often making inexpensive yet beautiful stones with warm orange-red, brown, green hues and sometimes multiple colors in one! Some of the most famous deposits of Sunstone are found in Oregon today, with Native Americans collecting the stone far before settlers discovered it. Today, sunstone can be sourced at very reasonable price points and is perfect for all types of jewelry where its warm tones compliment.
Source: Color First
Zircon
Often confused with the man made cubic zirconia, Zircon is a natural beauty that comes in more colors than many known and with fire that rivals diamonds. Zircon is the oldest mineral on earth, with deposits in Australia dating almost 4.5 BILLION years old. The stone has a high refractive index, meaning its fire (flashes of multi-color light) is greater than that of a diamond. Additionally, Zircon comes in many different colors, with its icy blue, red and green shades being the most popular. An inexpensive yet stunning option that is also common to find in larger sizes, Zircon is perfect for the show-stopping pieces (or December babies)!
Source: GIA
Spinel
A stone that fell into obscurity but is now having its minor resurgence, the spinel is a true hidden gem available in almost every color of the rainbow plus some exclusive ones! Another stone with thousands of years of history, Spinel was most notable in Roman and Chinese history being mined for the royals courts (and often being mistaken for ruby and sapphire in the process). Just like Peridot above, famous crown jewels include Spinel but were misunderstood for other stones for many years, most famously the "Black Prince's Ruby" currently on display in the Tower of London (actually a red Spinel). Due to their relative obscurity, Spinel is a great secondary option to popular stones like Sapphire with a lower price point, however Spinel can become rare and prized above 5ct. Spinels are also notable for their moodier color tones in blue and gray as well as their vibrant pink hues found in Tanzania called "Mehenge". Spinel just recently became a secondary birthstone for August, making it a truly special option for many!
Shahla Karimi Sapphire Gap Band with Pave Diamonds
Your Next Custom Piece - Made With Shahla Karimi
Special gemstones deserve an equally special setting. We offer many ready-made designs that can easily be adjusted to add a special stone full of rich history or meaning, or we can create something special exclusively for you. Shop our current gemstone selection below or reach out to us to set up an appointment for bespoke designs!
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