Gemstones

The Language of Stones

Precious Stones

The four gems that, since antiquity, have been regarded as the most precious—symbols of strength, love, and immortality.

Diamond

  • Hardness (Mohs): 10
  • Color: Colorless; also blue, pink, yellow, brown, green, red (rare), black.
  • Crystal System: Cubic
  • Symbolism: Absolute durability and purity. A stone of immortality, eternal love, and truth—worn as a talisman for strength and integrity.

Emerald

  • Hardness (Mohs): 7.5–8
  • Color: Vivid green with bluish or yellowish hues.
  • Crystal System: Hexagonal (beryl)
  • Symbolism: A stone of hope, renewal, and wisdom—associated with eternal love and spiritual vision.

Sapphire

  • Hardness (Mohs): 9
  • Color: Blue; also pink, yellow, green, and white.
  • Crystal System: Trigonal (corundum)
  • Symbolism: Wisdom, spiritual clarity, and inner peace. Since antiquity it has been a protector against evil and a catalyst for clear thought.

Ruby

  • Hardness (Mohs): 9
  • Color: Red to pinkish red
  • Crystal System: Trigonal (corundum)
  • Symbolism: Passion, love, courage, and vitality—the “queen” of precious stones.

Semi-Precious Stones

Gems that captivate with the variety of their colors and properties—rich in myths, meanings, and tradition.

Tourmaline

  • Hardness (Mohs): 7–7.5
  • Color: Multicolored—green, pink, blue; often bi- or tri-colored.
  • Crystal System: Trigonal
  • Symbolism: Protection, balance, and creativity. Grounds energy and strengthens inner power.

Amethyst

  • Hardness (Mohs): 7
  • Color: Violet, lilac, deep purple
  • Crystal System: Trigonal (quartz)
  • Symbolism: Spirituality, clarity, and calm. Traditionally believed to protect from excess and anxiety.

Peridot

  • Hardness (Mohs): 6.5–7
  • Color: Bright green with golden undertones
  • Crystal System: Orthorhombic
  • Symbolism: Vitality, joy, and inner harmony—the “stone of the sun.”

Topaz

  • Hardness (Mohs): 8
  • Color: Yellow, blue, pink, colorless
  • Crystal System: Orthorhombic
  • Symbolism: Honesty, friendship, and confidence—thought to offer protection and serenity.

Moissanite

  • Hardness (Mohs): 9.25
  • Color: Near-colorless with vivid fire
  • Crystal System: Hexagonal (silicon carbide)
  • Symbolism: A stone of cosmic light—linked to the heavens, innovation, and eternal brilliance (first identified in a meteorite).

Sodalite

  • Hardness (Mohs): 5.5–6
  • Color: Deep blue with white or gray veining
  • Crystal System: Cubic
  • Symbolism: Logic and intuition—associated with mental clarity, confidence, and inner harmony.

Spinel

  • Hardness (Mohs): 8
  • Color: Red, pink, blue, black, purple
  • Crystal System: Cubic
  • Symbolism: Renewal and energy—historically confused with ruby; brings strength, passion, and joy.

Garnet

  • Hardness (Mohs): 6.5–7.5
  • Color: Commonly red; also green (tsavorite), orange (spessartine), and more
  • Crystal System: Cubic
  • Symbolism: Vitality and love—used since antiquity as a talisman for strength and protection.

Lapis Lazuli

  • Hardness (Mohs): 5–5.5
  • Color: Deep blue with golden pyrite flecks
  • Crystal Structure: Aggregate of minerals (not a single crystal)
  • Symbolism: Sacred since antiquity—wisdom, royalty, and inner truth.

Onyx

  • Hardness (Mohs): 6.5–7
  • Color: Black; also banded with white or brown
  • Crystal System: Trigonal (quartz)
  • Symbolism: Strength and stability—said to protect against anxiety and fortify willpower.

Aquamarine

  • Hardness (Mohs): 7.5–8
  • Color: Light blue to blue-green
  • Crystal System: Hexagonal (beryl)
  • Symbolism: Water and serenity—clarity of mind; a traditional talisman of sailors.

Jade (Jadeite / Nephrite)

  • Hardness (Mohs): 6–7
  • Color: Many shades of green; also white, lavender, brown
  • Crystal System: Monoclinic (jadeite)
  • Symbolism: Harmony, health, and balance—venerated in Chinese tradition as a sacred stone of wisdom and good fortune.

Jasper

  • Hardness (Mohs): 6.5–7
  • Color: Multicolored—red, green, yellow, brown, black
  • Crystal Structure: Cryptocrystalline quartz (does not form distinct crystals)
  • Symbolism: Grounding and stability—used in antiquity as a protective and courageous talisman.

Quartz

  • Hardness (Mohs): 7
  • Color: Colorless (rock crystal), rose, smoky, green
  • Crystal System: Trigonal
  • Symbolism: The “mother of crystals”—clarity, healing, and amplification of energy; rose quartz is especially associated with love and tenderness.

Organic Gemstones

Pearl

  • Hardness (Mohs): 2.5–4.5 (softer, organic)
  • Color: White, cream, pink, golden, black
  • Structure: Organic (formed in mollusks; aragonite and organic matrix)
  • Symbolism: Purity and femininity—linked to wisdom, modesty, and spiritual beauty.