Gemstone Guide
Gemstones change a piece through colour, hardness, origin and care. This hub compares moissanite, sapphire, ruby, emerald, opal, pearl and coloured stones so you can choose for both beauty and daily wear.
If the jewellery will be worn every day, start with hardness and toughness before colour. Diamonds, moissanite, sapphire and ruby can handle more wear than opal, pearl or emerald, which need gentler settings and habits.
Which gemstones suit everyday wear
Ask how often the piece will be worn. A stone that is beautiful for earrings may be too delicate for a ring worn through work, travel, cooking and cleaning.
Diamond alternatives
- #01
What is moissanite?
A quick guide to moissanite composition, sparkle, hardness and how it differs from diamond.
- #02
Moissanite guide
A deeper look at moissanite colour, cut, durability, value and ring expectations.
- #03
Sapphire
A durable coloured stone available in blue, pink, yellow, green and colourless varieties.
Coloured gemstones
- #01
Ruby
A red corundum gemstone with strong hardness and a rich jewellery history.
- #02
Emerald
A vivid green beryl that needs more care because inclusions and treatments are common.
- #03
Opal
A softer Australian favourite known for play of colour and more careful wear.
- #04
Pearl
An organic gem that needs gentle cleaning, separate storage and protection from chemicals.
Other gemstone guides
- #01
Morganite
A peach-pink beryl often chosen for soft colour in rose or yellow gold.
- #02
Tanzanite
A blue-violet stone with striking colour and more careful daily wear needs.
- #03
Alexandrite
A rare colour-change stone that shifts under different light sources.
- #04
Garnet
A gemstone family with red, green, orange and pink varieties, not only the classic deep red.
- #05
Tourmaline
A broad colour family that includes pink, green, blue and bi-colour gemstones.
- #06
Amethyst
A purple quartz that is wearable, accessible and sensitive to strong heat.
- #07
Topaz
A bright gem available in blue, golden and imperial tones, with cleavage care notes.
- #08
Aquamarine
A pale blue to blue-green beryl with good hardness and a clean, watery look.
- #09
Spinel
A durable gemstone found in red, pink, lavender, grey, blue and many other colours.
- #10
Onyx
A black chalcedony used for bold contrast in rings, signets and dress jewellery.
- #11
Jade
A gem name covering jadeite and nephrite, with toughness, colour and treatment differences.
- #12
Zircon
A natural gemstone with strong brilliance, often confused by name with cubic zirconia.
- #13
Citrine
A yellow to orange quartz used for warm colour in rings, pendants and earrings.
- #14
Peridot
A green olivine gemstone with a lively colour and moderate hardness for rings.