What is beryl in gemstones?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Beryl is a mineral made of beryllium aluminium silicate, and in its pure form it is colourless. Trace elements give it a remarkable range of colours, each with its own gemstone name: chromium and vanadium produce green emerald, iron creates blue-green aquamarine or golden heliodor, manganese gives the peachy-pink of morganite, and red beryl, coloured by manganese, is among the rarest gemstones in the world. Beryl crystals grow in six-sided hexagonal prisms, often forming in pegmatite rock, and it rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Frequently asked questions
- What gemstones are varieties of beryl?
- Emerald, aquamarine, morganite, heliodor, goshenite (colourless beryl) and red beryl are all varieties of the same mineral. They share the same crystal structure but get their different colours from different trace elements within the crystal.
- Is beryl a precious or semi-precious stone?
- Emerald is considered precious, while aquamarine, morganite and the other varieties are typically classified as semi-precious. Red beryl is so rare that it commands very high prices despite that classification. The precious versus semi-precious distinction is informal and not universally agreed upon.
- What is the rarest variety of beryl?
- Red beryl, sometimes called bixbite, is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. It is found in only a handful of locations, primarily in Utah in the United States, and fine facetable crystals are exceptionally scarce, making it far rarer than emerald or ruby.
Designing a ring
Talk through beryl with us
Tell us what you have in mind, even if it is only a budget and a piece of jewellery type, and we will help you weigh up the options. We reply to every enquiry, usually within one business day.
Contact the studio