Popular Gemstones & Jewels


List of Popular Gemstones 💎 Jewels, Diamonds & Minerals

Gemstones are commonly used in make jewelry and artefacts but also in industry. Popular gemstones are also used for health and well being including feng shui, crystal healing and related new age therapies. What’s your birthstone?

Frequently Asked Questions About Gemstones (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions About Gemstones

What is the difference between precious and semi-precious gemstones?

Semi-precious Gemstones are not so rare and less expensive compared to precious stones. Semi-precious gemstones are still valued for their beauty and significance as birthstones.

How many precious gemstones are there?

There are only four precious gemstones; diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Some lists include pearl, opal and jade but they are usually considered semi-precious gemstones.

  • ADDucation’s list includes the top 10 most popular gemstones and was compiled by Robert Junker and last updated 18 Aug 2024.

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Gemstone Mineral type Source regions Chemical formula Mohs hardness[1] Natural color/s Birthstone Popular gemstones uses and trivia
Agate Quartz Brazil, Uruguay. SiO2 6.5 – 7 Brown (in bands) Agate is a rock consisting of chalcedony and microgranular quartz. Historically used for hardstone carvings e.g. handles, seals, stone inlay etc. Agates are also popular gemstones. Agate crystals are used for protection.
Amethyst Quartz USA, Urals, India and Namibia. SiO2 7 Violet February Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz said to prevent drunkenness. Amethysts are semi-precious gemstones used in jewelry. Popular healing crystal.
Beryl (Aquamarine / Maxixe) Beryllium, Cyclosilicate Brazil, Uruguay, Urals and Alps. Be3Al2(SiO3)6 7.5 – 8 Dark blue March Beryl is aka Aquamarine or Maxixe (from Madagascar) and is one of the popular gemstones. Beryl is the crystal of courage in the throat Chakra.
Carnelian Chalcedony Silica India, North Africa, Japan and Australia. SiO2 6 – 7 Reddish, yellowish Carnelian is a mineral and popular semi-precious gemstone, often carved into artistic figurines. In feng shui Carnelian is energizing and used for grounding.
Diamond
(precious gemstone)		 Carbon South Africa, Congo, Angola and Australia. C 10 Colorless, yellowish April Diamonds are precious and popular gemstones traditionally used in engagement rings and “Diamonds are a girls best friend”. Diamonds are used in industrial drilling and cutting tools.
Emerald
(precious gemstone)		 Beryl Colombia accounts for 50–95%, followed by Zambia, but can be found worldwide. Be3Al2(SiO3)6 7.5 – 8 Grass green May Emeralds are a precious variety of Beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium or vanadium. Valuable gemstone. Crystal of romance.
Garnet Nesosilicate Slovakia, Czech Republic and the European Alps. State gemstone for Connecticut, USA. X3Y2(SiO4)3 6.5 -7.5 Red shades most common but all colors (blue is rare). January Garnets are popular gemstones. Garnets sand is a good abrasive and for water filtration. Red garnets are associated with the thyroid and spleen.
Lapis lazuli Lazurite / pyrite / calcite Russia, Afghanistan, Burma and Chile. (Na,Ca) 8(AlSiO4) 6(S,SO4,Cl)1-2 5 -5.5 Blue and white Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock used as a semi-precious gemstone in jewelry or  sculpted into artistic figurines and frescoes.
Malachite Copper carbonate Australia, Russia, Zaire, Chile, Congo and Zimbabwe. Cu2CO3(OH)2 3.5 – 4 Black green, light green Malachite is a precious ore. Malachite gemstones are used in jewelry. In feng shui malachite can be used to energize stagnant spaces.
Obsidian Volcanic rock glass Italy, Aegean, Turkey and Iceland. Mostly SiO2 with around 25% MgO and Fe3O4 5 – 6 Glossy black Precious stones and stone figurines. In feng shui black obsidian draws in negative energy so  should be regularly cleansed. Should be used with caution in crystal healing because of it’s power.
Opal Hydrated silica Australia. SiO2·nH2O 6 – 7 gray, green October Opal is a non-crystalline form of silica classed as a mineraloid. A popular gemstone which can be found in most colors, black opals are the rarest.
Pearl Mineral Worldwide including the Persian Gulf, South Pacific, Gulf of Mannar, California, Gulf of Mexico. Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia. CaCO3 2.5 – 4.5 white, pink, cream June Pearls are carbonate minerals formed from organic material in shelled molluscs. Gemstone pearls are iridescent like mother of pearl, white and black are the most popular gemstones but can be Champagne, pink, blue, green and purple (rare).
Peridot Olivine, Silicate USA, Australia, China, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Norway, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and in meteorites. (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 6 – 7 Olive green August Peridot, aka Chrysolite, is a silicate mineral which is naturally olive-green but iron allows yellow through to Emerald hues – for which it is often mistaken.
Rose quartz Quartz Brazil, Madagascar, USA and the Ural’s. SiO2 7 Maroon Gemstones, artistic figurines. Love stone in crystal meanings.
Ruby
(precious gemstone)
 Corundum / aluminum oxide Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Sri Lanka. Al2O3:Cr 9 Red July Precious stones, sandpaper, healing crystal to recharge your energy levels.
Sapphire
(precious gemstone)
 Corundum / aluminum oxide Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka and Australia. Al2O3 9 Cornflower blue September Gemstones, LEDs, semiconductor lasers. Used in meditation for dream fulfillment and prosperity.
Sugilite Cyclosilicate South Africa, Australia, Italy, Japan, India and Canada. KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2 Li3Si12O30 5.5 – 6.5 Violet, pink, purple Sugilite is a rare translucent gemstone. Named after Ken-ichi Sugi, a Japanese petrologist who described it in 1944.
Tiger’s eye Quartz, Silica South Africa and Australia. SiO2 5.5 – 6 Golden to red-brown Tiger’s eye gemstones have a silky lustre. Stone of protection.
Topaz Silicates All continents, Brazil is a large producer. Topaz is state gemstone of Utah and blue Topaz is state gemstone of Texas, USA. Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 8 Golden brown to yellow November Topaz is a silicate mineral found from opaque to transparent. Impurities result in many colors, pink is rare. Topaz is a symbol of friendship. Balancing and calming stone.
Turquoise Phosphate China, Afghanistan, USA, Mexico, Chile, Australia and Europe. CuAl6 (PO4) 4(OH) 8·4H2O 5 – 6 Mottled green to blue December Turquoise is an opaque mineral and popular gemstone and ornamental stone. Stone of protection. Used in feng shui to attract wealth and to improve health and well-being.
Tourmaline Group of minerals Pakistan, Afghanistan and Namibia. (Ca,K,Na,[]) (Al,Fe,Li,Mg,Mn) 3(Al,Cr, Fe,V) 6(BO3) 3(Si,Al,B) 6O18(OH,F)4 7 – 7.5 Most commonly black, but all colors Tourmaline is a semi-precious gemstone used for jewelry and trophies. Can be bi-colored or tri-colored and neon green or electric blue. Used to detox in crystal healing.
Zircon
(not Zirconia)
 Silicates Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Australia. ZrSiO4 7.5 Colorless to brown, green and blue Zircon is one of the most popular semi precious stones. Zircon belongs to the Nesosilicates mineral group. Colorless Zircon gemstones can be used as diamond simulants. Stone of virtue.

See also: Mankind & Nature… | Geographical Records… | Quiz Zone: Earth & Space…

Notes About Popular Gemstones Notes: [1]Mohs scale of mineral hardness is used to compare the scratch resistance of materials. The Mohs hardness scale ranges from 1 (Talc) to 10 (Diamond).

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