Looking to offer a memorable gift uniquely picked for its wearer? Regardless if you’re buying a piece of jewelry for your mother’s birthday, your daughter’s sweet sixteen, or a romantic anniversary gesture for your wife, gemstones on fine jewelry will allow you to balance uniqueness with high-end design, fit for any occasion.
If you’re having trouble sifting through the various mesmerizing gemstones, we’ve narrowed down their history, the legends behind them and what are believed to be some of their hidden properties, and picked our very favorite designs to help you choose the most wonderfully meaningful present.
Madeira Citrine
Citrine is a quartz gemstone extremely popular in the yellow to orange color range. Found in golden shades ranging from pale yellow to deep brownish orange, citrine is one of the most affordable of the harder gem materials.
You will frequently see it in Edwardian and Art Deco engagement rings, with the most valuable being the natural gems in the saturated colors, known in the trade as Madeira Citrine.
A great choice if you want an eye-catching piece of jewelry with a larger gemstone.
Known as the “healing quartz,” citrine is said to promote vitality and energy to its wearer, with Chinese feng shui philosophy stating it as the gem to have around when looking for wealth and abundance.
Birthstone: November
This contemporary two-tone Madeira citrine and diamond necklace features an oval citrine, channel set in the white gold wire accented on the top by a single channel set diamond while a yellow gold ribbon curls around the white gold wire accented with a fancy yellow diamond at the bottom tip.
Feminine and unique, these white gold solitaire stud earrings are sure to charm with the delicate open-hearts design gallery that provides for a beautiful side view. The heart design continues on top of the gallery, encircling the prong-set 5mm round citrine. The two stones combined equal to approximately 1.00-carat total gem weight. Polished to a brilliant luster, these gold stud earrings are secured comfortably with friction backs.
This Madeira Citrine and diamond halo ring feature a prong set oval Madeira Citrine set with shared prong set diamonds encircling the gemstone and cascading down the shoulders for an elegant sophisticated look.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine belongs to the Beryl gemstone family. It’s a dichroic (two-colored) stone, appearing blue or colorless depending on what angle it is viewed from.
There are many myths surrounding the aquamarine stone. According to legend the aquamarine originated in the treasure chests of mermaids and has thus been regarded as the sailors’ lucky stone. The soft blue stone is believed to ensure safe and prosperous passage across stormy seas, and provide courage, mental clarity, good health, and reconciliation to its wearer.
In Medieval times, it was thought to rekindle love and render soldiers invincible.
As Aquamarine is a hard stone it is perfectly suitable for any type of jewelry. Beyond its lovely calm blue color, this stone is perfect for someone who deeply loves the sea, or is about to undertake a long voyage across it.
Birthstone: March
This white gold engagement ring combines simplicity and uniqueness in a dainty design. The round center aquamarine sits beautifully on the pave setting adorning the band.
Sparkling and unique, these dainty white gold solitaire stud earrings feature 5mm round aquamarines that are prong-set and encircled in a decorative beaded setting. The two stones combined equal to, approximately, 1.00-carat total weight. Polished to a brilliant luster, these gold stud earrings are secured comfortably with friction backs.
Peridot
Peridot is the gem variety of olivine mineral and has the distinction of being the only gemstone found in meteorites. Moreover, unlike other gems that gain their color from impurities in their composition, the olive green of peridot is an intrinsic part of its nature which makes it an idiochromatic stone, colored by itself! One of the very few gemstones that exist in only a single color.
The Egyptians thought that peridot protected against nightmares and evil spirits. The stone is thought to promote openness in love and relationships and bring the wearer confidence, good luck, and health. It has even been said that Cleopatra’s famous emeralds were actually peridots!
Birthstone: August
This beautiful peridot and diamond necklace features a checkerboard cushion cut peridot set in white gold with a double looping bail, set with a single shared prong set diamond accent at the bottom. The chain passes through the necklace at the top, and the necklace slides gracefully on the chain.
These glamorous earrings have a brilliant peridot gracing the center encircled with a halo of shared prong set diamonds. Timeless and elegant these earrings would make a stylish accessory for some special.
Amethyst
The amethyst is a popular purple quartz with a rich history of astonishing civilizations with its stunning, saturated beauty.
Because of its color the ancient Greeks associated amethyst with the wine god Bacchus, and believed that the gem could prevent drunkenness. Amethyst has also been thought to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted. In fact, the stone’s name refers to its ability to protect the owner from the negative effects of intoxication.
Amethyst is believed to bring about spiritual protection and purification, cleansing one’s energy field of negative influences and attachments.
Ancient civilizations considered the amethyst synonymous with luxury due to its royal purple color and, as such, it was highlighted as part of their crowns, scepters, and rings in both royal and religious contexts.
Birthstone: February
This amethyst and diamond bar necklace features a round amethyst channel set at the bottom of the white gold bar. A white gold ribbon swirls around from the bail and accents the bar with a single diamond at the tip for a touch of drama.
This amethyst and diamond halo ring features an oval amethyst center stone, encircled with shared prong set diamonds. The side shoulders of the dainty shank are embellished with diamonds to match for an added touch of elegance.
