THE GEMHOOD LIBRARY
Gemstone encyclopedia
Learn about remarkable natural stones through factual guides, care advice, and their cultural and historical significance.
Alexandrite
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Quartz (SiO₂)Amethyst
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, appreciated for its range from gentle lilac to deep violet. Its colour and relatively good resistance to scratching make it familiar in pe...
Read guide → Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈)Aquamarine
Aquamarine belongs to the beryl mineral family. Its recognisable blue to blue-green colouring often appears in delicate pendants and rings, where an open setting helps the stone ca...
Read guide → GEMSTONEBloodstone
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Quartz (SiO₂)Citrine
Citrine is a yellow to orange variety of quartz that works well with warm-toned jewellery designs. Colour can range from pale straw to deeper golden hues. The origin of an individu...
Read guide → GEMSTONEClear Quartz
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Carbon (C)Diamond
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈)Emerald
Emerald is a green member of the beryl family and one of the best-known coloured gems. Its appearance can include natural inclusions. Buyers should ask for treatment information an...
Read guide → A group of silicate mineralsGarnet
Garnet refers to a family of minerals rather than one single red gem. Different varieties can range from deep red to lively orange and green. Gemhood educational filters can reflec...
Read guide → GEMSTONEJade
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → FeldsparLabradorite
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Rock dominated by lazuriteLapis Lazuli
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → FeldsparMoonstone
Moonstone is a feldspar gemstone associated with a floating glow called adularescence in certain specimens. Jewellery settings often emphasise this optical effect. It is softer tha...
Read guide → Volcanic glassObsidian
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → ChalcedonyOnyx
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → Hydrated silicaOpal
Many opals display changing flashes of colour known as play-of-colour, while other varieties are more uniform. Their relatively modest hardness means that jewellery design, water e...
Read guide → Biogenic calcium carbonatePearl
Discover its jewellery history, colours and traditional symbolism.
Read guide → OlivinePeridot
Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, commonly recognised by its yellow-green to green appearance. It brings a bright accent to earrings, pendants and bracelets. Because it is les...
Read guide →Traditional and spiritual associations are presented for cultural interest, not as medical facts.