About Gemstone Jewelry
A design usually centers around a gemstone. Understanding the collection means identifying the effects of the various ways a stone can be cut, the combinations in which stones can be set, and how stones of varying shapes can be organized. The collection lends itself to interpretation and analysis by gemstone groups and birthstone associations.
Gemstone Type Creates the Main Collection Structure
The stone used in a design provides the clearest way to group gemstone jewelry. Sapphire, emerald, ruby, amethyst, aquamarine, opal, garnet, tourmaline, topaz, zircon, and other gemstones each form distinct stone and color categories within the wider collection.
Gemstone type usually establishes the visual identity of a piece. Its shape, cut, setting, and supporting stones then influence how the color appears in the finished design.
Lab Created Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire Jewelry
Emerald, ruby, and sapphire make up a key group of lab created gemstones within the collection.
Green stones define emerald jewelry, while red stones characterize ruby jewelry. Sapphire jewelry includes blue gemstones as well as other sapphire color variations. Depending on the design, these stones may be used as center stones, repeated throughout the piece, or arranged alongside other stones.
Together, these elements create a clear connection between gemstone material, gemstone color, and jewelry structure.
Birthstone Jewelry Adds Another Way to Organize the Collection
Birth month provides another way to explore gemstone jewelry.
Gemstones associated with different months include garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond, emerald, alexandrite, ruby, peridot, sapphire, tourmaline, topaz, and zircon.
The same gemstone collection can therefore be approached in two ways:
Gemstone Type → Jewelry Design
and
Birth Month → Birthstone → Jewelry Design
Shape and Setting Change How the Gemstone Is Presented
Shape and setting can give the same gemstone a very different appearance.
Round, oval, emerald, pear, cushion, heart, hexagon, baguette, and other outlines alter the stone’s visible proportions. Solitaire, halo, bezel, accent, eternity, and multi-stone settings influence how the gemstone is positioned and presented within the piece.
Certain designs also pair gemstones with moissanite or diamonds, using a colored center stone alongside contrasting supporting stones.
Different Jewelry Types Use Gemstones in Different Ways
Gemstones are used in a variety of pieces of jewelry including rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
A center stone ring is designed to display one gemstone in the center of the ring. Eternity bands and bracelets are designed to display a continuous row of gemstones. Other designs are free to use gemstones however they please.
Due to the constraints of different jewelry types, the placement of a gemstone in a piece of jewelry can vary.
FAQs
Q. Is gemstone type different from gemstone shape?
A. Yes. Gemstone type refers to the material, such as sapphire or ruby, while gemstone shape describes its outer outline, such as oval, pear, or cushion.
Q. Can the same gemstone appear in different jewelry types?
A. Yes. A single gemstone type can be used in rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry designs.
Q. Can gemstone jewelry include diamonds or moissanite?
A. Yes. Some designs feature a colored gemstone as the main stone, accompanied by diamond or moissanite accents or side stones.
Q. What is the difference between gemstone jewelry and birthstone jewelry?
A. Gemstone jewelry is categorized by stone material, while birthstone jewelry features gemstones associated with specific birth months.
Q. What should be compared when choosing gemstone jewelry?
A. Compare the gemstone type, color, shape, dimensions, setting, supporting stones, metal, and overall jewelry structure.
