Eight Unique Gemstones to Wear
There are many gemstones available in the world and some are more common than others. Due to price, scarcity, and trends, many gemstones are commonly used despite alternative options available. These range from diamonds and sapphires to amethyst and topaz. If you're like me and enjoy more one of a kind pieces, here are either alternative gems that are unique and used in jewelry much less frequently.
Larimar
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, larimar is a volcanic stone resulting from volcanic activity millions of years ago. It has a characteristic blue and white coloring that is utterly unique to larimar. Sitting at around 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, larimar is perfect in earrings and necklaces.
Morganite
Named after JP Morgan, this pink-orange gemstone belongs to the beryl family (which also contains aquamarine and emerald to name a couple). The more pink the morganite, the more valuable it is considered. At 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, morganite is hard enough to wear in any jewelry piece including rings.Rubellite
Belonging to the tourmaline family, rubellites are the rarest of all the tourmalines. With dark pink to red coloring, rubellites can easily be mistaken for rubies. This was a common occurrence prior to gemological instruments of identification. With a hardness of 7-7.5, rubellites are hard enough for everyday jewelry though softer than rubies.
Tanzanite
Only found in Tanzania, it is predicted that the mines will be completely depleted in less than 30 years (though probably sooner). Its violet-blue hue is unique to tanzanite alone. Having a hardness of 6-6.5, tanzanite is better set in jewelry less likely to be banged around such as earrings and necklaces.
Ametrine
This dual colored gemstone comes from Bolivia and displays both an amethyst -esque purple and citrine -esque yellow. This gemstone actually belongs to the quartz family and is therefore 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Ametrine can easily be worn in any jewelry setting though needs care if in a ring.
Tsavorite
Dubbed the rarest gemstone in the world, this deep green garnet is truly unique. Found in Africa, the Tsavo reserve in Kenya specifically, this treasured gemstone is highly refractive with few inclusions. Highly sparkly and eye catching, it rates 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While it can be set in any jewelry, it must be treated with care as it can get scratched and damaged a bit easier than the other gems mentioned.
Black Opal
Australian black opals are both the most expensive opal as well as the rarest type of opal. Mined from only South Wales, the limited supply makes this gemstone both unique and pricey. With their dark background, opals natural play of colors is more vivid and truly striking. With its hardness at around 5.5-6.5 opals are better off set in jewelry that won't get banged around such as necklaces and earrings.
Alexandrite
One of the few naturally occurring color changing gems, alexandrite's color changes from green to red depending on the lighting. With its popularity and limited supply, many alexandrites in the market are lab created. With an 8.5 Mohs hardness, alexandrite can be worn without worry in just about any jewelry type.
So, if you're in the market for something unique and different, one of these less common gemstones may be perfect for you. With their unique colors and histories, they make beautiful additions to any piece. Have you ever worn a piece of jewelry with an alternative gemstone? If not, which of these stones would you choose? Let me know in the comments!
