Gemstones have been treasured throughout human history for their beauty, rarity and spiritual significance. They have been used to embellish jewellery, armour and clothes for centuries, and they remain popular to this day.
It’s important to know how to style gemstone jewellery such as rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants to elevate your style, enhance their natural beauty and bring out their unique characteristics.
Within this styling guide, we will explore the different types of gemstones and their properties, and how to choose the right gemstone for you that is both practical and reflects your personal style.
From the classic elegance of diamonds to the vibrant hues of rubies and emeralds, we will delve into the world of gemstones and provide you with tips and tricks on how to style them for any occasion!
Overview
The Big Three Gemstones
Sapphire
Ruby
Emerald
How to Wear Gemstones
Which Gemstones Look Best With Each Skin Tone?
Can You Combine Different Coloured Gemstones?
How to Wear Gemstone Bracelets
The Big Three Precious Gemstones
Sapphire
Sapphire is one of the big-three jewellery gemstones (alongside ruby and emerald) and is the stone assigned to September babies as their birthstone. It’s a truly mesmerising stone with its incredible aura of romance, durability and versatility. Sapphire is typically known as being a blue gemstone, but it surprisingly comes in an array of colours and quality variations. As a blanket rule, the more intense and uniform the colour is, the more valuable the stone. Ranking a 9 on the Moh’s hardness scale, sapphire is tough enough to withstand everyday wear of sapphire rings and sapphire bracelets.
Sapphire also comes in other colours too including but not limited to pink, orange, yellow, green and purple. All non-blue sapphires (aside from red) are known as “fancy sapphires” which is reminiscent of their unique colour.
Classic, timeless and unique, sapphire is one of the most versatile gemstones for jewellery makers with a lustrous colour and amazing qualities that are hard not to love. Sapphire is also thought to bring fulfilment, joy and prosperity to its wearer as well as mental calmness and strength in leadership.
Sapphire looks best when set in white gold, silver or yellow gold, as these metals accentuate and highlight its beautiful colour. Not only this, but you will find many sapphire earrings and sapphire necklaces embellished with the sparkling finish of diamonds and cubic zirconia.
The last of the big-three is the stunning ruby gemstone with its gorgeous red tone. Naturally, the most eye-catching quality of this gemstone is the sensational colour. Ideally, you’ll want to look for deep, rich and even colour when shopping for ruby jewellery, as their value is dependent on these factors. Unlike other gemstones, rubies cannot be graded with magnification, as the colour is great at hiding those inclusions.
If you’re looking for a gemstone that will last a long time, then ruby is the way to go! Ruby ranks a 9 on Moh’s scale of hardness coming just short of diamonds which rank a 10. This means that ruby makes a suitable stone for engagement rings as well as dress rings.
Those born in July get to enjoy this stunning gem as their birthstone. Ruby has been worn for centuries and is often associated with improved energy and concentration, loyalty and creativity. Not only this, but it has strong connections to the home and family, casting guidance and protection.
Ruby’s red colour is actually more versatile than you might think. It is often paired with yellow gold or silver/white gold for a classic and traditional look. For those who want to step outside their comfort zone, then why not pair ruby with rose gold for feminine pop.
Emerald is the second of the big-three gemstones that we will be discussing. Emerald boasts a beautiful green hue that is elegant and eye-catching. Its specific shade can vary around the world, with some arguing that a blue-green tone is more desirable, while others prefer a true green.
The value of emeralds is heavily dependent on the vivid colours and they are typically very included. In fact, the scientific term for these inclusions is “Jardin” which is the french word for garden. These inclusions unfortunately affect the structural strength of the stone, hence they are considered a weaker mineral that must be worn with care. You can still rock an emerald ring or emerald bracelet, however, they should not be worn everyday. Alternatively, you can find many settings that are designed to protect the emerald from knocks and drops - as it ranks only a 7.5 - 8 pm on Moh’s scale of hardness.
Emerald symbolism is associated with royalty, eloquence and foresight. It is the May birthstone, and has been highly regarded for its spiritual qualities throughout the centuries. Emerald is said to calm emotions, provide inspiration and balance as well as promote peace and harmony to its wearer.
Emerald is a bold gemstone that looks amazing when paired with the warm tones of yellow gold - it is the ultimate luxurious combination. You can also find emeralds set with silver or white gold, however, the blush tones of rose gold do not look very flattering when paired with this gem. An emerald pendant and emerald stud earrings make an amazing look that is pretty yet fun.
Now, you’re probably wondering, how do you wear gemstones? How do you style them? What jewels go with which? - Well, stress no more, we’re here to give you all the tips and tricks.
The best thing about gemstones is that you can have heaps of fun with colours and designs to really let your personality shine. Create a look that is completely your own and step out in confidence and style.
Choose the right stone. Each gemstone has different properties (both visually and physically) that will determine how it looks and how often you can wear it. Stones with a higher ranking on Moh's scale of hardness will be more equipped for daily wear. Not only this, but each gemstone is associated with spiritual qualities, so you should choose a stone that aligns with your intentions and lets you feel confident and stylish. Consider looks, properties, meaning and colour when choosing your next gemstone piece.
Decide on the type of jewellery. Luckily, you can find gemstones in a range of jewellery styles from gemstone necklaces and gemstone bracelets to gemstone earrings and gemstone rings. The options are truly endless.
Consider the colour. As mentioned above, colour is a super important aspect of styling gemstone jewellery. Really think about how it will complement your skin tone, your outfit and of course, your other jewellery.
Choosing gemstones that complement your skin tone can enhance your overall appearance and elevate your natural beauty! We’ve rounded up some general guidelines to give you an idea about which gemstones will look best with your skin tone, however, there are no rules to styling, so be as creative as you like with your choices. The chart below will help you to determine if you have cool undertones, warm undertones or sit within the neutral spectrum.
Fair Skin Tones
If you have a fair skin tone, then gemstones like blue, green and purple will look incredible on you! Try an amethyst ring or sapphire pendant, and really accentuate your gorgeous features! You can also really pull off the sparkle of diamonds and lighter gemstones like aquamarine.
Neutral Skin Tones
Those with neutral skin tones are truly spoiled for choice. Because your undertones fit somewhere in the middle of both warm and cool, it generally means that you can rock just about any colour with ease! In this case, experiment with different styles to find which reflects your true personality.
Warm Skin Tones
If you have warm undertones, choosing gemstones with a similar warm undertone is a stylish choice. The lustre of emerald and sunny finish of citrine will look incredible on you.
Can you combine different coloured gemstones?
When styling gemstones, one of the top things to consider is that not all colours work well together. Depending on the look that you are trying to achieve, you can experiment with different types of complementary and contrasting colour combinations. If we take a look at the colour chart below we can get a grasp on how the colours interact with each other.
Complementary colours are those that are opposite to each other on the colour wheel. They create a striking contrast when paired together and create an eye-catching and unique look.
Amethyst and Citrine
Style beautiful amethyst earrings with a citrine pendant all complemented by the luxurious finish of yellow gold.
Garnet and Peridot
Garnet and peridot is a calming combo that really draws inspiration from nature and boho styles. Create the ultimate ring stack with gold rings including a garnet ring and peridot ring.
Analogous Colours
Another way to combine gemstones is by choosing analogous colour combinations. These colours sit next to each other on the colour wheel and create a harmonious and unified look when paired together.
To play with analogous colours, choose a dominant colour and use the other as an accent. This will help to create harmonious balance and prevent the colours from overwhelming the look. Much like how clear stones such as diamond and cubic zirconia are used to accentuate the main colour, an accentuating gemstone will make your look pop.
Amethyst, Aquamarine and Sapphire
Enjoy the dreamy hues of blue and purple with an amethyst base gemstone with aquamarine and sapphire accents. Beautiful and classic, and interesting as well! This is the perfect look for wintertime, and makes a gorgeous earring stack curation: explore all of our amethyst earrings, sapphire earrings and aquamarine earrings.
Amethyst, Ruby and Morganite
If you prefer warmer tones, then why not experiment with tones of red and pink instead? Elegant with a hint of femininity, experiment with amethyst jewellery accentuated with a ruby pendant and morganite ring.
Emerald, Sapphire and Citrine
For sophistication and class, emerald, sapphire and citrine make a fabulous collection. The deep hues of green and blue are given a nice contrast with the orange of citrine for a perfectly balanced finish.
How to Wear Gemstone Bracelets
Gemstone bracelets are a great way to add some colour and personality to your outfits. Incorporating gemstones to your wrist wear is a smart decision as it can be easily seen.
Minimalistic
If you like to keep it simple and sleek with your jewellery, but want to experiment with styling gemstones, then definitely stick with a singular bracelet. A single bracelet on the wrist is a statement in itself and makes the styling process easy. Choose one gemstone that you love the colour of, and make that the focal point of your look. Zirconia bracelets and diamond bracelets make versatile pieces for any situation.
Layer
If you prefer to go for something more dramatic, then a bracelet stack could be for you! Layering bracelets generally consists of wearing 2-3 bracelets of different styles from chain bracelets and charm bracelets to bangles and tennis bracelets. Layering your gold bracelets or silver bracelets means that you can have lots of dun with different designs and gemstones! Consider the colour wheel and why not mix and match some stone with a hint of sparkling diamonds, a cross bracelet or even an infinity bracelet.
Consider the Outfit
Bracelets really can make or break an outfit, and bold placement means that the look of the bracelet will interact with the colours, texture and style of your outfit. Consider how you can use gemstone bracelets to your advantage when considering the colour combinations between your jewellery and your clothes. Not only this, but consider the occasion that you are styling for. A casual day at a park may call for a dainty chain with a subtle charm, while a formal event will require more pizazz.
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