Think Outside the Box With These Unusual Gemstones

Think Outside the Box With These Unusual Gemstones

Jewelry shoppers tend to think about their gems in terms of diamond, peridot, opal, sapphire, ruby, amethyst, aquamarine and turquoise, but these common gemstones are just the tip of the iceberg. If you want a truly unique jewelry piece to add to your collection, consider commissioning a custom ring or pendant made with a gorgeous uncommon gem.

Tsavorite

A beautiful deep green alternative to emeralds, tsavorite is a member of the garnet family, which means it’s not too expensive but also not a run-of-the-mill stone. Tsavorite has a grassy green quality that makes it look fresh and appealing in bright light, and it’s generally set as a faceted stone, which introduces a beautiful variety of deep green tones that run to a dark, mysterious forest green color in some parts. The stone is sparkly and wonderful, a perfect choice for anyone who loves the color green and has a particular love for nature. A skillfully cut tsavorite looks a bit like sun pouring through multiple layers of dark green leaves in a heavily wooded forest.

Tourmaline

There is no single gemstone that comes in as many different colors as tourmaline. Deep jewel tones, pastels, warm and cool colors alike are all part of the tourmaline rainbow. Tourmaline can also be multicolored, with options such as watermelon tourmaline, a stone with dark green surrounding pink like a slice of watermelon, offering an eye-catching and unique option for those who love to wear multiple colors at once. Another unique feature of tourmaline is its trigonal crystals. According to the GIA, it is the only known common mineral to have this three-sided prismatic structure. 

Sunstone 

If ethical gem mining and local shopping are important to you or the person you’re buying for, sunstone is a great choice. Found in several parts of the United States, including Oregon, sunstone is a beautifully warm pinky-peach stone that looks like a piece of a firey sunset. Those who believe in the healing power of crystals associate sunstone with ability to eliminate seasonal depression and introduce some heart-warming sunshine into any dark period in your life, whether literal or metaphorical.

Chrysoberyl

Another stone that comes in a variety of different colors, chrysoberyl appears in shades of gray, brown, red and violet. Most commonly, though, it is somewhere on a spectrum between yellow and green. If you like a shocking chartreuse green, chrysoberyl may be just the stone for you, allowing you to stand out from the crowd in a dramatic and elegant fashion.

Some chrysoberyl stones cause a parallel reflection known as chatoyancy. These stones are called cat’s eye gems, and they’re like star sapphires, only with a sharp unidirectional beam of light that shines across the gem according to the viewer’s vantage point. These stones are even more unique and beautiful, looking fantastic as set cabochons in an oval or circular shape.

Because they’re rare, these stones can be hard to find. Get in touch with us today and we’ll help you find just the right gems or jewelry to suit your unique tastes.