A Beginner’s Guide to Natural Gemstones

There is something incredibly beautiful about choosing jewellery made with natural gemstones.

The colours, the tiny variations from one stone to another, and the fact that they were formed in nature all contribute to what makes them special. 

If you’re new to gemstone jewellery, you may also come across terms such as natural gemstones, precious gemstones, semi-precious gemstones, inclusions, treatments, synthetic stones and hardness. Understanding what these actually mean can make choosing jewellery much easier.

So, here is a simple guide to natural gemstones, what makes them different, what to look for when choosing them, and how to care for them.

What is a natural gemstone?

A natural gemstone is a gemstone that has formed in nature rather than being created in a laboratory.

Many gemstones are minerals that form within the Earth over extremely long periods of time under particular combinations of heat, pressure and geological conditions. Once discovered and mined, suitable stones are selected, cut and polished before they eventually find their way into jewellery.

Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline and Sapphire are just a few examples.

Pearls are slightly different. Rather than forming within the Earth, they are organic gems formed inside molluscs.

And this natural origin is part of what makes gemstones so fascinating. Something that eventually becomes a tiny part of a piece of jewellery may have taken millions of years to form.

Precious and semi-precious gemstones: what is the difference?

You have probably heard gemstones described as either precious or semi-precious.

Traditionally, four gemstones have been placed in the precious category:

Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.

Many other gemstones, including Amethyst, Garnet, Citrine, Peridot, Topaz and Tourmaline, have historically been described as semi-precious.

But the term semi-precious can be slightly misleading.

It doesn’t mean that these gemstones are somehow less beautiful, less desirable or always less valuable.

Some varieties of gemstones traditionally called semi-precious can be exceptionally rare and valuable, while the quality and value of individual precious gemstones can vary enormously.

Today, many people within the jewellery and gemstone world simply refer to individual stones by their gemstone names rather than using these two broad categories.

So while precious and semi-precious are useful traditional terms to understand, they shouldn’t be used as the only indication of a gemstone’s quality, rarity or value.

What does “natural gemstone” mean at Chérie Lueur?

At Chérie Lueur, when we say that a gemstone is natural, that is exactly what we mean.

We use natural gemstones throughout our jewellery, including both gemstones traditionally classified as precious and semi-precious.

You’ll find Blue Topaz, Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Tourmaline and Sapphire across our collections, alongside organic gems such as Cultured Pearl.

Because we work with natural gemstones, there may sometimes be slight differences in colour, clarity and other characteristics from one stone to another.

We don’t see those natural variations as something that needs to be hidden. They are simply part of working with gemstones that come from nature.

There is one exception in our jewellery: American Diamonds (Cubic Zirconia or CZ).

American Diamonds are not natural gemstones. We use them selectively in some of our designs, most often as small white accents that complement the natural gemstones within the piece. The gemstones highlighted across our collections are natural gemstones, with American Diamonds used only as accents in selected designs.

Whenever American Diamonds are included in a Chérie Lueur design, we identify them as such rather than describing them as natural gemstones.

We believe you should always know what is in the jewellery you choose.

Why don’t natural gemstones all look exactly the same?

Place two natural gemstones of the same variety next to each other and you may notice subtle differences.

One Garnet may appear deeper in colour than another. Two Amethysts can have slightly different shades of purple. Tourmaline occurs naturally in an extraordinary range of colours.

Natural gemstones can also contain internal characteristics known as inclusions.

These develop as a gemstone forms and can take many different forms. Some can be seen with the naked eye, while others may only be visible under magnification.

An inclusion does not automatically mean that a gemstone is poor quality.

In fact, what is considered normal or desirable varies enormously between different gemstones. Some varieties are commonly found with inclusions, while clarity may be particularly important when evaluating others.

It is one of the reasons natural gemstones cannot all be judged according to exactly the same standard.

Are natural gemstones ever treated?

Yes.

Some natural gemstones undergo treatments or enhancements, and gemstone treatments are widely used within the jewellery industry.

Treatments may be used to improve or alter characteristics such as colour or clarity.

Heat treatment, for example, has a long history in the gemstone world and is commonly associated with gemstones such as Sapphire.

Importantly, a treated natural gemstone can still be a natural gemstone.

Its origin hasn’t changed. The stone formed in nature rather than being manufactured in a laboratory.

Treatments vary between different gemstones and are part of the wider gemstone industry.

What determines a gemstone’s quality and value?

There isn’t one formula that can be applied to every gemstone.

Different varieties are valued according to different characteristics, but several factors commonly play a role.

Colour

Colour can have an enormous influence on a gemstone’s appearance and value.

The hue, tone and saturation of a stone can all affect how desirable it is within its particular gemstone variety.

But there is also a personal element.

The shade considered most valuable on paper isn’t necessarily the shade that you will find most beautiful.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the presence and appearance of inclusions and other internal characteristics within a gemstone.

The importance of clarity differs depending on the stone. Some gemstone varieties commonly contain visible inclusions, while greater clarity may be particularly prized in others.

Cut

Cut isn’t simply whether a gemstone is round, oval, pear or another shape.

The quality and proportions of the cut influence how the gemstone interacts with light and how its colour and character are displayed.

Carat

Carat is a measurement of a gemstone’s weight, not simply its physical size.

Two gemstones with the same carat weight can therefore appear to be different sizes depending on their density, proportions and cut.

Rarity

Some gemstones, colours, sizes and qualities occur far less frequently in nature than others.

That rarity can have a significant influence on value.

This is also why simply knowing whether a gemstone is traditionally classified as precious or semi-precious doesn’t tell you how valuable an individual stone is.

Does a larger gemstone mean a better gemstone?

Not necessarily.

Size is only one characteristic of a gemstone.

Colour, clarity, cut, rarity and overall quality can all influence what makes one stone more desirable than another.

And when a gemstone is going into jewellery, there is something else to consider: the design as a whole.

A gemstone should work beautifully with its setting, proportions and the other stones around it.

A smaller gemstone with beautiful colour and a well-considered cut can create a far more beautiful piece than a larger stone chosen simply because of its size.

Bigger doesn’t automatically mean better.

Which natural gemstone should you choose?

After learning about classifications, inclusions, treatments, hardness, colour and clarity, choosing a gemstone can suddenly sound very technical.

It doesn’t have to be.

Start with the one you love.

You might be drawn to the fresh green of Peridot, the richness of Garnet, the purple of Amethyst, the warmth of Citrine, the blues of Topaz and Sapphire, or the incredible variety found within Tourmaline.

You may love one gemstone on its own or find yourself drawn to combinations of different colours.

Sometimes the best reason to choose a gemstone is simply that every time you look at it, you love it.

How should you care for natural gemstone jewellery?

Different gemstones have different properties, which means there isn’t one cleaning method suitable for every natural gemstone.

Some stones are more sensitive to heat, chemicals, prolonged moisture or particular cleaning methods than others.

As a general rule, keep gemstone jewellery away from harsh chemicals, cleaning products and unnecessary impact.

Apply perfumes, lotions and beauty products before putting on your jewellery. Remove your pieces before swimming, exercising or doing household work, and store them carefully when they’re not being worn.

Storing jewellery separately can also help prevent gemstones and metal surfaces from rubbing or scratching against one another.

The beauty of choosing something natural

The more you learn about natural gemstones, the more you begin to appreciate just how much variety exists within them.

Not every stone will have exactly the same shade. Not every gemstone will have identical clarity. Even two pieces made using the same type of gemstone can have their own subtle differences.

That isn’t something we believe needs to be hidden.

It is part of choosing something that came from nature.

At Chérie Lueur, we use natural precious and semi-precious gemstones throughout our jewellery, with American Diamonds (CZ) being the clearly identified exception in the designs where they are used. Each gemstone is chosen with consideration for its colour, proportions and how beautifully it works within the piece.

Our jewellery is then handmade in 925 sterling silver with care, creating pieces to be worn, loved and become part of your life and your story.

Made with love, just for you.