Gemstones can completely change the personality of a piece of jewelry. A deep red ruby feels bold and romantic, a blue sapphire feels classic and refined, while an opal can look completely different as it moves in the light.
But there are far more gemstones than the familiar diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
From colorful tourmaline and mysterious labradorite to timeless pearl and shimmering moonstone, each gemstone has its own appearance, physical properties, history, and traditional symbolism.
This guide covers 30 types of gemstones worth knowing, including what they look like, what they are traditionally associated with, and what to consider before choosing them for jewelry.
A note about gemstone meanings: Associations such as love, protection, luck, healing, or wisdom come from cultural traditions, folklore, and symbolism. They should not be treated as scientifically proven medical or psychological effects.
What Are Gemstones?
A gemstone is a natural material that is valued for its beauty, rarity, durability, or other desirable characteristics and is commonly cut, polished, or otherwise prepared for use in jewelry.
Most gemstones are minerals or varieties of minerals. However, gem materials can also include rocks, mineral aggregates, and organic materials.
For example, ruby and sapphire are varieties of the mineral corundum. Pearl is an organic gem material formed by a mollusk, while lapis lazuli is a rock made up of several minerals.
This is one reason why the gemstone world is much broader than a simple list of “pretty stones.”
Are There Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones?
You will often see gemstones divided into precious and semi-precious categories.
Traditionally, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald have been called the four precious gemstones. Other gem materials are commonly placed in the semi-precious category.
However, this terminology can be misleading. It does not mean that every “precious” gemstone is more valuable than every “semi-precious” gemstone. Color, rarity, clarity, size, origin, treatment, durability, and demand can all affect value.
GIA’s colored-stone research emphasizes the enormous diversity of the colored gemstone market beyond the traditional “big three” of ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
30 Types of Gemstones You Should Know
1. Diamond — Symbol of Love & Eternity
Diamond is one of the most recognizable gemstones in the world and the traditional choice for engagement rings.
It is composed of carbon arranged in a crystal structure and is exceptionally resistant to scratching. Diamonds can be colorless, but they also occur naturally in shades such as yellow, brown, blue, pink, and other colors.
Traditional symbolism: Love, eternity, commitment, strength, and endurance.
Why people love it: Diamond’s brilliance, durability, and association with engagement and wedding jewelry make it one of the most important gemstones in fine jewelry.
For engagement rings, the diamond’s appearance depends heavily on factors such as cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
2. Ruby — Symbol of Passion & Power
Ruby is the red variety of corundum, the same mineral species that includes sapphire. Chromium is responsible for ruby’s characteristic red color.
Ruby can range from pinkish red to deep red, with color being one of its most important quality considerations.
Traditional symbolism: Passion, power, courage, love, and vitality.
Why people love it: Its saturated red color gives jewelry a dramatic and romantic appearance.
Ruby is also relatively hard, measuring 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, which makes it a practical gemstone for many types of jewelry.
3. Sapphire — Symbol of Wisdom & Royalty
Sapphire is another variety of corundum. Although blue sapphire is the best-known variety, sapphires can occur in yellow, pink, orange, green, purple, and other colors. Red corundum is classified as ruby.
Traditional symbolism: Wisdom, loyalty, truth, royalty, and sincerity.
Why people love it: Blue sapphire combines rich color with excellent hardness and durability.
Sapphire is particularly popular in engagement rings because it provides a colorful alternative to a traditional diamond while remaining suitable for frequent wear.
4. Emerald — Symbol of Love & Renewal
Emerald is the green variety of beryl and is famous for its rich green color.
Natural emeralds commonly contain inclusions, sometimes called a “jardin,” from the French word for garden. These inclusions can be part of the stone’s natural character.
Traditional symbolism: Love, renewal, growth, prosperity, and rebirth.
Why people love it: Few gemstones have the instantly recognizable deep green appearance of emerald.
Emerald requires more care than some harder gemstones because its inclusions can affect durability.
5. Amethyst — Symbol of Calm & Clarity
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. Its color ranges from delicate lavender to deeper purple.
GIA identifies amethyst as the purple variety of quartz and notes its long history of cultural associations.
Traditional symbolism: Calm, clarity, peace, balance, and spirituality.
Why people love it: Amethyst offers an attractive purple color at a wide range of price points.
It has a Mohs hardness of about 7, making it suitable for many jewelry applications, although care is still important for rings worn frequently.
If you’re interested specifically in purple gemstones, you can also compare different varieties through a guide to purple vs. lavender amethyst.
6. Topaz — Symbol of Joy & Abundance
Topaz is a versatile gemstone that occurs in several colors, including blue, yellow, pink, and colorless varieties.
Blue topaz is particularly common in modern jewelry.
Traditional symbolism: Joy, abundance, prosperity, confidence, and good fortune.
Why people love it: Topaz offers attractive color and considerable variety.
It can work beautifully in rings, pendants, earrings, and statement jewelry, although its cleavage means it can be vulnerable to damage from sharp impacts.
7. Aquamarine — Symbol of Tranquility & Courage
Aquamarine is a blue to greenish-blue variety of beryl. Its name comes from Latin words associated with seawater. GIA identifies it as the blue to greenish-blue variety of beryl.
Traditional symbolism: Tranquility, courage, communication, clarity, and calm.
Why people love it: Its soft blue color creates an elegant, refreshing appearance.
Aquamarine is also relatively durable, making it a popular choice for rings and other everyday jewelry.
8. Opal — Symbol of Creativity & Hope
Opal is one of the most visually distinctive gemstones because precious opal can display play-of-color, producing flashes of different colors as the stone or light moves.
GIA explains that this effect results from the interaction of light with the microscopic structure of precious opal.
Traditional symbolism: Creativity, hope, imagination, inspiration, and individuality.
Why people love it: No two opals necessarily display exactly the same pattern of color.
Opal is softer than many popular ring gemstones, so it generally requires more careful handling.
For example, Australian and Ethiopian opals can have noticeably different appearances and characteristics; see the comparison of Australian opal vs. Ethiopian opal.
9. Garnet — Symbol of Energy & Vitality
Garnet is not a single mineral but a group of closely related minerals. Although many people picture a deep red garnet, garnets can occur in numerous colors.
GIA notes that garnets can be found in almost every color and that color is an important quality factor.
Traditional symbolism: Energy, vitality, passion, protection, and commitment.
Why people love it: Garnet provides a broad range of colors and styles.
Red garnet is also sometimes compared with ruby because of its similar appearance. You can explore the differences in red garnet vs. ruby.
10. Peridot — Symbol of Good Luck & Healing
Peridot is the yellow-green gem variety of olivine. Its distinctive lime to olive-green color makes it easy to recognize.
GIA describes peridot as a yellow-green variety of olivine and notes that it can form deep within Earth’s mantle as well as in other geological environments.
Traditional symbolism: Good luck, healing, protection, renewal, and positivity.
Why people love it: Peridot provides a naturally bright green color without relying on treatment to create its characteristic hue.
It is especially attractive in summer jewelry and designs featuring yellow or warm-toned metals.
11. Citrine — Symbol of Wealth & Positivity
Citrine is the yellow to golden variety of quartz.
Its colors can range from pale yellow to rich honey and orange-yellow.
Traditional symbolism: Wealth, positivity, happiness, confidence, and abundance.
Why people love it: Its warm golden color works particularly well with yellow gold.
GIA notes that citrine is the golden-yellow variety of quartz and that much of the citrine on the market is produced by heating amethyst.
12. Tanzanite — Symbol of Transformation & Growth
Tanzanite is a blue to violet variety of zoisite and is strongly associated with Tanzania, where it was discovered.
Its color can appear blue, violet, or a mixture of both depending on the stone and viewing conditions.
Traditional symbolism: Transformation, growth, intuition, and new perspectives.
Why people love it: Tanzanite offers a distinctive blue-violet color that differs from traditional sapphire.
GIA notes that northern Tanzania remains the world’s only known source of tanzanite and that the gemstone’s velvety purplish-blue appearance sets it apart.
13. Morganite — Symbol of Love & Compassion
Morganite is a pink to peach variety of beryl, placing it in the same mineral family as emerald and aquamarine.
Its soft pastel appearance has made it particularly popular in romantic jewelry designs.
Traditional symbolism: Love, compassion, tenderness, emotional connection, and harmony.
Why people love it: Morganite has a delicate appearance that pairs especially well with rose gold.
Its relatively soft pastel color also creates a distinctly feminine look without relying on traditional white gemstones.
14. Tourmaline — Symbol of Protection & Balance
Tourmaline is one of the most color-diverse gemstone groups.
It can occur in green, pink, red, blue, black, yellow, and multicolored combinations. Watermelon tourmaline, for example, can show green and pink zones in the same crystal.
Traditional symbolism: Protection, balance, grounding, creativity, and emotional stability.
Why people love it: Few gemstone families offer such a broad range of colors.
Tourmaline is an excellent option when you want something more individual than a traditional single-color gemstone.
15. Moonstone — Symbol of Intuition & New Beginnings
Moonstone is known for adularescence, a soft floating glow that can appear to move across the surface of the stone.
GIA identifies adularescence as the characteristic optical phenomenon associated with moonstone.
Traditional symbolism: Intuition, femininity, new beginnings, inner reflection, and emotional balance.
Why people love it: Its soft glow gives jewelry a dreamy, ethereal quality.
Moonstone is better suited to jewelry that receives less impact than a daily-wear engagement ring.
16. Lapis Lazuli — Symbol of Wisdom & Truth
Lapis lazuli is a deep blue rock rather than a single mineral species. It can contain flecks or patches of pyrite that create a striking contrast against the blue background.
Traditional symbolism: Wisdom, truth, communication, inner knowledge, and self-expression.
Why people love it: Its intense blue color has a distinctive appearance unlike most transparent gemstones.
Lapis lazuli works particularly well in cabochons, pendants, earrings, and statement jewelry.
17. Turquoise — Symbol of Healing & Protection
Turquoise is usually recognized by its blue to greenish-blue color and may contain dark matrix patterns.
Its copper content contributes to its characteristic coloration.
Traditional symbolism: Healing, protection, peace, good fortune, and connection.
Why people love it: Turquoise has a recognizable opaque appearance that gives jewelry a relaxed, artistic character.
Because turquoise is relatively soft and porous compared with many ring gemstones, it needs thoughtful care.
18. Jade — Symbol of Luck & Harmony
Jade generally refers to two different minerals used as gem materials: jadeite and nephrite.
It can occur in several colors, although rich green jade is among the most recognizable.
Traditional symbolism: Luck, harmony, protection, wisdom, and prosperity.
Why people love it: Jade has a long cultural history and is prized for both its color and toughness.
Unlike transparent faceted gemstones, jade is often carved or polished into smooth cabochons and ornamental forms.
19. Pearl — Symbol of Purity & Wisdom
Pearl is different from most gemstones because it forms inside a living mollusk rather than growing as a mineral crystal deep within the Earth.
Natural pearls are rare, while cultured pearls are intentionally cultivated.
Traditional symbolism: Purity, wisdom, elegance, femininity, and innocence.
Why people love it: Pearls have a soft luster and timeless appearance that works particularly well in classic jewelry.
Pearl is relatively soft compared with many gemstones, so it requires more care and is generally not the first choice for a high-impact everyday ring.
20. Onyx — Symbol of Strength & Confidence
Onyx is commonly associated with black jewelry, although onyx can technically occur in other colors and patterns.
Black onyx is particularly popular in men’s and women’s jewelry because of its sleek, understated appearance.
Traditional symbolism: Strength, confidence, protection, grounding, and self-control.
Why people love it: Black onyx creates strong contrast with both white and yellow metals.
It works especially well in modern, minimalist, and statement designs.
21. Zircon — Symbol of Success & Growth
Zircon is a natural gemstone that comes in a variety of colors, including blue, yellow, brown, orange, red, and colorless.
It should not be confused with cubic zirconia, which is a different material.
Traditional symbolism: Success, growth, wisdom, prosperity, and confidence.
Why people love it: Colorless zircon can provide impressive brilliance, while colored varieties offer additional personality.
Zircon is a particularly useful gemstone to know because its name is sometimes confused with diamond simulants.
22. Spinel — Symbol of Renewal & Inspiration
Spinel comes in a wide range of colors, including red, pink, blue, purple, orange, and black.
Red spinel can resemble ruby, which historically contributed to some famous gemstones being misidentified before modern gemological testing.
Traditional symbolism: Renewal, inspiration, energy, creativity, and resilience.
Why people love it: Spinel offers vibrant colors and strong durability without being as immediately familiar as ruby or sapphire.
It can be an excellent choice for someone who wants a distinctive colored gemstone.
23. Alexandrite — Symbol of Creativity & Balance
Alexandrite is famous for its color-changing ability.
Depending on the light source, a fine alexandrite can appear greenish to bluish-green in daylight and shift toward reddish or purplish tones under incandescent lighting.
GIA includes alexandrite among gemstones that can display notable optical phenomena.
Traditional symbolism: Creativity, balance, transformation, intuition, and individuality.
Why people love it: The color-change phenomenon makes every viewing experience slightly different.
Natural alexandrite is relatively rare, so it can command significant prices when quality is high.
24. Sunstone — Symbol of Positivity & Joy
Sunstone is known for aventurescence, a glittering optical effect created by reflective inclusions within the gemstone.
GIA identifies aventurescence as a phenomenon associated with sunstone.
Traditional symbolism: Positivity, joy, confidence, warmth, and vitality.
Why people love it: Its warm body colors and sparkling internal effect can make it look almost sunlit.
Sunstone can range from pale peach and orange to stronger reddish or greenish colors.
25. Labradorite — Symbol of Intuition & Protection
Labradorite is famous for labradorescence, an optical effect that can create flashes of blue, green, gold, orange, or violet.
GIA includes labradorite among gemstones that display distinctive optical phenomena.
Traditional symbolism: Intuition, protection, transformation, imagination, and self-discovery.
Why people love it: Its flashes can appear almost hidden until the stone catches the light at the right angle.
Labradorite is particularly popular in artistic and statement jewelry.
26. Quartz — Symbol of Healing & Love
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth, but several varieties are used as gemstones.
Amethyst and citrine are both varieties of quartz, while rose quartz is another well-known gem variety.
Traditional symbolism: Healing, love, clarity, balance, and energy.
Why people love it: Quartz offers tremendous variety, from clear colorless crystals to purple amethyst and soft pink rose quartz.
Its Mohs hardness of 7 makes many quartz varieties practical for jewelry, although they can still scratch or chip under rough use.
27. Agate — Symbol of Stability & Strength
Agate is a variety of chalcedony, which belongs to the quartz family.
It is often recognized by its bands, layers, and combinations of colors.
Traditional symbolism: Stability, strength, grounding, courage, and balance.
Why people love it: No two pieces necessarily look identical, making agate particularly appealing for artistic jewelry.
Agate is commonly polished as a cabochon rather than cut like a traditional transparent faceted gemstone.
28. Malachite — Symbol of Growth & Transformation
Malachite is a striking green mineral that often displays bands, swirls, and concentric patterns.
Its bold appearance makes it easy to recognize.
Traditional symbolism: Growth, transformation, protection, confidence, and renewal.
Why people love it: Malachite’s natural patterns can make each piece look like a miniature work of art.
Because malachite is relatively soft compared with many traditional jewelry gemstones, it is better suited to pieces where it will not receive repeated hard impacts.
29. Carnelian — Symbol of Creativity & Courage
Carnelian is a reddish-orange to orange-brown variety of chalcedony.
Its warm color can range from pale orange to deeper red.
Traditional symbolism: Creativity, courage, motivation, confidence, and vitality.
Why people love it: Carnelian has a warm, earthy appearance that works beautifully with yellow gold.
It is also durable enough for many jewelry applications when properly cared for.
30. Black Diamond — Symbol of Mystery & Resilience
Black diamonds are diamonds with a dark appearance caused primarily by numerous inclusions and, in some cases, treatments.
They can have a dramatically different appearance from traditional colorless diamonds.
Traditional symbolism: Mystery, resilience, strength, individuality, and confidence.
Why people love it: Black diamonds create a bold alternative to traditional white diamonds, especially in modern and unconventional engagement ring designs.
They can be paired with white diamonds for strong contrast or used alone for a minimalist black-and-white look.
How to Choose the Right Gemstone
Choosing a gemstone is about more than picking your favorite color.
Consider these factors before buying.
1. Think About the Jewelry Type
A gemstone for a pendant does not necessarily need the same durability as a gemstone for an engagement ring.
For rings that will be worn every day, hardness, toughness, cleavage, and durability deserve particular attention.
Harder gemstones are generally more resistant to scratching, but hardness does not tell the whole story. A gemstone can be hard and still be vulnerable to chipping or fracture.
2. Consider Your Favorite Color
Color is often the most immediate reason someone falls in love with a gemstone.
Popular choices include:
- Red: Ruby, garnet, spinel, carnelian
- Blue: Sapphire, aquamarine, topaz, tanzanite, turquoise
- Green: Emerald, peridot, jade, tourmaline, malachite
- Purple: Amethyst, tanzanite, sapphire, spinel
- Pink: Morganite, pink sapphire, tourmaline, spinel
- Yellow: Citrine, yellow sapphire, topaz, sunstone
- Black: Black diamond, onyx, black spinel
- Multicolor: Opal, tourmaline, labradorite, alexandrite
3. Check the Gemstone’s Hardness
The Mohs scale measures resistance to scratching from 1 to 10.
Diamond sits at 10. Ruby and sapphire are at 9, while quartz varieties such as amethyst and citrine are around 7.
But hardness should not be the only consideration.
For example, opal is considerably softer than sapphire, while emerald’s natural inclusions can affect its durability.
4. Ask Whether the Stone Is Natural or Treated
Gemstones may be:
- Natural
- Heat-treated
- Fracture-filled
- Diffusion-treated
- Dyed
- Laboratory-grown
- Synthetic
- Imitation
Treatment is not automatically a negative. Many treatments are accepted practices in the jewelry industry.
What matters is knowing what you are buying and whether the treatment affects care, durability, rarity, or value.
The Geological Survey of India, for example, notes that heat treatment is commonly used with gemstones such as ruby, sapphire, aquamarine, and tanzanite.
5. Consider the Setting
The gemstone is only one part of a ring.
The setting can influence how well the stone is protected.
For a more delicate gemstone, a protective setting such as a bezel may be worth considering. For a highly durable gemstone, prong settings can provide excellent visibility and light exposure.
If you’re learning about ring construction, it can help to understand why engagement rings have prongs.
6. Think About Your Lifestyle
Someone who works with their hands every day may need a different gemstone than someone who mainly wears jewelry for special occasions.
Ask yourself:
- Will I wear this ring every day?
- Do I work with my hands?
- Do I exercise while wearing jewelry?
- Am I comfortable with regular maintenance?
- Do I want a gemstone that can handle occasional impact?
- Am I willing to remove the piece during certain activities?
Lifestyle can be just as important as appearance.
Gemstone Meanings: What Do They Really Mean?
Gemstone symbolism has existed across many cultures for centuries.
Different traditions can assign completely different meanings to the same gemstone.
For example, GIA’s discussion of birthstones shows that gemstones have accumulated different cultural associations over time, including ideas of loyalty, hope, prosperity, peace, and endurance.
So if you choose a gemstone because it represents love, protection, wisdom, or prosperity, think of that association as personal or cultural symbolism, not a guaranteed property of the stone.
That distinction is particularly important with claims that gemstones can heal medical conditions or produce specific physical effects. There is no scientific basis for treating gemstone symbolism as a substitute for medical care.
Quick Gemstone Meaning Chart
| Gemstone | Traditional Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Diamond | Love & eternity |
| Ruby | Passion & power |
| Sapphire | Wisdom & royalty |
| Emerald | Love & renewal |
| Amethyst | Calm & clarity |
| Topaz | Joy & abundance |
| Aquamarine | Tranquility & courage |
| Opal | Creativity & hope |
| Garnet | Energy & vitality |
| Peridot | Good luck & healing |
| Citrine | Wealth & positivity |
| Tanzanite | Transformation & growth |
| Morganite | Love & compassion |
| Tourmaline | Protection & balance |
| Moonstone | Intuition & new beginnings |
| Lapis Lazuli | Wisdom & truth |
| Turquoise | Healing & protection |
| Jade | Luck & harmony |
| Pearl | Purity & wisdom |
| Onyx | Strength & confidence |
| Zircon | Success & growth |
| Spinel | Renewal & inspiration |
| Alexandrite | Creativity & balance |
| Sunstone | Positivity & joy |
| Labradorite | Intuition & protection |
| Quartz | Healing & love |
| Agate | Stability & strength |
| Malachite | Growth & transformation |
| Carnelian | Creativity & courage |
| Black Diamond | Mystery & resilience |
Which Gemstones Are Best for Engagement Rings?
There is no single gemstone that is right for every engagement ring.
If durability is your priority, diamond, ruby, and sapphire are particularly important options to consider because of their high hardness.
If color is the priority, you might consider:
- Blue: Sapphire or aquamarine
- Green: Emerald or green sapphire
- Pink: Morganite or pink sapphire
- Red: Ruby or red spinel
- Purple: Amethyst or purple sapphire
- Color-changing: Alexandrite
- Multicolor: Tourmaline or opal
- Black: Black diamond or onyx
For anyone considering a nontraditional engagement ring, gemstone choice can be an opportunity to create something more personal than a conventional colorless diamond design.
How to Care for Gemstone Jewelry
Different gemstones have different care requirements, so avoid treating every stone the same way.
A few general rules can help:
Keep softer gemstones away from hard impacts
Opal, pearl, turquoise, moonstone, and malachite require more care than very hard gemstones such as diamond, ruby, and sapphire.
Store gemstones separately
Harder gemstones can scratch softer ones when stored together.
Be careful with chemicals
Household cleaners, cosmetics, chlorine, and other chemicals can damage certain gemstones, treatments, or jewelry settings.
Know whether your gemstone can tolerate heat or ultrasonic cleaning
Some stones and treatments should not be exposed to ultrasonic cleaners or sudden temperature changes.
When in doubt, ask a qualified jeweler about the specific gemstone and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gemstones
How many types of gemstones are there?
There is no single universally agreed number.
The gemstone world contains hundreds of recognized gem materials, varieties, and trade names. GIA’s Gem Encyclopedia itself covers a broad selection of individual gemstones rather than limiting the category to a small fixed list.
This guide focuses on 30 gemstones that are particularly useful to know for jewelry and gemstone buying.
What are the four traditional precious gemstones?
The traditional four are:
- Diamond
- Ruby
- Sapphire
- Emerald
However, “precious” does not automatically mean more valuable than every other gemstone. Individual stone quality, rarity, color, size, treatment, origin, and demand can have a much greater effect on value.
What is the hardest gemstone?
Diamond is the hardest natural gemstone on the Mohs hardness scale, with a rating of 10.
Ruby and sapphire are also exceptionally hard at 9.
What is the difference between sapphire and ruby?
Ruby and sapphire are both varieties of corundum.
Red corundum is ruby. Other gem-quality corundum colors are classified as sapphire.
Is quartz a gemstone?
Yes. Quartz is a mineral family that includes several important gemstone varieties.
Amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz are examples.
Is pearl a gemstone?
Yes. Pearl is considered an organic gem material rather than a mineral crystal.
It forms within mollusks, which makes it fundamentally different from gemstones such as diamond, sapphire, and ruby.
Is black diamond a real diamond?
Yes. Black diamonds are genuine diamonds with a dark appearance. Their color can result from abundant inclusions, while some black diamonds available in jewelry have been treated to achieve their appearance.
Which gemstones are good for everyday rings?
Diamond, ruby, and sapphire are among the most durable choices for everyday rings.
Other gemstones can also be used in rings, but their hardness, toughness, cleavage, inclusions, and care requirements should be considered before choosing them for constant wear.
Do gemstones really have healing powers?
Gemstones have many traditional associations with healing, protection, energy, and emotional well-being.
However, these are cultural or spiritual beliefs rather than scientifically established medical effects. Gemstones should not be used as a replacement for professional medical treatment.
Final Thoughts
The world of gemstones is much larger than the traditional diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald.
Whether you’re attracted to the rich green of emerald, the fiery red of ruby, the shifting colors of opal, the glow of moonstone, or the unusual color change of alexandrite, every gemstone brings a different combination of color, durability, history, and symbolism.
The best gemstone is ultimately the one that fits your jewelry style, lifestyle, budget, and personal meaning.
And if you’re choosing a gemstone for an engagement ring, don’t look at symbolism alone. Consider durability, treatment, setting, maintenance, and how the stone will look after years of wear. Those practical details can be just as important as the color that first caught your eye.
