A close-up arrangement of faceted gemstones in multiple colors, including pink, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple, set against a dark reflective background.

Gemstone Education

Colored gemstones bring personality, meaning, and beautiful color to fine jewelry. This guide will help you understand what to consider when choosing a gemstone, which stones are better suited for everyday wear and engagement rings, and how birthstones can make a gift feel even more personal.

At Moore Jewelers, we believe a little knowledge can make choosing the right gemstone feel much easier. Our team is here to answer your questions, help you compare stones, and guide you toward something that fits your style, your lifestyle, and the meaning behind the piece.
Faceted red gemstones in various shapes arranged on a dark surface, with a large oval-cut stone in the center and several smaller red stones around it.

What Should You Know About Colored Gemstones?

Colored gemstones offer an incredible range of possibilities for creating jewelry that feels personal. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, aquamarines, garnets, amethysts, opals, and many other gemstones each have their own colors, characteristics, and care considerations.

Color may be what first catches your eye, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration. Durability, treatments, care requirements, setting style, and how often you plan to wear the piece can all influence which gemstone makes sense for you. That becomes especially important when choosing a colored gemstone for a ring you plan to wear every day.

Which Gemstones Are Best for Engagement Rings?

A gemstone engagement ring is distinctive and personal. Before selecting a center stone, it’s important to understand how well that gemstone is suited to regular wear.

The Mohs scale of hardness measures a gemstone’s resistance to scratching on a scale from 1 to 10, with diamond ranking at 10. Hardness is an important consideration for an engagement ring, but it isn’t the complete picture. A gemstone’s resistance to chipping and its sensitivity to factors such as heat and chemicals can matter, too.
Two rough emerald-cut green gemstones resting on a person's hand, shown in color against a grayscale background of fingers and palms.

Durable Gemstones for Engagement Rings

Sapphire and ruby are particularly appealing colored gemstone options for engagement rings. Both rank 9 on the Mohs scale, giving them excellent resistance to scratching for jewelry worn regularly.

Sapphire also gives you much more than its signature blue. Depending on the stone, sapphires can appear in pink, yellow, green, orange, purple, and other beautiful colors.

Other gemstones may also work in an engagement ring when selected with your lifestyle and expectations in mind. Aquamarine, for example, ranks 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. The right setting can also help protect a gemstone from everyday bumps and wear.
A silver ring featuring a large, oval, iridescent light pink cabochon gemstone, set on a textured dark brown wooden surface.

Gemstones That Require Extra Care

Some beautiful gemstones require more consideration before being chosen for an everyday engagement ring. Opal, for example, ranks approximately 5–6.5 on the Mohs scale and is more vulnerable to scratches and damage than diamond, sapphire, or ruby. An opal ring can still be beautiful, but it requires greater care and may benefit from a protective setting.

If you’ve fallen in love with a particular colored gemstone, talk with us before ruling it in or out. We can help you understand its characteristics, discuss how you plan to wear your ring, and explore settings that may offer additional protection.

What Is My Birthstone? Birthstones by Month

Birthstone jewelry makes a gift immediately feel more personal. A birthstone can celebrate your own birthday, represent a child or loved one, or bring meaningful color into a piece of fine jewelry. Explore the birthstones for each month below.
A faceted round gemstone with a geometric polygonal cut, displaying a gradient of deep red, magenta, and light pink facets, shown on a white background with a soft drop shadow.

January Birthstone

Garnet

Best known for rich red tones, garnet can also occur in green, orange, purple, pink, brown, and other colors. It’s a distinctive way to celebrate a January birthday.
A faceted shield-shaped gemstone or crystal rendered in shades of purple and violet on a plain white background with a soft shadow underneath.

February Birthstone

Amethyst

Amethyst is loved for its purple color, ranging from soft lilac to deep violet. Its recognizable color makes it a beautiful choice for earrings, pendants, and rings.
A faceted oval-cut gemstone in shades of light and medium blue, shown on a plain white background with a soft shadow underneath.

March Birthstone

Aquamarine

Ocean-inspired aquamarine takes its soft blue to blue-green color from the seas. Its fresh, serene appearance works beautifully in classic and contemporary jewelry.
A round brilliant-cut diamond gemstone with intricate faceted reflections in shades of white, gray, black, and subtle blue and beige tones, shown on a clean white background with a soft drop shadow.

April Birthstone

Diamond

April’s birthstone is one of jewelry’s most enduring favorites. Diamonds are treasured for their brilliance and durability and work beautifully in everyday jewelry as well as milestone pieces.
A rectangular emerald-cut gemstone with faceted edges, shown in shades of green and teal with a light mint center, isolated on a white background with a soft shadow.

May Birthstone

Emerald

Emerald is celebrated for its unmistakable green color. Natural inclusions are common in emeralds and can contribute to the individual character of each stone.
Three gemstone-like objects on a black background: a large faceted oval blue-green stone in the center, a smooth white pearl on the lower left, and a polished iridescent blue stone on the lower right.

June Birthstone

Pearl, Alexandrite, & Moonstone

June offers several choices. Pearls bring timeless elegance, moonstone is known for its distinctive glow, and alexandrite is prized for its color-changing appearance.
A faceted round gemstone rendered in shades of deep red, magenta, and pink, centered on a light gray background with a soft shadow below.

July Birthstone

Ruby

Ruby’s vibrant red has made it one of the world’s most recognizable gemstones. Its excellent hardness also makes it well suited to jewelry intended for regular wear.
A faceted green gemstone or crystal cut in a square shape with rounded corners, shown on a white background with a soft drop shadow.

August Birthstone

Peridot

Peridot is an eye-catching choice for fashion jewelry with a yellow-green quality that sets it apart from other gemstones.
A faceted round gemstone rendered in shades of deep blue, royal blue, and violet, floating on a light gray background with a soft shadow underneath.

September Birthstone

Sapphire

Blue is the most common color for sapphire, but this durable gemstone occurs in a beautiful range of hues. Its combination of color and hardness also makes it popular for engagement rings.
Two decorative glass marbles, one faceted and one smooth, in shades of blue, green, and white, set against a plain white background.

October Birthstone

Opal & Tourmaline

October offers plenty of color. Opal is celebrated for its play-of-color, while tourmaline comes in a variety of shades, including popular pink and green tones.
Two faceted gemstones on a white background: one oval orange stone with yellow and red facets, and one rounded square yellow stone with bright gold and white highlights.

November Birthstone

Citrine & Topaz

November offers warm seasonal color and plenty of variety. Citrine comes in a spectrum of yellow and orange hues, while topaz ranges from colorless to pale yellow to light blue treated stones.
Three blue gemstones shown on a white background: a square faceted cut stone, a round turquoise-like stone with visible cracks, and a faceted oval stone in shades of blue and purple.

December Birthstone

Turquoise, Tanzanite, & Zircon

December has three distinctive birthstones. Turquoise is known for blue-green color, tanzanite for blue-to-violet hues, and zircon for impressive brilliance and a broad range of colors.

Find the Gemstone That Feels Right for You

Learning about gemstone color, durability, and care gives you a helpful starting point. Seeing different stones in person can help you appreciate what makes each one unique.

At Moore Jewelers, we’ve been helping the Laredo community celebrate meaningful moments with fine jewelry since 1982. Our team will take the time to answer your questions, compare gemstone options, and help you consider how a stone’s beauty and characteristics fit your style and lifestyle.

Come see us in Laredo to explore gemstones at your own pace. We’ll help you find a stone that feels personal, beautiful, and right for the piece you have in mind.
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