Color surrounds us, impacting our emotions and feelings. Color sends a message, conveying information at a quick glance, such as red for stop and green for go. Most of us have a color, or maybe two, that we really love. Those color preferences may influence the clothes we wear, the hue of paint on our walls and even the gemstones that we choose to adorn ourselves. Colored gemstone jewelry helps us express our personality, whether it’s worn as an engagement ring, or as a fashion statement, color talks and we listen. So let’s take a look at the meaning behind some favored colors, courtesy Colorpsychology.org.
Beautiful Blue
One of the most popular of all colors, blue has many hues from pale sky blue to deep indigo. According to Colorpsychology.org, people who like blue tend to be self-confident, loyal and calm, while at the same time being good listeners and great partners. If you’re looking for a blue gemstone, you’ll find plenty of beautiful choices.
You can opt to go with the rich blue of sapphire or the cool shades of aquamarine. Blue sapphire is one of the most popular of the colored gemstones. If you’re looking for an alternative to a diamond for an engagement ring, blue sapphire is a great choice because it is a very hard gem, making it ideal for daily wear. If you like blue with a hint of green, aquamarine is the way to go. The color of this gem tends to be a lighter blue, like the sky or ocean. Aquamarine comes in large sizes and it’s icy cool tones are just right for a cocktail ring.
Racy Red
The high octane power of red will make you sit up and take notice. It’s a bold color that gets attention and says “look at me.” Red is the color of love and romance and it is also considered a lucky color. Colorpsychology.org says that if you like red, you are energetic, enthusiastic, charismatic and optimistic. Ruby, spinel and garnet are all warm reds that will add a pop of wow to anything you’re wearing.
Ruby is one of the most prized of all gemstones. Known as “The King of Gemstones”, ruby represents love and passion. It’s perfect for an engagement ring because it is a strong gem that can be worn daily. Spinel comes in a variety of colors, but the red version is so compelling that it has been mistaken for ruby. The Black Prince’s Ruby, which is in the Imperial State Crown, that is part of the British Crown jewels is actually a spinel that was thought to be a ruby before its true identity was discovered. Garnet comes in a wide range of colors, but is mostly associated with red. Garnet is a favored gemstone in Victorian jewelry and its deep red is more similar to a warm burgundy. It’s also readily available at an accessible price point.
Vibrant Yellow
One of the most vibrant colors, yellow harnesses the power of the sun and is a joyous, bright color that uplifts your mood. Colorpsychology.org notes that people who are attracted to yellow tend to be friendly, happy, cheerful and fun. Yellow diamonds and yellow sapphires are both lovely ways to wear the hue.
Diamonds come in a range of colors, with yellow being one of them. These sunny gems sparkle like any other diamond and are also hard and strong so they are easily worn daily. Sapphires also come in a wide variety of colors including yellow.
Serene Green
Do you gravitate towards green? Known to be relaxing, soothing and connected to nature, green shows others that you are intelligent, independent, diplomatic and harmonious, according to Colorpsychology.org. Some great green gemstones are emerald, green tourmaline and demantoid garnet.
When it comes to green gemstones, the verdant shades of emeralds come to mind. Emeralds are one of the most popular colored gemstones, but they come with a caveat: Emeralds are delicate and while they can certainly be worn in a ring, they are better suited to a cocktail ring worn on special occasions, than to an engagement ring that may be worn daily. Emeralds are fabulous in earrings or pendants as well. Tourmaline comes in several colors and green is one of them. It’s readily available and strong enough for daily wear. Demantoid garnet is a bright green gem with a lot of sparkle. It’s quite rare and is usually found in smaller sizes, often in vintage jewelry.
Extravagant Purple
Are you passionate about purple? The opulence of purple, often associated with royalty, conveys luxury and sophistication. It is also linked to spirituality and connecting with higher powers. Colorpsychology.org notes that those who love purple tend to be creative and imaginative. Amethyst and purple sapphire are two gems that embody this hue. Amethyst, which is a form of quartz, is frequently found in antique and vintage jewelry, while purple sapphire is a much more rare and expensive gem that you’re more likely to find in a modern jewel.
There are many more colors not covered in this blog, but follow what you love and let your favorite color, or colors guide you, when you’re buying colored gemstone jewelry. Whether it’s a ring, pendant or earrings, If you’re buying for yourself, you’ll probably find that you’re irresistibly drawn to the colors that you love. If you’re buying a gift for someone else, gifting them with a jewel in their favorite hue will set you apart as a gift giver extraordinaire.
Top of Page: Diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire, pearl and 18-karat gold bracelet, circa 1875.
Diamond, blue sapphire and platinum ring; Georgian era garnet and 9-karat gold bracelet and necklace set; Yellow diamond, white diamond, 18-karat yellow gold and platinum earrings; Colombian emerald, diamond and platinum Edwardian era ring; Siberian amethyst, diamond, 18-karat gold and platinum Edwardian era brooch.
Authored by Amber Michelle