Gemstone Colours: Choose by Colour
ZGEMS GEMSTONE EDUCATION · COLOURS
Explore gemstone colours using our 10-image selector, learn about hue, tone and saturation, and compare shades before choosing a stone for your jewellery.
From rich blue and emerald green to soft pink and vivid orange, find a colour you love and see how it can look in different gemstone varieties, lighting and cuts.
Choose a gemstone by colour
Select a colour below to jump to matching gemstones and a relevant ZGems collection or enquiry page. This chart is a visual guide, not a mineral identification test or a promise of current stock.
Image guide: Eight colours show photographs from existing ZGems product listings. Pink and orange use AI-generated round-cut gemstone illustrations on white backgrounds because matching products are not currently listed. Illustrations are not photographs or offers of actual ZGems stones. Images show colour possibilities, not necessarily the exact individual stone supplied. Colours may vary with lighting and screen settings.
White & Clear
Bright, transparent or near-colourless
Gemstone examples: Diamond, colourless sapphire, colourless topaz.
A colourless look does not tell you whether a stone is diamond or a different gem.
Shop lab-grown diamonds ↗Red
Rich crimson through pinkish red
Gemstone examples: Ruby, red spinel, red garnet.
Ruby is the red variety of corundum. Similar-looking red gems can be different minerals.
Shop lab-grown rubies ↗Pink
Soft blush to strong rose
Gemstone examples: Pink sapphire, morganite, pink spinel, rose quartz.
These are common examples, not a claim that every one is currently stocked.
Enquire about pink gemstones ↗Pink-Orange
Peach, salmon and sunset tones
Gemstone examples: Padparadscha-colour sapphire, peach morganite, some sunstone.
Colour terms describe appearance; a trade name alone is not a laboratory grade.
Shop lab-grown padparadscha-colour sapphires ↗Orange
Amber, tangerine and warm orange
Gemstone examples: Spessartine garnet, citrine, sunstone, some topaz.
Some orange gems show brown or reddish secondary hues.
Ask us to source an orange gemstone ↗Yellow & Gold
Lemon yellow through golden tones
Gemstone examples: Yellow sapphire, citrine, heliodor, yellow topaz.
Look at hue, brightness and warmth rather than assuming deeper yellow is always better.
Shop lab-grown yellow sapphires ↗Green
Forest, emerald and fresh green
Gemstone examples: Emerald, peridot, tsavorite, green tourmaline.
Green colour alone does not establish gemstone origin.
Shop lab-grown emeralds ↗Teal & Aqua
Turquoise blue, lagoon and blue-green
Gemstone examples: Teal sapphire, aquamarine, natural Paraíba tourmaline, Paraiba-colour gems.
Paraiba-colour describes an appearance, not proof of natural Paraíba tourmaline identity.
Shop ZGems Paraiba-colour gemstones ↗Blue
Royal blue, denim and sky blue
Gemstone examples: Blue sapphire, aquamarine, blue topaz, tanzanite.
Some blue stones have a violet or green secondary hue. Compare lighting.
Shop lab-grown royal blue sapphires ↗Purple & Violet
Lilac, violet and deep purple
Gemstone examples: Amethyst, purple sapphire, purple spinel, some tanzanite.
Purple and violet can appear different under daylight and indoor lighting.
Shop lab-grown purple sapphires ↗Hue, tone and saturation explained
- Hue
- The main colour and any secondary colour, such as blue with a violet component.
- Tone
- How light or dark the colour appears.
- Saturation
- The strength or intensity of the colour.
These three dimensions are explained in GIA: Colored Gemstone Value Factors. More saturation is not automatically your best choice: consider brightness, transparency and the way the colour suits the piece you are planning.
Compare colour under more than one light
Ask for a view of your shortlisted stone in diffuse daylight and indoor lighting, ideally against a neutral background. Look at the whole face of the stone, then tilt it gently. Compare whether its colour remains appealing as the bright and dark areas move.
Screens, exposure settings and surrounding colours can change how a photograph looks. If matching an existing piece or a pair of earrings, explain that requirement and ask how the actual stones will be compared. A single catalogue image is not a precise colour standard.
How to choose a gemstone colour
- Start with the colour you love. Browse the ten-image chart to shortlist two or three shades.
- Compare hue, tone and saturation. Use the colour infographic to understand whether you prefer lighter, darker, warmer or cooler appearances.
- Look at different lighting. Check the selected stone in daylight and indoor light, not just one catalogue photo.
- Consider shape and setting. The cut, stone dimensions and jewellery metal can change how colour appears face-up.
- Confirm your chosen colour. Ask for the actual stone's photos or video and agree on the colour you want before custom work begins.
Ready to make a piece? Explore custom jewellery design or tell us the colour you have in mind.
Frequently asked colour questions
Can different gemstones share the same colour?
Yes. For example, blue can appear in sapphire, topaz and aquamarine. The chart helps you explore appearance, but colour alone does not identify a gem.
Why does a gemstone colour look different in photographs?
Lighting, camera settings, surrounding colours and your screen all influence appearance. Compare the selected stone in more than one lighting condition.
Is the darkest gemstone always best?
No. Very dark stones can show less visible colour. Compare face-up brightness as well as depth of colour.
What does pink-orange or Paraiba-colour describe?
These terms describe a colour appearance; they do not by themselves establish mineral identity, treatment or geographic origin. See the Paraiba-colour guide for that distinction.
Are all the stones pictured available to purchase?
No. Eight colour images are ZGems catalogue examples, while the pink and orange round-cut images are AI-generated illustrations. Use the collection links or enquire for availability.
Does a gemstone colour name guarantee a laboratory grade?
No. Collection and trade colour names are not grading reports. Confirm any specific grade and its supporting documentation before buying.
Continue exploring gemstone guides
Further reading:
The colour chart is educational. Actual stone colours, availability, photos, treatments and any reports should be confirmed before ordering.