Little Known Gemstones

Most of us are familiar with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires - the so-called "precious' gemstones. And many of us are familiar with "semi-precious" gemstones such as Peridot, amethyst, citrine, tourmaline and garnet. Beyond these there is a vast array of interesting and beautiful gemstones not frequently used in jewelry. Here are just a few.

Azurite, a soft blue mineral, is found in copper deposits deep in the earth. It is an opaque stone usually cut in cabochons or beads and not faceted. It is believed to clear stress, worry, and sadness.

Fluorite comes in pastel pinks, greens, blues and purples often with more than one color in a stone. It is transparent to translucent and may be found as beads, nuggets or faceted gems. It is thought to raise the power of concentration.

Azurite with Malachite

Kunzite is an icy pink to lilac gemstone and can be found in beads as well as faceted gemstones. It was discovered in the early Twentieth Century and is named for George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany's legendary gemologist and gemstone author. Its soft pastel colors symbolize purity.

Kyanite, a shimmery transparent to translucent stone, is most commonly found in shades of blue and green. its crystals are long blades or columns and because of this structure it is very hard to facet. Therefore kyanite is most often formed into beads or cabochons. It is thought to inspire calmness, composure, serenity, loyalty and respect.

Larvikite Pendant

Larvikite is a dark bluish gray stone with silvery light blue reflections and flecks of black. It only occurs in the Oslo-rift near Larvik, Norway. It is also called "Norwegian Moonstone" and "black labradorite." In addition to its use in jewelry, Larvikite is also used as a facing stone on buildings. It is believed to enhance psychic abilities.

​For more about these and other gemstones, explore Jewelry Facets.