Why do you love Coloured Gemstones?

[Skyjems]

I have my own reasons, but to imagine that everyone else has the same reasons for loving gems would be hubris at best!

So, what is it? The history? The look? The colours? The bling?

 

[dk168]

The variety of colours they offer, and affordability, to suit every taste and budget.

A good example is purple CSs - Amethyst is more affordable than purple Sapphire for the same kind of look without spending the money, good for those like myself who earn beer money with champagne taste (not a good analogy as I actually prefer beers to sparkling wines of any type).

And I love colours in real life.

DK

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

I started out simply fascinated that such a variety of colors actually appear from the ground. Although there isn't a gemstone that I do not like, I definitely favor the ones that tend to be untreated such as spinel and garnet, and I love the fact that these two types come in so many different colors too. Being on PS now has exposed me to other stones I never knew about, as well as shown me how to appreciate the precious three. I realize now that because I mostly have only seen mall jewelry in real life and not true gemmy gems. Other members here have blown me away with their jewels, and I finally get it.

But to sum up my gemstone love i can refer to my son's recent statement when looking at my opal, "Cavemen must have thought God was speaking to them when they found them." I feel that, lol.

 

[Begonia]

I adore all CS but color has always deeply affected my mood. I carefully choose what to wear based on my emotional state. There are some colors I can't wear altho they look good on me. The same with colored stones. The only (precious) one I feel I can wear is a blue sapphire, but haven't found my stone yet. We may never find each other, but at least I know what to stay away from.

 

[JackTrick]

Originally aesthetics and color. But more the fact that it's such an amazing combination of art, math, science, history, and geology. Simply fascinating stuff.

Pretty too

 

[Roselina]

I’m a diamond girl, knowing little about coloured stones. However, I love them. Mainly because I find it unbelievable what colours nature can create. It’s simply amazing!

 

[Bron357]

Ah, been in love with the pretties since I was a toddler. My first “gem collection” was a heap of different colour foils, the wrappers from chocolates!
Opals are my favourite because they are so magical. They can have every colour of the rainbow, no two are the same and they are extracted from the earth in all their amazing natural beauty.
Next are colour change gems, also amazing. Who would have thought that a change of light frequency changes the colour. Two looks for the price of one!
Rubies. Rubies are intriguing. In sunlight they glow, literally. So vivid.
All coloured gems are amazing quirks of nature and without any real “purpose” we love them for their beauty.

 

[LIGemzGal]

When I was in my 20s, it was all about gold jewelry. I was obsessed with weight, carat content, whether it was a signed piece or not, etc. Over the years I learned to recognize well made gold jewelry and developed my own set of buying criteria as a result. In my 30s I moved past gold and it became all about diamonds.This started when I got engaged and got "the diamond" (at that time the ring was a RB H&A H VS2). My love of high quality gold jewelry easily translated over to high quality diamonds. I began to research and learn as much as I could. But diamonds, quality diamonds, were definitely in a price stratosphere that my wallet couldn't realistically support, although I tried. In my 40s I started to get somewhat bored with diamonds and frustrated with their exorbitant price. I stumbled upon the 1st Dibs website one day and marvelled at the array of colored stone jewelry. That was the jumping off point for my interest in colored gemstones. My favorite colored gemstones by far are yellow and pink sapphire, but the array of other colored stones available, those which are naturally made by the earth, are so fascinating to me. The depth and richness of the colors is spectacular. I'm yearning for an emerald in the worst way. I cant wait to get my black spinel project going. There's so many fun jewelry options that can be done with colored gemstones. And there's nothing like the optics that are produced by a well cut stone.

 

[FL_Sol]

I learned to love colored gems a few short years ago when my son insisted we went "gem panning" in the North GA Mountains. He found some beautifully colored red and green garnet remnants that we sent out and had cut. They ended up just short of 4mm were very sparkly when we received them and the sentimental value struck a chord with my heart. I made a bracelet with them and never take it off. I remember his little hands digging through the dirt to find them and I LOVE the memories.
Now I am trying to make a bracelet that looks nearly identical to the most memorable sunset my husband, son and I witnessed on a camping trip.
For me colored gemstones represent my family and the moments together.

 

[Big Fat Facets]

the colors. ALL the pretty colors. all the pretty colors one can imagine and then some more ...

for me, eye clean, natural, unheated, untreated, no oil, please

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Despite not owning a PS worthy diamond i read this thread and know i have a place here with all of you

I have found for the $$$ one can have a lot of fun with coloured gemstones

Im a blue and green girl but i have tentatively branched out into yellow (citrine) and even shock horror red (garnet)
I must say i still like my colours to keep company with diamonds but the more time im here looking at your beauriful collections the more adventurous i will become to let a semi precious gemstone shine on her own

 

[elle_71125]

The colors!! I love color in everything. My wardrobe is colorful. My house is colorful. My personality is colorful. It only makes sense that I have a colorful gemstone collection too.

One of my favofavorite parts of CS gems is the variety. I love being able to pick a colored ring to match my outfit or my feelings. It’s a pretty great perk of being a CS lover.

 

[2Neesers]

To me, colored stones are a natural wonder. It amazes me that all of these beautiful colors come from the earth. Geology and how rocks and gems are formed fascinates me. The supply chain and what it takes from the time the stone is pulled from the earth, to when it becomes a sparkling faceted gem is also incredible. There is so much more to these stones than what we see on the surface!
Once I have the finished stone in my hands, besides their obvious beauty, I find them to be a great escape from reality. If even just for a short moment, gazing upon certain colored stones takes me to a place of calm and relaxation. Is it cheaper than therapy to learn to manage stress and worry? I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s much more enjoyable .

 

[Bron357]

To me, colored stones are a natural wonder. It amazes me that all of these beautiful colors come from the earth. Geology and how rocks and gems are formed fascinates me. The supply chain and what it takes from the time the stone is pulled from the earth, to when it becomes a sparkling faceted gem is also incredible. There is so much more to these stones than what we see on the surface!
Once I have the finished stone in my hands, besides their obvious beauty, I find them to be a great escape from reality. If even just for a short moment, gazing upon certain colored stones takes me to a place of calm and relaxation. Is it cheaper than therapy to learn to manage stress and worry? I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s much more enjoyable .

Yes, yes, yes.
not a fan of “crystal” therapy but fully subscribe to “gem gazing” therapy.
for me, sitting outside in the sunshine and admiring the colourful sparkles of diamonds or the intense glow of a ruby or the multiple colours that move about on Opals, sigh, feeling better already.

 

[icy_jade]

As others have mentioned I too find it amazing that gems are naturally created like that (apart from being cut and polished). So beautiful to look at. Like a miracle of nature.

 

[Nick_G]

To me, colored stones are a natural wonder. It amazes me that all of these beautiful colors come from the earth. Geology and how rocks and gems are formed fascinates me. The supply chain and what it takes from the time the stone is pulled from the earth, to when it becomes a sparkling faceted gem is also incredible. There is so much more to these stones than what we see on the surface!
Once I have the finished stone in my hands, besides their obvious beauty, I find them to be a great escape from reality. If even just for a short moment, gazing upon certain colored stones takes me to a place of calm and relaxation. Is it cheaper than therapy to learn to manage stress and worry? I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s much more enjoyable .

Same here, but I prefer them in their natural crystalline state. These truly are works of art by Mother Nature. Here's an example. a beautiful gemmy spinel crystal embedded in the marble in which it grew, with a juicy colour like pink grapefruit:

 

[Bluemuse]

Oh gosh, let me count the ways- luscious colors, inclusions, science, stars, silky smooth surfaces, variety, nuance in tones, so much to learn and explore.

I am naturally drawn to color in everything-nature, decor, art, objects, fabric. Color just calls my name, especially the blues and greens. They are a natural mood elevator for me. I have an immediate visceral reaction to them.

The more I learn about colored stones the more I appreciate them, especially untreated stones that are born extravagantly beautiful right out of the earth. I have limited funds, so I am happy to live vicariously through others, especially here on PS.
Sapphires are my favorite, followed by an equal love of ruby and emerald. The more I learn about other stones like spinel, tourmaline and garnet, the more I see why so many love them. I have some of all of the above mostly in the form of rings, so my eyes I can soak in that glorious color.

This quote expresses why I am hopelessly drawn to colored stones.
I guess they appeal to the dreamer in me.

“All the luminous the colored spectacles which the world in the immensity of space can offer us, nature has produced in miniature amongst precious stones.”
-Charles Blanc, Art in Ornament and Dress, 1875

Case in point...

My sapphire masquerading as a midnight moonscape.
Colored stones can be downright magical.

 

[Sunshinelab]

When I was very young I started collecting rocks, fossils, and of course sparkling gems... I’ve always loved antique jewelry too (it falls into the sparkly category). It wasn’t until my love of science, met my love of the earth, it’s processes, etc., which met my love of crystals, physics, chemistry, math, energy, and poof I decided that geology was the path for me. After my degree, years teaching, and a whole lot of life sandwiched in, I still have a love of colored stones and crystals. I have a collection of jewelry, loose stones and crystals. I absolutely cherish all the relationships I’ve made on this path, even more than the beautiful gems.

 

[LilAlex]

When I was very young I started collecting rocks, fossils, and of course sparkling gems... I’ve always loved antique jewelry too (it falls into the sparkly category). It wasn’t until my love of science, met my love of the earth, it’s processes, etc., which met my love of crystals, physics, chemistry, math, energy, and poof I decided that geology was the path for me. After my degree, years teaching, and a whole lot of life sandwiched in, I still have a love of colored stones and crystals. I have a collection of jewelry, loose stones and crystals. I absolutely cherish all the relationships I’ve made on this path, even more than the beautiful gems.

all this! Except: not a geologist.

Didn't a vendor post the identical question about a year ago...?

 

[Sunshinelab]

all this! Except: not a geologist.

Didn't a vendor post the identical question about a year ago...?

I remember that someone did... I know I’ve answered before.

 

[Lexililac]

I love gems because of their beauty. Some gems or gem crystals have such a unique, rare and perfect combination of many factors that creates something beyond beauty. Something like a personality. They touch me. Such stones can let feelings coming up in me that I never felt before. Often it feels for me kind of that it is a part of me or Im part of that feeling that always is and was. Kind of timeless, endless, universal, something always is and was. Fusion with that.

A well cut D color diamond can be impressive and breathtaking but never touched me that way as it is far to simple and somehow bores me quickly and never touched me deeper so far.

 

[Lexililac]

Just an across picking from few gems that I like. The last one is a pink sapphire with a blue color zoning line across the stone. Clean and over 3ct. Unfortunately not to catch by camera. Looks way better and clearer the line and color in person. In yellow light the blue line disapear and the color shift to a warmer intense reddish pink.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

@Lexililac, what's the white stone? It's lovely.

 

[Lexililac]

@Lexililac, what's the white stone? It's lovely.

All of them are untreated corundums (ruby/sapphire)

 

[Arcadian]

I got bit by the big at 14 years of age. Mined my first quartz and have been in love ever since.

 

[jordyonbass]

I don't know if I can put it into words better than many people that have commented on this thread.

The way the geological formations make the gems was what interested me first, then it became an endless rabbit hole from there to the point where I'm now in the trade, cutting Opals. If I had a Crystal Ball and saw that in my future 10 years ago - I would have laughed and shotput the thing

 

[MMtwo]

My dad took me to rock shows as a kid. He was a scientist and loved rocks. I'm a daddy's girl. My Uncle was a jeweler, and my aunt had fabulous gems. When I was a teen, I remember her diamonds spraying colors across the car roof.

Gems are the magic of childhood.

 

[Bluemuse]

Just an across picking from few gems that I like. The last one is a pink sapphire with a blue color zoning line across the stone. Clean and over 3ct. Unfortunately not to catch by camera. Looks way better and clearer the line and color in person. In yellow light the blue line disapear and the color shift to a warmer intense reddish pink.

Those are beautiful specimens! The first and last faceted sapphires are so pretty. As is the white one. I love the opalescent appearance of those and the first blue color is amazing!
I have one sapphire that has that unique opaline quality. I’m not sure what creates that effect. I’m guessing it’s certain types of inclusions?
The pink with the streak of blue running through is really cool!
Thanks for sharing such interesting stones!

 

[Polyhex]

The variety of colours they offer, and affordability, to suit every taste and budget.

A good example is purple CSs - Amethyst is more affordable than purple Sapphire for the same kind of look without spending the money, good for those like myself who earn beer money with champagne taste (not a good analogy as I actually prefer beers to sparkling wines of any type).

And I love colours in real life.

DK

This is a super great point, the democratic nature of colored stones where beauty does not have to be gated by price. This citrine is a great example, it was $115 for a 7 carat stone but I feel the color and cut rival any yellow stone!

 

[Nick_G]

Just an across picking from few gems that I like. The last one is a pink sapphire with a blue color zoning line across the stone. Clean and over 3ct. Unfortunately not to catch by camera. Looks way better and clearer the line and color in person. In yellow light the blue line disapear and the color shift to a warmer intense reddish pink.

Beautiful stones!

Is that cluster of ruby crystals from Vietnam?