Gemstone Families

There may be surprising relatives hiding in your jewelry box

A ruby and a sapphire might look like completely different gems, but they have more in common than you think. And they aren’t the only unexpected relatives in the jewelry world. Some of our favorite stones belong to the same mineral family with color giving each its own personality.

RUBY & SAPPHIRE: THE GLAMOROUS SIBLINGS

Ruby’s rich red and sapphire’s classic blue come from the same mineral: corundum. Tiny amounts of different elements help give them their distinctive colors.

But sapphire has quite the wardrobe! It also comes in pink, yellow, green, purple and orange. Red corundum that qualifies as ruby gets its own name. One family, plenty of star power.

 

EMERALD, AQUAMARINE & MORGANITE: THE COLORFUL TRIO

What do lush green emerald, ocean blue aquamarine and blush pink morganite have in common? They’re all varieties of beryl.

Small differences in their chemistry create dramatically different looks: chromium or vanadium helps make emerald green, iron gives aquamarine its blue, and manganese lends morganite its pink tones.

Think of them as siblings with very different closets—one loves jewel tones, one lives for coastal blues, and one never met a pastel she didn’t like.

AMETHYST & CITRINE: PURPLE MEETS GOLD

Regal purple amethyst and sunny yellow-to-orange citrine are both varieties of quartz. Their extended family includes soft pink rose quartz and earthy smoky quartz.

Here’s an especially fun twist: amethyst’s purple and citrine’s golden color can occur naturally in the same crystal. The resulting gemstone is called ametrine, a two-tone beauty for anyone who has trouble picking a favorite.

A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE ISN’T THE WHOLE STORY

Related gemstones can still differ in value, appearance and care needs. Sharing a mineral family doesn’t mean every stone should be cleaned or worn the same way.

The next time you open your jewelry box, take another look. You might have a little family reunion on your hands.