Gemstone Meanings in Gold Jewelry: Amethyst, Topaz, Turquoise and More

Gemstone meanings come from centuries of folklore, trade and birthstone tradition: amethyst has long been linked with calm and clear thinking, turquoise with protection, ruby with love and courage, emerald with renewal, garnet with friendship and safe travel, and pearl with purity. These are cultural associations rather than proven powers, but they are a lovely reason to choose one stone over another.

Just as important is knowing what the stone in a piece actually is. In our atelier, the amethyst and blue topaz pendants are listed as natural stones. Most of our other colored stones, including the emerald and ruby colors, are cubic zirconia, and every listing says so. Below we go stone by stone, with the traditions and the plain facts.

Natural, lab-grown and cubic zirconia: what the words mean

Before the meanings, a quick guide to the vocabulary, because it changes what you are buying:

A green CZ is not an emerald, and a clear CZ is not a diamond. CZ is still a good choice: it is hard enough for daily wear, consistent in color and clean of inclusions. If you want the comparison with diamond, read diamond vs cubic zirconia.

Amethyst: calm and clarity

Amethyst is purple quartz and the birthstone for February. Its name comes from the ancient Greek amethystos, meaning "not intoxicated", and in Greek tradition the stone was believed to protect against drunkenness. Over time it came to stand for a clear head, calm and self-control, and it has long been used in religious and royal jewelry.

Amethyst rates 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it handles everyday wear well. Its color can fade with long exposure to strong sunlight, so store it in a closed box rather than on a sunny windowsill. Our amethyst pendants use a natural amethyst of about 10 carats in a teardrop shape.

14K Solid Gold Amethyst Necklace View Amethyst Necklace on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Blue Topaz Necklace View Blue Topaz Necklace on Etsy

Blue topaz: cool and clear

Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November, and blue topaz is also widely sold as a December stone. The modern associations of blue topaz, with calm, honesty and clear communication, come largely from its cool, water-clear color.

A fact worth knowing: almost all blue topaz on the market, from any jeweler, is natural topaz whose blue color comes from treatment of paler stones. This is standard practice in the trade and the color is stable. Topaz rates 8 on the Mohs scale, which makes it a durable choice. Our blue topaz pendant is a large cushion-cut natural topaz.

Turquoise: a stone with a Turkish name

The word turquoise comes from the old French for "Turkish", because the stone reached Europe through trade routes that ran through Anatolia. In Turkish, Persian and Central Asian traditions, turquoise has long been worn for protection and good fortune, and its blue echoes the blue of the nazar evil eye. Turquoise is one of the birthstones for December.

Natural turquoise is soft (around 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale) and porous, so it can absorb oils and lotions and change color over time. Our turquoise pieces are not listed as natural turquoise; each listing states the material. Whatever the stone, keep turquoise away from perfume and water.

14K Solid Gold Turquoise Station Necklace View Turquoise Station Necklace on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Turquoise Station Bracelet View Turquoise Station Bracelet on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Turquoise Star Pendant Necklace View Turquoise Star Pendant Necklace on Etsy

Emerald and ruby colors: renewal, love and courage

Emerald: renewal and spring

Emerald is green beryl and the birthstone for May. Its green has made it a symbol of spring, growth and renewal across many cultures. Natural emeralds almost always contain inclusions, and many are treated with oil to improve clarity, which is why they need gentle care.

Our emerald-colored pieces are not sold as natural emerald; each listing names the exact stone, so you always know what you are buying. That gives you a clean, vivid green and good hardness, at the cost of being a simulant rather than the real stone. We say this on every listing.

Ruby: love and courage

Ruby is red corundum and the birthstone for July. It has been prized in many cultures and is commonly associated with love, passion, vitality and courage. Natural ruby rates 9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond among popular gems.

Our ruby-colored pieces carry the color and the July birthstone symbolism; they are not sold as natural rubies, and each listing names the exact stone.

14K Solid Gold Dainty Emerald Necklace View Dainty Emerald Necklace on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Pear Ruby Pendant View Pear Ruby Pendant on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Pear Cut Red CZ Ring View Pear Cut Red CZ Ring on Etsy

Garnet: friendship and safe travel

Garnet is the birthstone for January. Its name is usually traced to the Latin word for pomegranate, because small red garnets resemble pomegranate seeds. In folklore it has been linked with friendship, loyalty and protection on journeys, which makes it a thoughtful gift for someone leaving home.

Garnet is a family of minerals rather than a single one, and comes in many colors, although deep red is the best known. Our garnet-colored pieces are not listed as natural garnet; please check each listing for the stone used.

14K Solid Gold Garnet Teardrop Necklace View Garnet Teardrop Necklace on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Pear Garnet Bracelet View Pear Garnet Bracelet on Etsy

Pearl: purity and wisdom

Pearl is a June birthstone and the only gem made by a living animal. It is traditionally associated with purity, calm and wisdom, and is a classic bridal choice. Our pearl pieces use freshwater pearls where the listing says so. Pearls are soft and need more care than any stone; see our pearl jewelry guide.

Choosing a stone: meaning, birthday or color?

There is no wrong reason to choose a stone. Some people pick by birth month, some by meaning, and many simply by the color they love. A few practical points:

• For a birthday gift, match the month. Our birthstone jewelry gift guide covers all twelve.
• For daily wear, harder stones like topaz, amethyst and CZ cope better than turquoise or pearl.
• For a natural stone, look for the word "natural" in the listing, and ask if anything is unclear.

Every stone we set sits in solid 14K gold stamped 585. Browse our natural stone collection or all necklaces.

Frequently asked questions

Are gemstone meanings real?

They are real traditions, built up through folklore, religion and birthstone lists over centuries. They are not scientific claims, but they give a stone personal and cultural meaning.

Is a green cubic zirconia the same as an emerald?

No. Green CZ is a lab-made simulant that looks like emerald but is a different material. A lab-grown emerald, by contrast, has the same chemistry as a natural one.

Which of your stones are natural?

Our amethyst and blue topaz pendants are listed as natural stones. Most other colored stones in our catalog are cubic zirconia, and each listing states the material.

Is blue topaz treated?

Almost all blue topaz on the market gets its color from treatment of natural, paler topaz. This is standard practice and the color is stable.

What does turquoise mean in Turkish culture?

Turquoise has long been worn for protection and good luck in Turkish and neighboring traditions. Even its English name comes from an old word for "Turkish".