Timeless Gemstones

Gemstone reference

Every stone named across the birthstone systems on this site, in one A–Z table — Mohs hardness, color family, and the species/variety relationships that the birthstone traditions themselves often blur (chrysolite is peridot; hyacinth is zircon; aquamarine and emerald are both beryl). Click a name for the full write-up, including which months and zodiac signs list it, under which systems.

Looking for a specific angle instead? See every stone ranked by Mohs hardness, or browse blue, green, and red gemstones by color.

A

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Agate 6.5–7 Multicolor, Gray, Brown chalcedony —
Alexandrite 8.5 Green, Red, Multicolor chrysoberyl —
Amber 2–2.5 Yellow, Orange, Brown — —
Amethyst 7 Purple quartz —
Aquamarine 7.5–8 Blue beryl —

B

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Beryl 7.5–8 Colorless, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Multicolor — —
Black Tourmaline 7–7.5 Black tourmaline Schorl
Bloodstone 6.5–7 Green, Multicolor chalcedony heliotrope

C

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Carnelian 6.5–7 Orange, Red chalcedony —
Cat's Eye 8.5 Yellow, Green, Brown chrysoberyl cymophane, chrysoberyl cat's eye
Chrysolite 6.5–7 Green peridot peridot, olivine
Chrysoprase 6.5–7 Green chalcedony —
Citrine 7 Yellow, Orange quartz —
Coral 3–4 Red, Pink, White, Black — —

D

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Diamond 10 Colorless — —

E

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Emerald 7.5–8 Green beryl —

G

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Garnet 6.5–7.5 Red, Orange, Green, Multicolor — —

H

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Hematite 5–6.5 Black, Gray, Red — —
Hyacinth 6–7.5 Orange, Red zircon jacinth

I

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Iolite 7–7.5 Blue, Purple, Gray cordierite Cordierite

J

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Jade 6–7 Green, White, Multicolor — Jadeite, Nephrite
Jasper 6.5–7 Multicolor, Brown, Red chalcedony —
Jet 2.5–4 Black — —

K

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Kunzite 6.5–7 Pink, Purple spodumene —

L

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Labradorite 6–6.5 Gray, Blue, Multicolor plagioclase feldspar —
Lapis Lazuli 5–6 Blue — —
Larimar 4.5–5 Blue, White, Multicolor pectolite —

M

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Malachite 3.5–4 Green — —
Moonstone 6–6.5 White, Colorless, Blue orthoclase feldspar —
Morganite 7.5–8 Pink, Orange beryl —

O

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Obsidian 5–5.5 Black, Brown, Green, Multicolor — —
Onyx 6.5–7 Black, White chalcedony —
Opal 5.5–6.5 Multicolor, White, Colorless — —

P

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Pearl 2.5–4.5 White, Multicolor — —
Peridot 6.5–7 Green olivine chrysolite

R

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Rock Crystal 7 Colorless quartz —
Ruby 9 Red corundum —

S

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Sapphire 9 Blue, Multicolor corundum —
Sardonyx 6.5–7 Multicolor, Red, Brown chalcedony —
Smoky Quartz 7 Brown, Gray, Black quartz —
Spinel 8 Red, Pink, Blue, Multicolor — —
Sunstone 6–6.5 Orange, Red, Brown, Green plagioclase feldspar Heliolite

T

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Tanzanite 6–7 Blue, Purple zoisite —
Tiger's Eye 7 Brown, Yellow, Orange quartz —
Topaz 8 Yellow, Blue, Brown, Colorless — —
Tourmaline 7–7.5 Multicolor, Green, Pink, Blue — —
Turquoise 5–6 Blue, Green — —

Z

Stone Mohs hardness Color family Variety of Also known as
Zircon 6–7.5 Blue, Colorless, Brown, Multicolor — —