Color Key Index Of Gemstones

Color can be a useful clue to aid in identification of a gem, but it can be mislead, so beware! Gemstones may look different under different light sources; for example, Chrysoberyl with a color change may show flashes of green in daylight, but has flashes of red indoors under artificial light. The color of a gemstone may be enhanced or altered, and immitations may be fashioned to look exactly the same color as the natural gem they imitate.

A gemmologist will take the color of the gemstone into account, but will also look for other clues; for example, wear and tear of trhe facet edges, scratches and pit marks give an idea of hardness, while fire and sparkle suggest possible values for dispersion and refractive index. Appropriate tests may then need to be carried out to establish the indentification of the gemstone.

Yellow to Brown Gemstones

Other yellow to brown gems include: Apatite, Fluorite, Scheelite, Staurolite, Spessartine, Garnet, Tourmaline, Vesuvianite.

Red to Pink Gemstones

Other red to pink gems include: Diamond (rarely), Garnet-topped doublet, Violet Jadeite, Rutile, Smithsonite (pink), Topaz, Tourmaline.

Blue to Violet Gemstones

Other blue to violet gems include: Agate (stained), Apatite, Axinite, Euclase, Scapolite.

Green Gemstones

Other green gems include: Agate, Diamond (rarely), Enstatite, Euclase, Fluorite, Prehnite, Sapphire, Tourmaline, Watermelon tourmaline.

Colorless Gemstones

Other colorless gems include: Albite, Anglesite, Apatite, Calcite, Enstatite, Fluorite, Grossular Garnet, Moonstone, Orthoclase, Petalite, Sapphire, Scapolite.

White Gemstones

Other white gems include: Agate, Baryte, Calcite, Coral, Ivory, Jadeite, Nephrite, Serpentine, Thomsonite.

Black Gemstones

Other black gems include: Andradite, Coral, Pearl.

Iridescent Gemstones