Use this Gemstone Chart to help you decide which colour stone you would like set into your favourite piece of handmade designer jewellery.

In the Handmade Jewellery Shop please check in the drop-down boxes which gemstones are available in each specific design.

If you don't see the gemstone you require, please don't hesitate to contact me, I may be able to source it for you.

Please note: Gemstones are natural materials, so slight variations in colour are possible.

Because of its exotic blend of base colour and dark matrix, this material is known in the trade as African "Turquoise". Actually a Jasper, it's a great Turquoise substitute with a slightly greener, earthy tone.

Cool, opaque Amazonite displays the colours of a crashing ocean wave.
This aqua coloured gemstone derives its name from the Amazon river in South America.
It's formed in granite rocks, not produced synthetically.

Luscious warm Amber is a lightweight, translucent fossil resin that originally came from ancient pine trees, but now is found mainly in the Baltic Sea.
Amber is superior in quality to any other resins.
It's nicknamed the 'happy stone' because it is said that Amber helps with depression and low moods.

Known as the stone of wealth and royalty.
Found in Argentina, Brazil, Namibia, US and Canada. Amethyst is a macrocrystalline quartz and is found in geodes - like Agate.
It's one of the worlds' best selling gemstones.

Green Aventurine has a shimmering iridescence and a semi-translucent appearance. Aventurine is a metamorphic rock, meaning it is made up of more than one mineral. Green Aventurine is mostly quartz with the glistening effect coming from tiny inclusions of shiny mica minerals.

Can be found in Germany, Canada, Uruguay and the US.
A variety of Chalcedony, onyx is made from alternating broad, flat bands of black and white. When it is black throughout it is called Black Onyx.
Black Onyx can be natural or dyed.

Agate is found all over the world and is made up of chalcedony quartz. It forms by filling cavaties within rocks. The agate forms in rings - similar to that of a tree. It can be found in all the colours of the spectrum. The shape and colour depend on the circles created.
The colour of agate can be changed to almost any colour by heating or chemically treating it.

The Blue Agate I use has been colour-enhanced and comes from Brazil.

Blue Lace Agate is semi-translucent and pale blue with fine blue & white banding, often resembling lace.
From Africa.

Carnelian is a translucent chalcedony named for the deep red-orange colour of the Korel cherry. It's commonly believed to increase motivation and self-determination. From Brazil and Columbia.
The Egyptians filled their tombs with Carnelian, as they thought it had great power, and would help the souls journey to the afterlife.

Rainbow Fluorite is a shaded blend of translucent lavender, purple & milky white colours with a glossy polish.
Used by ancient Egyptians to carve statues and scarabs. In the early 18th century Fluorite was used by the Chinese as powder in water, to help symptoms of kidney disease.

Known for being a deep red colour. Although can also be found in shades of green, pink, yellow & grey.
Garnet is a hard resillient gemstone that can withstand every day wear and tear.
It's sometimes used as an indicator mineral for locating diamonds because Garnet actually forms with diamonds but in larger quantities.
The name 'Garnet' comes from the latin word "granatus", meaning seed-like, because it looks similar to a pomegranate seed.
Used by ancient Greeks and Romans in the shields and buckles of crusaders - they called it the 'warrior's stone'.
From India.

Amber can only appear green as a result of natural fluorescence, or of treatment involving heat & pressure.

Blatic Amber has for many years been treated to make it look green. Its' surface is darkened and then the top is polished, resulting in the illusion of green material.
It results in a stunning stone with irridescent sparkle.

(Information taken from Maggie CP Organic Gems Information Centre Sep 2010)

Iceflake Quartz gemstone beads are first heated then quickly cooled to produce the crackled look caused from the internal fractures reminiscent of ice crystals. The fractures reflect light through the transparent surface to send subtle flashes in every direction.

A variety of chalcedony containing green mineral inclusions (eg Chlorite, Hornblende etc), which can be cut and polished as a decorative stone.
Moss Agate is neither moss nor agate, but it looks like both. Though it has the same chemical composition and the intriguing patterns of agate, Moss Agate is found as fissures or as pebbles rather than in a layerd form.

Peridot is usually a bright green colour and can easily be confused with Emerald. Legend says that it was the favourite gemstone of Cleopatra.
The ancient Romans loved Peridot and gave it the nickname 'emerald of the evening' for its shimmering green shine which doesn't change when moving from natural light into artificial light.
Peridot is an elegant gem that looks beautiful in jewellery.

Known as the stone of love, Rose Quartz is a pastel pink with a semi-translucent appearance. Crackle-like inclusions often create a slight glistening effect from within the polished surface.
Rose Quartz is a variety of quarz, and is said to have its pink colour due to microscopic inclusions of Dumortierite or Titanium or even Manganese.

A variety of Serpentine, New "Jade" has natural sea green tones occasionally speckled with cream-coloured inclusions. The stone ranges from semi-translucent to opaque.

Lovely deep blue-violet Sodalite, accented with white streaks of calcite, is a wonderful Lapis Lazuli look-alike at a fraction of its cost.
The largest deposit of Sodalite is in Brazil.

Tiger's Eye is a combination of Riebeckite in Chalcedony.
Movement dramatises the chatoyant effect of the contrasting brown and golden bands.
Tiger's Eye is formed under high pressure and temperature.

Turquoise is one of the oldest stones known, dating back as far as the Egyptians, who commonly used it for jewellery.
It can easily be said that this Aluminium based mineral is one of the most popular gemstones.
Turquoise Matrix has occasional black streaks of host rock randomly scattered.

carla@carlajenningsjewellery.com
5 Carnsew Court  Carnsew Road  Hayle  Cornwall  TR27 4HG
01736 448500