Abundance, wisdom, good fortune – green color has many positive associations. No wonder green gems, from dazzling tsavorites to striking emeralds, have been coveted by different cultures for centuries. We’ve put together the ultimate list of green gemstones, from precious to affordable, to fit any style.
Emerald
What’s the first green stone that comes to mind? Emerald, of course. It’s the official May birthstone and one of the four precious gemstones, along with sapphire, ruby, and diamond. Emerald boasts a wide range of green shades varying in saturation and hue. Bluish-green to pure-green emeralds are the most valuable.
Although clarity is important for emeralds, their inclusions are tolerated more than in other precious gems. In fact, flaws give emeralds a unique appeal and perfectly clear emeralds are typically lab-grown. Emeralds can be transparent or opaque and look equally gorgeous in cabochons or faceted cuts. However, the signature emerald cut truly unveils the deep shade of these gemstones.
Emerald is a durable stone with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. However, these gems are sensitive to chemicals such as alcohol, bleach, and ammonia. Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Russia, and India have the largest deposits of emeralds globally.
This elegant ring by Thai Exclusive features a rare 1.67-carat lively green emerald and blue sapphires. An emerald ring encompasses wit, eloquence, and foresight, and is a stylish addition to any lady’s treasure box.
Tourmaline
Unlike emeralds, tourmalines don’t have a signature color. This semi-precious gemstone comes in blue, pink, yellow, colorless, and green. Green tourmaline is also known as verdilite and is popular among both women and men. The spectrum is diverse, ranging from light olive to dark brownish-green.
Tourmalines grow in a moist environment. When liquid is captured in a tourmaline crystal, it forms inclusions that usually appear as thread-like cavities or bubbles. Depending on the stone’s clarity, tourmaline can have a faceted or cabochon cut.
Green tourmaline is a relatively durable stone with a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale. However, it’s nowhere as hard as a diamond, so this colorful gemstone must be protected from chemicals and direct sun rays, which cause the color to fade. Green tourmalines are commonly found in Afghanistan, Brazil, and Africa.
The green tourmaline ring with blue sapphires by Thai Exclusive perfectly showcases the unique beauty of this gemstone. A 7.5-carat natural tourmaline is a rare find, so this gorgeous piece is worthy of becoming a family heirloom.
Chrome Diopside
Chrome diopside is a lesser-known yet no less beautiful semi-precious green gemstone. Unlike emerald and tourmaline which have a diverse palette, chrome diopside has a very specific, deep brilliant-green hue. The color results from chromium inclusions, thus the name.
Chrome diopside crystals typically have excellent clarity and look best in faceted cuts. Larger exemplars are rare and may have a cat’s eye or star optical phenomena, so they are cut into cabochons.
The largest chrome diopside deposits are found in Siberia. With a hardness of 5-6 on the Mohs scale, chrome diopside is a quite soft gemstone that requires proper care. Experts recommend removing chrome diopside jewelry when doing house chores or sports. Chrome diopside must be stored away from harder gemstones to avoid it getting scratched.
Chrome diopside is an affordable alternative to emerald or tsavorite garnet. For example, these chrome diopside earrings from the Chateau collection are available for a fraction of emerald earrings’ price yet are equally eye-catching.
Agate (Chrysoprase)
Agate is another gemstone with a rich color range, including yellow, brown, red, and green. Green agate, or chrysoprase, has been valued across cultures for centuries as an ornamental material for its unique coloration. The green shade in the stone results from chromium presence, as pure agate is colorless.
Chrysoprase is a translucent or opaque stone, often with a captivating inclusion pattern. Cabochon cut best reveals the hypnotizing beauty of this gem.
Agate is quite durable for a semi-precious stone, with a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale. The stone is named after the Achates River in Sicily, but its green variety is most commonly found in the USA, Brazil, and Afghanistan.
A perfectly clear opaque green agate is hard to find. This silver chrysoprase ring with zircons is a simple yet stylish choice for minimalism admirers.
Onyx
Black is the most common onyx color, but this affordable and elegant gemstone also comes in red, blue, and green. Some onyx crystals have an intricate striped inclusion pattern. Green onyx features a deep, dark pine shade.
Onyx is a semi-translucent stone that looks equally stylish in a faceted or cabochon cut. Onyx stones with inclusions of other minerals are often cut into cameos to showcase the beautiful bands of colors.
Although green onyx is a durable stone with a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, it must be kept away from chemicals. Nowadays, the largest onyx deposits are found in the USA, Uruguay, Thailand, India, and Indonesia.
This green onyx ring features a rich color and minimalistic angular design that will fit any look. Made by a Canadian brand Sigal Jewelry, this one-of-a-kind ring has no doubles.
Sapphire
Blue is the traditional sapphire color, but the palette of this precious stone is diverse, including pink, yellow, and green. Green sapphires can have a yellow or blue tint and range from very light to dark.
Green sapphire is more brilliant and clear than emerald and far more durable than chrome diopside or onyx. As sapphire is typically transparent, it looks best in a diamond or emerald cut that showcases its sparkle. However, jewelers usually cut star and cat’s eye sapphires as cabochons.
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, green sapphire rivals diamond and doesn’t require special care. This magnificent gemstone is commonly found in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tanzania, Australia, and Cambodia.
One sapphire is stunning, but an array of colorful sapphires create a truly show-stopping effect. This sapphire bracelet by Thai Gems features 75 lively green sapphires in a rhodium-plated silver setting.
Citrine
Citrine is among the most colorful stones, boasting shades of yellow, orange, smoky brown, and green. Green citrine typically has a lemon hue ranging from light and delicate to rich and saturated. In fact, the name citrine arises from the citron fruit, which resembles a large lemon.
Citrines without color zoning or inclusions are the most valuable in jewelry making. This striking gemstone comes in many shapes and sizes; you may come across citrines as large as 20 carats. Faceted cut best reveals the mesmerizing luster of green citrine.
With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, citrine is resistant to scratches. The largest green citrine deposits are found in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia. Tibetan green citrine has a distinct olive hue.
This pear-cut green citrine ring is a perfect addition to your daily jewelry wardrobe. It’s elegant, radiant, and simple, perfectly blending into both office and party looks.
Malachite
The striking green color of the malachite stone is instantly recognizable. Unlike many green stones, malachite doesn’t fade when exposed to direct sunlight, preserving its unique beauty for centuries.
Malachite is an opaque stone with a gorgeous inclusion pattern that looks best in cabochons. Due to its softness and opaqueness, malachite is often used for figurine and talisman carving.
Natural malachite has a hardness of 3.5-4 on the Mohs scale, so jewelers treat it with a layer of wax or resin to enhance durability. This hypnotizing gemstone is found worldwide, with the largest deposits in Siberia, Africa, and Mexico.
This silver malachite pendant with green Swarovski crystals and enamel by Sigal Jewelry features a beautiful striped pattern. Delicate yet eye-catching, it will instantly bring your look to the next level.
Tsavorite
Tsavorite is a green variety of garnet. Tsavorite garnets can range from light to intense and have a yellow or blue hue. Pure emerald-green, highly saturated stones are the most sought-after. The green color of the tsavorite stone results from chromium or vanadium inclusions.
Tsavorite is transparent to opaque, typically with a glass-like luster and few inclusions. A faceted cut makes tsavorite stone appear vivid and radiant; cabochon-cut tsavorites are rare.
Tsavorite hardness is 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, so it’s quite durable. Still, you shouldn’t expose the stone to direct sunlight and chemicals or it may fade. Tsavorite is usually found in East Africa.
These creative earrings by Thai Exclusive feature four green gemstones – tsavorite garnet, emerald, lemon citrine, and tourmaline. Green garnets used in this jewelry piece have remarkable saturation and sparkle.
Peridot
Jewelers refer to peridot as Olivine due to its vivid olive-green hue. However, some peridots have a yellowish or brownish tint.
Most peridot crystals are flawlessly clear with a high level of transparency. For this reason, peridot jewelry has a brilliant sparkle that best reveals in a faceted cut.
Peridot is a relatively soft stone, with a hardness of 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Jewelers recommend storing peridot jewelry away from harder gemstones and protecting it from direct sunlight to prevent it from losing its saturation.
This peridot ring with a clear zircon halo by Chateau is a timeless piece that will suit every woman. Regardless of the season, its cheerful yellow-green hue will improve your mood, drawing associations of lush spring grass.