Classic combinations of diamonds and precious gemstones
The combination of diamonds and gemstones is an all-time favorite. Besides diamonds, there are only three precious gemstones: sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Some of the most famous rings contain a combination of these. For example, Kate Middleton’s engagement ring that used to belong to Lady Diana. All other colored gems are so-called semi-precious gemstones.
Diamonds and sapphires
Kate’s ring has a deep blue
sapphire and an entourage of brilliant cut diamonds. To this day, a combination of a blue sapphire and white diamonds is one of the most popular designs. And why wouldn’t it be? The deep royal blue stands out from the white sparkling diamonds. This creates a stunning contrast.
Diamonds and rubies
Next to sapphires, the combination of
rubies and diamonds is a beloved one. Rubies are popular gemstones for a very long time. They were famous trading goods on the Silk Route. The elegance of the colorless diamond emphasizes the fire of a red ruby.
Diamonds and emeralds
One of the most beloved gemstones of the Royals is the green
emerald. This special green stone dates back almost three billion years. The first time they were mined – that we know of – was in Egypt around 1500 BC. Today, most of them come from Columbia. From Cleopatra to the Duchess of Cambridge. It looks like no one can resist the charm of this classic green stone.
Combinations of diamonds and semi-precious gemstones
I love the combination of diamonds and gemstones. But I am also a fan of many semi-precious gemstones. These often have softer colors. When you combine them with diamonds, it gives the jewelry quite the feminine look. If you look into semi-precious gemstones, you’ll notice there’s a tremendous amount to choose from. That’s why I compiled a list of my favorite semi-precious gemstones. Who knows: it might help you too:
- Aquamarine
- Peridot
- Amethyst
- Paraiba tourmaline
- Pearl
- Onyx
- Tanzanite
- Citrine
- Garnet
- Topaz
Aquamarine
I love
aquamarine. The soft light blue color reminds me of the blue oceans with crashing waves and white beaches. It is not that strange because literally translated, aquamarine means “seawater”. One thing I love about jewelry with aquamarine is that you can almost look “through” the stone. Just like a clear ocean. For me, this is a gemstone to (day)dream about. Add some diamonds and you’ll have a sparkling piece with a mesmerizing character. That's why this is my number one when it comes to a combination of diamonds and gemstones.
Peridot
Usually, I’m not the biggest fan of green stones to be honest. But when my husband gave me a ring with a
peridot in it, I was pleasantly surprised. What a beautiful stone! Just like aquamarine, the peridot also has a soft color. Peridot is a type of Olivine. This is a common mineral in mafic and ultramafic rocks and lava. Combine a peridot with diamonds and I guarantee a “joyful” result. The combination looks like the spring season. Who doesn’t love that time of year when flowers start to bloom and the days become longer.
Amethyst
From soft and blooming, we’ll jump to the mysterious
amethyst. Amethyst is a violet variety of the mineral quartz. It is also the best-known stone from the quartz group. I don’t know why, but amethyst always immediately reminds me of geodes. When I was a child, these sparkling rocks fascinated me. Actually they still do. But when I discovered how beautifully polished amethysts are, I fell in love all over again. The beautiful purple color will never bore me. Amethysts with diamonds create a very luxurious piece of jewelry.
Pearl
Some people still think
pearls have a dusty image. But I think pearls are timeless. Let’s be honest: a pearl necklace always radiates class and sophistication. The combination of pearls and diamonds is a classic one. The combination gives a bridal feeling without overdoing it. That’s how you can feel like a bride many days a year.
Onyx
Not to be confused with black diamonds, onyx is a deep dark black stone. But it also comes in other colors like deep red. Onyx has smooth lines that almost look like they are dancing inside the stone. Definitely a gem that makes you look twice. The intensity of onyx makes it a beloved gem to work with for many high-end jewelry brands. That is why you often see this as one of the popular combinations of diamonds and gemstones. The white sparkling stones form a great additive to the mysterious black one.
Tanzanite
Named after Tanzania where it comes from, tanzanite is a very special gemstone. We often call
tanzanite a rare gift of nature. The color of this gem depends on the light. Sometimes it looks blue, sometimes more violet but it can also appear red. We call this phenomenon trichroism. Tanzanites look a lot like blue sapphires. People often confuse them with each other. However, these stones are not the same of course. Tanzanite is softer than sapphires but in general, it also has a lower price per carat. Tanzanite is a relatively newly discovered gemstone while sapphires are around for ages. This makes it a very contemporary gemstone. When tanzanites are combined with diamonds, it adds some luxury to this semi-precious gem.
Citrine
Many say: “When you wear a citrine, you carry the sun with you”. I really like this thought. And what better way to shine like the sun than to adorn the citrine with some diamonds? Citrine is by far the most popular yellow gemstone. People often mistake citrines for yellow topaz because they are in the same color spectrum. A citrine’s color ranges from a pale yellow to an amber-looking brownish hue or orangey-red. Natural citrine is very rare. That is why citrines on the market are the result of treated amethysts.
Garnet
Garnets (or grenades) are a set of related minerals. They come in a wide variety of colors. Red garnets are the most common and widespread. But there are also green, orange, pink, purple and even blue garnets. All garnets are rare, but that’s what makes them so beloved to use in a combination of diamonds and gemstones. A famous example is the imperial Russian jeweler Fabergé who created intricate jewelry designs for garnets. When we compare red garnets to rubies, we see that red garnets have a deeper red color. Whereas rubies have a more purplish hue. Moreover, compared to rubies, garnets are more affordable.
Topaz
Pure
topaz is colorless. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it is perfect for fine jewelry. Colorless topaz’ are often used instead of diamonds. But just like diamonds, damages in the structure can make a topaz another color. The color can range from yellow to orange and brown and even in shades of red, pink, blue and purple. The soft pink topaz is definitely one of my favorite colors. Especially in rose gold, a pink topaz really comes into its own in my opinion.
Which gemstone fits me?
When you are looking for a new gemstone, there are plenty to choose from. The most important thing is that you pick a gemstone you love. This can be because you like the color or because you like the characteristics of a stone. If you’d like something more personal or a guideline, you can also pick
your birthstone. If you are looking for combinations of diamonds and gemstones, discover our
Rainbow Collection.