My jewellery designs always start with the stone - each one is selected with delicate precision, and is thoughtfully incorporated into precious metal. I am proud that all the gemstones I use in my jewellery are responsibly and ethically-sourced, and are conflict-free, creating contemporary heirlooms that I hope you will be proud to wear.

But that means big decisions! Whether you’re picking out a Christmas gift for a friend, or want to commission a bespoke piece for yourself, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is what gemstone to choose. It’s no easy task, but I’ve got you covered with my handy guide to choosing the perfect gemstone for your jewellery!

Birthstones

Did you know that each month has a gemstone assigned to it? This is such a beautiful way to create a meaningful and sentimental piece for yourself or a friend - something you will truly treasure. Here’s a list of the birthstones I use…

January: Garnet | February: Amethyst | March: Aquamarine | April: Clear quartz or diamond | May: Rose quartz or emerald | June: Moonstone | July: Carnelian or ruby | August: Peridot | September: Agate or sapphire | October: Opal | November: Citrine | December: Turquoise

You’ll notice that a couple of months have two gemstones! That’s because traditionally, the four “precious” gemstones (diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire) are associated with April, May, July and September respectively. However, these can really increase the value of your piece, so I wanted to make sure that the more affordable “semi-precious” versions were also included for you to choose from.

Why don’t you check out my range of birthstone jewellery for a few ideas?

Gemstone properties

Crystals and gemstones have been used as a form of healing and spiritual connection for thousands of years. Ethically sourced healing crystals are a huge part of my work, and their energy is a constant source of inspiration. But they’re not just pretty to look at - the energy from each stone can have wellbeing benefits, too. Many of my customers use them for mental and emotional support, requesting stones with particular properties for gifts or commissions.

Have a think about what you or your loved one needs in their life right now. Do you need a bit of creativity and self-expression? Then carnelian and amazonite could work. Are you lacking self-love and acceptance? The gentle energy of rose quartz or rhodochrosite will see you right. Or perhaps you need a little help with decision-making and analytical skills, in which case I’d suggest lapis lazuli or agate. You can find out more about the properties of each of my gemstones over on my Gemstones page!

And if you’re into chakra healing, I can help with that too! The chakras are seven energy points in your body, that are usually associated with different colours. Here are some ideas to get you started, and you can read more on my recent blog all about chakra healing…

Root chakra: Garnet, hematite or tourmaline | Sacral chakra: Carnelian or amber | Solar plexus chakra: Amber or citrine | Heart chakra: Rose quartz, rhodochrosite or emerald | Throat chakra: Turquoise, aquamarine or amazonite | Third-eye chakra: Amethyst or lapis lazuli | Crown chakra: Moonstone, labradorite or opal

So whatever you need in your life, chances are there’s a gemstone for that!

Colour

If all else fails, and you’re just looking for something pretty, then why not just pick your favourite colour! Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Red: Garnet, ruby or carnelian | Blue: Turquoise, amazonite, lapis lazuli, aquamarine or sapphire | Yellow: Citrine or amber | Green: Turquoise, peridot or amazonite | Purple: Amethyst | Pink: Rose quartz, rhodochrosite or tourmaline | Orange: Amber or carnelian | Black: Lava stone or tourmaline | Rainbow: Opal, moonstone or labradorite | Clear: Diamond, moonstone or clear quartz

And don’t forget that stones like agate and ocean jasper naturally come in loads of different colours, so there’s plenty choice if you’re drawn to either of those, too!

Hopefully this has given you plenty ideas to help you choose the perfect gemstone this Christmas. I’m still accepting commissions up until the end of November, so there’s plenty of time to get in touch to discuss your ideas - just drop me an email and let’s chat!