7 Affordable Gemstone Jewelry Pieces

Gemstones are a type of mineral that is cut and polished into beautiful jewelry. It can also be found in rocks, soil, and sea water. Gemstone jewelry is popular because they are not only beautiful but they are also affordable.

So why should you care about gemstone jewelry? Because it is a trend that will continue to rise in popularity. It’s always a good idea to keep up with the latest trends so you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to fashion and style.

With so many gemstones out there, and new discoveries happening daily, it can be difficult to know which stone to use in your jewelry. Some stones are hard enough to withstand daily wear while other stones will fade or change color with exposure to light.

Some gemstones are more expensive because they only occur at specific areas on Earth while others are rare because they naturally only occur in large quantities. There are even man-made gems that can be used when cost is a factor.

In this blog, we have compiled a list of the 5 most affordable gemstones used in jewelry.

1. Amethyst

Amethyst is a purple color quartz and a very popular gemstone. They are available in a wide range of colors, most commonly lavender to light purple, with medium or darker tones also being quite common. In fact, the deep red-purple color is one of the more popular and valuable varieties of amethyst. Amethyst gemstone comes in many shapes, but the material is often used in various types of jewelry such as wire-wrapping and bead drilling.

2. Agate

Agate is a member of the quartz family and a variety of the chalcedony. It has bands caused by impurities in it that move into perfect layers as it cools slowly over millions of years. The name comes from Latin through Greek and means “ colored,” which refers to the agates' variety in colors. Agates are nearly always beads or cabochons and are a popular choice for tumbled stones which are sold in almost every jewelry store.

3. Citrine

Citrine belongs to the quartz family; noticing a trend here? Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Tiger's Eye and of course Citrine. Naturally occurring citrine is rare; instead amethyst is heated and its chemical changes creates the yellow-orange color. Citrine can range from lighter yellow-orange to deeper red-orange tones. Price per carat is affordable hence it's wide use in jewelry pieces.

4. Garnet

Garnet comes in a variety of colors. Although garnet is normally seen in its signature red, there are darker shades and lighter shades of red, green and orange. Garnet has been used as jewelry for thousands of years; the first wearing was during the Sumerian period when people would use garnet to make small necklaces or pendants to secure their wild locks away from their faces.

5. Onyx

Onyx is admittedly a very unique stone to know. It is produced by the Chalcedony mineral family, but has a handful of notable differences that separate it from its crystal cousins. Onyx is particularly abundant and found in many countries around the world. Many people may be unaware that this hard yet flexible gemstone can be dyed in a variety of colors to create gorgeous pieces of jewelry that make for truly impressive gifts or beautiful additions to any collection.

6. Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is probably the most popular gemstone in the world. Partly because it's affordable, but mostly because of its beauty. Rose quartz gemstone has a soft pink color that is translucent and common in crystals. It is less valuable than quartz, which is a transparent type of rock. With its glowing color and availability, you'll find rose quartz in stores everywhere from $5 to thousands of dollars per carat.

7. Blue Topaz

Something about topaz jewelry has caught my attention, and I'm thinking it may be the variety of colors, shapes, and most importantly price. It's not just any gemstone though - topaz is a silicate mineral (meaning it's great for jewelry use because it doesn't scratch as easily). There are three main types of topaz - colorless (or "white"), pale yellow, and brown - although blue topaz is also popular as it is the December birthstone.