A Guide to Gemstones: Colors, Meanings & Symbolism
Every gemstone tells a story.
Long before modern jewelry, gemstones were treasured not only for their beauty and color, but also for the meanings and symbolism attributed to them across different cultures and traditions.
At Belle Solaire, gemstones are at the heart of many of our designs. We select them for their natural beauty, distinctive colors, and the way they transform a piece of jewelry. From the deep blue of Lapis Lazuli and vibrant Green Onyx to the delicate tones of Pink Opal and Aqua Chalcedony, each stone has its own character.
Whether you choose a gemstone for its color, its traditional meaning, or simply because you feel drawn to it, this guide introduces some of the stones you will find throughout the Belle Solaire collection.
Green Onyx — Renewal, Balance & Focus
Green Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, part of the quartz family, known for its rich green color and smooth, polished appearance.
Green has long been associated with nature, renewal, and growth, while Green Onyx is traditionally linked to balance, calm, and clear decision-making. Its saturated color makes it particularly striking in jewelry, especially when paired with warm gold tones.
At Belle Solaire, Green Onyx is one of our signature gemstones and can be found in several of our designs, including the Ella collection.
Black Onyx — Strength, Protection & Grounding
Black Onyx is known for its deep, opaque black appearance and beautifully polished surface. A variety of chalcedony, it has been used in jewelry and decorative objects for thousands of years.
Across different traditions, Black Onyx has been associated with strength, protection, focus, and grounding. Its dramatic yet understated appearance also makes it an exceptionally versatile gemstone.
Paired with gold, Black Onyx creates a strong contrast that can feel both classic and contemporary.
Red Onyx — Strength, Confidence & Grounding
Red Onyx is valued for its warm red and earthy tones. Like other varieties of onyx, it belongs to the chalcedony family.
Traditionally associated with strength, resilience, grounding, and confidence, Red Onyx has a warm presence that makes it particularly beautiful in jewelry.
Its rich color works especially well with gold and offers a striking alternative to more delicate pastel gemstones.
Lapis Lazuli — Wisdom, Truth & Clarity
Lapis Lazuli has been treasured for thousands of years for its intense blue color, often accompanied by tiny golden-colored flecks of pyrite.
The stone was highly prized in ancient civilizations including Mesopotamia and Egypt and later became an important source of the brilliant blue pigment ultramarine used by European artists.
Traditionally, Lapis Lazuli has been associated with wisdom, truth, intuition, and clarity.
Its unmistakable deep blue creates a particularly beautiful contrast with gold and remains one of the most distinctive gemstone colors in jewelry.
Pink Opal — Calm, Tenderness & Reflection
Pink Opal is loved for its delicate blush tones, which can range from very pale pink to warmer peach and dusty rose.
Unlike precious opals known for their flashes of rainbow color, common Pink Opal generally has a softer, more opaque appearance.
In gemstone traditions, Pink Opal is associated with calm, tenderness, emotional clarity, and gentle self-reflection.
Its subtle coloring gives jewelry a romantic softness while remaining understated enough for everyday wear.
Turquoise — Protection, Harmony & Connection
Turquoise is one of the world's oldest gemstones used in jewelry and ornamentation. Its distinctive color ranges from sky blue to blue-green, sometimes with natural matrix patterns running through the stone.
Turquoise has held cultural significance in different parts of the world for thousands of years, including ancient Egypt, Persia, Tibet and among numerous Indigenous cultures of the Americas.
Across different traditions, it has been associated with protection, good fortune, harmony, and connection.
Its unmistakable blue makes Turquoise especially beautiful as a colorful statement gemstone.
Hot Pink Chalcedony — Creativity, Vitality & Expression
Chalcedony belongs to the quartz family and occurs naturally in a variety of colors. Hot Pink Chalcedony stands out for its vivid, joyful appearance.
It is associated with creativity, vitality, confidence, and expressive energy — symbolism that feels particularly fitting for such an unapologetically colorful stone.
An important note about color: intensely colored Hot Pink Chalcedony is generally color-enhanced rather than naturally occurring in this saturated shade. At Belle Solaire, we believe in being transparent about the materials we use while celebrating color in all its forms.
Its vibrant pink creates a bold contrast with gold and is perfect for anyone who sees jewelry as a way of expressing personality.
Pink Chalcedony — Warmth, Kindness & Connection
Pink Chalcedony has a softer appearance than its Hot Pink counterpart, with delicate pink tones that bring warmth to jewelry.
Chalcedony has traditionally been associated with harmony, kindness, communication, and connection.
Its gentle coloring makes Pink Chalcedony easy to combine with other jewelry while still adding a subtle touch of color.
Discover the Seraphine Collection, featuring carefully selected gemstones including Chalcedony, Prasiolite, and Rose Quartz.
Aqua Chalcedony — Calm, Clarity & Communication
Aqua Chalcedony is admired for its fresh, translucent blue-green appearance, reminiscent of clear tropical water.
Like other forms of chalcedony, it belongs to the quartz family. Aqua Chalcedony used in jewelry is often color-enhanced to achieve its characteristic luminous aqua tone.
Traditionally, chalcedony is associated with calm, clarity, harmony, and communication.
Its light, refreshing color makes Aqua Chalcedony especially beautiful for spring and summer jewelry and pairs naturally with warm gold tones.
Rose Quartz — Love, Compassion & Harmony
Rose Quartz is one of the most recognizable varieties of quartz, known for its delicate pink color ranging from almost translucent blush to a more milky rose.
It has long been associated with love, compassion, harmony, and emotional warmth, earning it the popular description “the stone of love.”
Its soft color makes Rose Quartz particularly versatile in jewelry. It works beautifully with gold while adding warmth without becoming overpowering.
Amethyst — Clarity, Calm & Balance
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and ranges in color from delicate lilac to deep violet.
Its distinctive color has made it a prized gemstone for centuries. Historically, Amethyst has appeared in jewelry ranging from ancient ornaments to royal and ecclesiastical pieces.
Traditionally, Amethyst is associated with clarity, calm, balance, and inner strength.
Its rich purple coloring can create a dramatic statement or a softer, romantic effect depending on the shade and cut of the stone.
Prasiolite — Renewal, Balance & Harmony
Prasiolite is a pale green variety of quartz, sometimes known commercially as Green Amethyst. Its color can range from an almost transparent mint to a soft sage green.
Naturally occurring Prasiolite is rare, and much of the material used in contemporary jewelry is produced by carefully heating certain varieties of Amethyst or other quartz.
Its fresh green coloring has inspired associations with renewal, balance, harmony, and growth.
Compared with the saturated color of Green Onyx, Prasiolite offers a much lighter and more delicate interpretation of green.
Zircon — Brilliance, Clarity & Confidence
Zircon is a natural gemstone prized for its exceptional brilliance and sparkle. It occurs naturally in a range of colors, including colorless, blue, pink, golden and earthy tones.
Despite the similarity in name, zircon should not be confused with cubic zirconia. Zircon is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used as a gemstone for centuries, while cubic zirconia is a laboratory-created material.
Traditionally, Zircon has been associated with clarity, wisdom, confidence, and positive energy.
At Belle Solaire, we use Zircon in three carefully selected colors:
White Zircon — bright and colorless, with a beautiful brilliance that gives jewelry an elegant, luminous appearance.
Blue Zircon — known for its vivid blue tones and striking sparkle, adding a fresh and vibrant touch of color.
Soft Pink Zircon — a delicate pink variation that combines the brilliance of Zircon with a softer, romantic appearance.
Explore the Cecilia Flower Stud Earrings, where White, Blue, and Soft Pink Zircon bring a delicate sparkle to our floral design.
Their different colors allow the same gemstone to create very different moods, from the timeless elegance of White Zircon to the vibrant character of Blue Zircon and the delicate warmth of Soft Pink Zircon.
How to Choose a Gemstone
There is no single right way to choose a gemstone.
You might be drawn to the traditional meaning associated with a particular stone. You may choose a gemstone connected to a special memory, person, or place. Or you may simply fall in love with a color.
At Belle Solaire, we believe color is deeply personal. That is why many of our signature designs are available in a carefully curated selection of gemstones and colors rather than just one variation.
Choose the one that feels most like you.
Explore our gemstone jewelry, including the Ella Gemstone Drop Earrings & Pendant Necklace, Seraphine Elongated Gemstone Earrings, and Cecilia Stud Earrings.