24 Choices of Pink Gemstones in Jewelry

Pink Diamond

Though most popular in white, the diamond also occurs as pink precious stones. Like other diamonds, the pink rocks are the hardest of minerals, and boost of an extremely high refractive index, making the pink stones shine brilliantly. A rather very rare variety, the pink diamond is the most valuable of pink gemstones, with a sale made in 2009 for $2.16M/carat. See —

Pink Sapphire

Though most popular in blue, sapphire also produces pink precious stones. Sapphire is corundum that comes in all colors but red, otherwise known as ruby. In fact, corundum that is a shade less red than ruby is immediately called sapphire, that is to say, pink sapphire, which is the second most expensive of pink gemstones.

Still, the value of pink sapphire lies in its resemblance to ruby; hence, the closer the pink is to the red of ruby, the higher the value of pink sapphire. Sapphire also comes in a rare orange-pink variety called padparadscha, as well as star sapphires, which display six-rayed asterism. Though traditionally the birthstone of April, sapphire in general is the modern birthstone for September. Beside Taurus, sapphire is also associated with the zodiac signs Sagittarius and Pisces.

Poudretteite

Poudretteite is one of the most expensive pink gemstones in the world on account of its rarity. The price of this very rare pink jewel can be as high as $3,000 per carat. Discovered in 1987 in Quebec, Canada, the pink gem was named after the Poudretteite family, who operated a quarry in the area where the gemstone was first found. The pink stone is now also mined in Burma.

Pink Topaz

Though most popular in yellow, orange and blue, topaz also occurs as pink stones. Pink gems come from the variety of topaz called imperial topaz. Pink topaz is rather very rare. Hence, whilst other colors comes cheap, pink topaz is one of the most expensive of pink gemstones, with prices of up to $2,500 a carat. Topaz is the traditional birthstone for November. In astrology, topaz is birthstone to Sagittarius.

Pink Pearl

Though most popular in white, pearls are also available as pink gemstones. A product of biological process instead of geological, the pink gems can be obtained from the oyster Pinctada maxima, whose pearls are popularly known as South Sea pearls. However, the name pink pearl usually refers to the extremely rare pearls of the queen conch, a large sea snail that sometimes produces pearls between its mantle and shell.

Pink Zoisite

Beside its popular blue variety tanzanite, zoisite also occurs as pink semi-precious stones, usually sold in the market as “pink tanzanite.” The pink crystals are likewise transparent in clarity, and glassy in luster. A major variety of pink zoisite is thulite, which bears manganese. Sometimes the name thulite is used to refer to any pink zoisite.

Pink Spinel

Though most popular in red, the spinel also produces pink gemstones. These pink gems have frequently been made substitute to ruby. As in the case of ruby, red spinel is more valuable than the pink crystal. Indeed, pink spinel shares the same fate as pink sapphire in relation to the red variety of their respective mineral.

Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite is a gemstone that in pure form is rose-red in color. Due to impurities, rhodochrosite usually occurs as pink stones, which may have bands of white. Rhodochrosite gets its color from the inclusion of manganese. The pink stone itself is used mainly as manganese ore. Rhodochrosite is the national gemstone of Argentina, and the state gem of the US state of Colorado.

Pink Zircon

Zircon is a hard, brilliant gemstone frequently made a substitute to diamond due to the former’s excellent quality. Though most popular in blue, zircon also produces pink gemstones. Zircon in general is a traditional birthstone for the month of December. In astrology, zircon is associated with the zodiac sign Virgo.

Pink Tourmaline

A stone found in all the colors of the rainbow, the tourmaline also produces pink gemstones. The pink gems come from the species of tourmaline called elbaite, and are closely related to the red elbaite variety known as rubellite. Pink crystals may also be found as part of the bi-colored watermelon tourmaline, the other color being green. Of the tourmaline varieties, the pink gemstone is rather very popular, proof of which is the express designation of pink tourmaline as the modern birthstone for October. In astrology, tourmaline is associated with the zodiac sign Leo.

Morganite

Known as emerald when green, the mineral beryl also brings us pink gemstones, better known as morganite. The pink jewels vary in shade from light pink to rose. The same mineral also produces peach stones. Beryl in general is the ancient Italian and Russian birthstone for October. In astrology, beryl is the birthstone for Scorpio.

Pink Apatite

Apatite is a phosphorous-rich mineral primarily used in the manufacture of fertilizer. Though most commonly green, apatite also occurs as pink stones. Apatite gem is transparent to translucent in clarity, and glassy in luster. The pink stone has a hardness of 5 in the Mohs scale.

Pink Garnet

Found in virtually all colors, garnet also produces pink gemstones. These pink gems come from several species of garnet minerals, namely, almandine, spessartine, pyrope and grossular. Garnet in general is the birthstone for January. In astrology, garnet is the birthstone of the zodiac sign Aquarius.

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Kunzite

Beside lilac, kunzite also occurs as pink stones. The name Kunzite refers to the lilac or pink stone of the mineral spodumene. The pink gem gets its color from the inclusion of manganese into the otherwise colorless mineral. Kunzite was named after the jeweler George Frederick Kunz.

Rhodonite

Though the color can be deep as to appear rose red, rhodonite occurs as pink stones. These pink crystals vary in shade from light pink to rose pink. Rhodonite is glassy in luster, and transparent to translucent in clarity. Its pink gemstones are hard too, with hardness pegged at 5.5 to 6.5 in the Mohs scale.

Pink Scapolite

Beside blue and yellow, scapolite also occurs as pink stones. Pink gemstones are obtained from the variety of scapolite called marialite. Scapolite is glassy in luster, and transparent in clarity. Due to its rarity, the pink rock makes a valuable collector’s item as much as a gemstone for jewelry.

Pink Fluorite

Found in various colors, fluorite also occurs as pink stones, which are a rare variety of the mineral. These pink crystals can be vivid in color and “fluorescent” — a word that originated from the name of the stone. The weakness of fluorite lies in its hardness, which is pegged at 4 in the Mohs scale.

Rose Quartz

Although colorless in pure form, quartz also occurs as pink or rose stones, popularly known as rose quartz. Varying in shade from pale pink to rose, this pink gemstone is translucent in clarity, and can sometimes have a cat’s eye effect. In transparent crystals the pink stone is called pink quartz, which is more valuable than the often cloudy rose quartz. In astrology, rose quartz is the birthstone of the zodiac sign Taurus. See also Rose Quartz: Stone of Fertility.

Pink Smithsonite

Smithsonite is a mineral ore of zinc. Beside green and blue, smithsonite also occurs as pink stones. Smithsonite is translucent in clarity, with glassy or pearly luster. The pink semi-precious stone has a hardness of only 4.5 in the Mohs scale, making the mineral relatively soft for jewelry.

Pink Cobalto Calcite

Calcite is a mineral that occurs in transparent crystals of glassy luster, but are very soft, with hardness pegged at only 3 in the Mohs scale, making the mineral unsuitable for jewelry. On the other hand, pink crystals of calcite are actually used in jewelry. The pink gemstones come in a druzy, and set in jewelry in a manner that protects the soft gemstone from external impact.

Pink Orthoclase

Orthoclase is a feldspar mineral that is a major component of another gemstone called moonstone. Beside white and yellow, orthoclase also occurs as pink semi-precious stones. This pink gemstone is transparent to translucent in clarity and glassy in luster, with a hardness of 6 in the Mohs scale.

Pink Kona Dolomite

Kona dolomite is an ancient rock that holds fossil algae formations. Over 2 billion years in age, this rock has a wide variety of colors, including pink. The gemstone cut from this rock — which may have banding, mottling and lacing — was named after the Kona Hills of Michigan, US, where the ancient rock is found.

Peach Moonstone

Moonstone is a gemstone that refracts light between its alternate layers of feldspar, giving the stone the look of glowing from within. Though most popular in white, moonstone also occurs as pink stones. While the gemstone goes by the name peach moonstone in the gem trade, the shade of color can be closer to pink than orange. Moonstone in general is a birthstone for June. In astrology, moonstone is the birthstone of the zodiac sign Cancer. See also Moonstone: Stone of Security.

Pink Agate

Agate is the banded variety of chalcedony, which is the opaque or translucent form of quartz. Some agate varieties, including crazy-lace agate, come with pink bands in them. Agate in general is a traditional birthstone for May and June. In astrology, this semiprecious stone is the birthstone for Gemini. See also Agate: Stone of Prudence.

Pink Gemstones in Jewelry

Do you like to wear pink stones in your jewelry? Pink gemstones are bright yet gentle ornaments suitable for white or pastel clothing, while standing out against a black attire.

Featured image credit: Pink tourmaline ring by Doronenko via Wikimedia Commons