Coloured Gemstones - The Soul Of A Piece Of Jewellery

Coloured gemstones are fascinating. They shine, glow, shimmer - and tell stories long before a piece of jewellery is finished. Their colours speak their own language, their inclusions reveal their origin, their shapes bring light and depth to the design. At RABBIT IN THE HAT , coloured gemstones are at the heart of many designs. Not as decoration - but as character

  • Sapphire

    No longer just the “classic blue,” sapphire reveals itself in a full spectrum of colors – from yellow and pink to green and even near-colorless purity. Always clear, cool, and full of depth, it captivates in every hue. With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, it is among the most durable gemstones, perfect for rings and pieces worn every day. Sapphire symbolizes clarity, truth, and focus – radiating a calm strength in every shade.

  • Ruby

    Few gemstones command such presence as the ruby. Its intense red – sometimes fiery, sometimes velvety dark – infuses every design with passion and drama. Belonging to the same mineral family as sapphire, it shares its hardness of 9, yet its effect is uniquely its own: powerful, striking, unmistakable.

  • Emerald

    The lush green of emerald is both soft and profound – like gazing into a tranquil forest. Its inclusions, often poetically called the “garden,” are part of its natural character. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is more delicate and requires careful setting. In return, it rewards with a unique inner glow. Emerald stands for wisdom, intuition, and the harmony between nature and spirit.

  • Spinel

    Spinel is a gemstone for connoisseurs. Its palette ranges from cool gray and delicate pink to vibrant red – often with a brilliance reminiscent of diamond. With a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, it is robust and suitable for daily wear. Once often mistaken for ruby, spinel has long since earned its own place in haute joaillerie: understated, distinctive, and full of character.

  • Tourmaline

    Few gemstones display such a variety of colors as tourmaline. From mint green to raspberry pink and deep petrol – no two stones are alike, and many shift between multiple tones. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is durable yet lively in appearance. Tourmaline represents inspiration and creative freedom – qualities it expresses in every design it graces.

  • Aquamarine

    Aquamarine carries the color of light on water – bright, clear, and calming. Its gentle blue tones pair beautifully with white gold or platinum, yet also appear surprisingly modern in warm gold. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is well-suited for everyday wear. Known as the stone of serenity and clarity, aquamarine visually reflects the same tranquil mood it embodies.

  • Garnet

    Aquamarine carries the color of light on water – bright, clear, and calming. Its gentle blue tones pair beautifully with white gold or platinum, yet also appear surprisingly modern in warm gold. With a hardnDeep red like dried berries, sometimes so saturated it appears almost black – garnet is a classic gemstone with a powerful aura. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5, it is a solid companion for jewelry. Garnet symbolizes grounding, protection, and strength – lending every piece a certain gravity while retaining its warmth.ess of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is well-suited for everyday wear. Known as the stone of serenity and clarity, aquamarine visually reflects the same tranquil mood it embodies.

  • Citrine

    Citrine brings light into play. With hues ranging from golden yellow to honey brown, it evokes late summer warmth and brightness. Its glow is gentle, and with a hardness of 7, it is perfect for pendants, earrings, or rings. Citrine represents joy, optimism, and openness – a sunny presence in any collection.

  • Topaz

    Most popular in its pale blue variety – cool, clear, almost crystalline – topaz also shines in yellow, pink, or soft white. With a hardness of 8, it is both durable and elegant. Its brilliance is subtle yet refined, offering a quiet sparkle. Topaz symbolizes insight and balance – a discreet but powerful companion.

  • Peridot

    Peridot is unmistakable: olive green with a touch of yellow, bright and luminous like fresh spring leaves. With a hardness of 6.5 to 7, it is somewhat delicate but brings freshness, lightness, and natural beauty to any design. Particularly striking in rose or yellow gold, peridot offers either lively contrast or harmonious resonance.

  • Iolite

    Iolite shimmers like a shadow across water – sometimes violet-blue, sometimes gray-blue, depending on the light. Its color feels calm yet mysterious. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is strong enough for everyday wear but requires a setting that highlights its depth. Iolite represents guidance, intuition, and clarity – a stone with quiet strength.

  • Tanzanite

    A gemstone of true rarity, tanzanite enchants with its vivid violet-blue and electrifying glow. Softer than sapphire, with a hardness of 6.5 to 7, it should be worn with care. Yet its color is unmatched: vibrant, luxurious, and full of intensity. Tanzanite is perfect for exceptional pieces with deep emotional impact.

  • Zircon (natural, not to be confused with zirconia)

    Zircon is one of the world’s oldest known gemstones – often colorless, but also found in golden brown, green, blue, or pink. Its fire closely resembles that of diamond, sparkling with great brilliance. With a hardness of 6 to 7.5, it is versatile in jewelry. Zircon symbolizes wisdom and memory – an ancient stone with striking modern potential.

  • Chrysoprase

    A vibrant green quartz, often milky or slightly translucent – chrysoprase feels soft, gentle, yet surprisingly contemporary. With a hardness of about 6 to 7, it is workable but best protected in secure settings. Chrysoprase symbolizes hope and renewal – a spring gemstone with a clear and uplifting presence.

  • Moonstone

    Moonstone glows with a silky, inner light – often whitish, sometimes shimmering with blue, always carrying a mystical aura. Belonging to the feldspar family, it has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 and requires careful setting. Moonstone represents intuition, femininity, and cyclical strength – perfect for soft, poetic jewelry forms.

  • Rhodolithe

    A rare variety of garnet, rhodolite glows in a refined raspberry red – warm yet elegant. It combines strength with softness, and with a hardness of around 7, it is suitable for everyday wear. Rhodolite is a connoisseur’s choice, a gemstone for those who seek the extraordinary within the familiar.

  • Opal

    Few gemstones portray light as poetically as opal. Its famous play-of-color – shimmering, cloudlike, iridescent – creates a universe of blues, greens, oranges, and pinks within each stone. No two opals are alike; each tells its own story. With a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5, it is delicate and requires care – not an everyday choice, but one that rewards with magic and mystique. Opal symbolizes imagination, transformation, and emotional depth – a dreamer’s stone for those who embrace the unexpected.

  • Tsavorite

    Tsavorite is a rare green variety of garnet – often mistaken for emerald but with greater brilliance and resilience. Unlike emerald, it is seldom treated, showing its natural fire and clarity. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is robust enough for everyday jewelry. Its vivid, youthful green embodies vitality, renewal, and balance. Tsavorite unites nature’s energy with modern elegance – particularly striking in fine gold settings.

  • Chrysoberyl (including Cat’s Eye)

    Chrysoberyl is renowned for its silky luster and, in certain cuts, the mesmerizing cat’s-eye effect (chatoyancy). It exudes refinement and a near-regal aura. With a hardness of 8, it is highly durable. Colors range from yellow-green to olive and brown. Chrysoberyl represents focus, protection, and heightened awareness – especially captivating in minimalist, light-filled settings.

  • Labradorite

    Often plain gray at first glance, labradorite reveals its secret beauty in the right light: shimmering flashes of blue, green, violet, or gold. This effect, known as labradorescence, makes every stone a small work of art. With a hardness of 6 to 6.5, it is relatively delicate but highly expressive in design. Labradorite symbolizes transformation, intuition, and the subconscious – a gemstone of depth and mystery.

  • Zoisite (including Tanzanite or Ruby-in-Zoisite)

    Zoisite is a gemstone of striking variety – either as vivid violet-blue tanzanite or as green-and-black matrix interspersed with ruby crystals (ruby-in-zoisite). These contrasting colors create bold, unconventional, and modern effects. With a hardness of about 6.5 to 7, zoisite is best for pendants or earrings. It represents change and creative vitality – a stone for those who embrace transformation.

  • Azurite

    Intense royal blue, often with velvety depth – azurite looks like concentrated color itself. With a hardness of only 3.5 to 4, it is soft and usually set in protective designs. When paired with malachite, it forms the striking azurite-malachite stone, where green and blue merge organically. Azurite is considered a stone of insight and inner truth.

  • Painit

    Painite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Its deep red to reddish-brown hues may resemble ruby or garnet, yet its composition – a calcium-zirconium-aluminum borate – is entirely unique. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is durable for jewelry, though its extreme rarity makes it most prized by collectors.

    First discovered in the 1950s in Myanmar, painite was once known in only a handful of specimens. Even today, facetable material is extraordinarily scarce. Painite symbolizes passion, determination, and transformation – a gemstone for extraordinary occasions and exceptional personalities.

  • Paraiba

    The Paraiba tourmaline is one of the world’s rarest and most coveted gemstones. Its vivid glow of neon turquoise, intense blues, and radiant greens comes from traces of copper and manganese – a brilliance unlike any other. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, it is durable, yet so scarce that even small stones are considered treasures. Paraiba tourmalines embody pure energy and exceptional value – a luminous beauty that makes every jewel truly one of a kind.

  • Rubellit

    Rubellite is the most radiant member of the tourmaline family. Its colors range from vivid pink to deep ruby red, often glowing with an inner fire that shines even in low light. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, it is durable for everyday wear while remaining exquisitely refined. Fine rubellites are rare, especially those with pure hues free from brown or orange undertones. As a symbol of passion and vitality, rubellite brings a bold and luminous presence to every jewel it adorns.

  • Kyanit

    Kyanite captivates with its deep sapphire-like blue, often enhanced by delicate striations or subtle shifts in tone. Its most intriguing trait is its variable hardness: about 4 to 5 along its length and 6 to 7.5 across, making it a gemstone of true individuality. Fine-quality kyanites are rare, especially those with pure, vivid color. Symbolizing calm and inner balance, kyanite lends jewelry an elegant and slightly mysterious presence.

  • Amethyst

    Amethyst is one of the most captivating members of the quartz family, admired for its regal spectrum of colors – from delicate lilac to rich royal purple. Celebrated since antiquity, it adorned crowns and treasures as a symbol of prestige and refinement. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, it is both durable and timelessly elegant. Fine amethysts with deep, even color are rare and highly prized. Representing clarity and inner strength, amethyst lends jewelry an aura of sophistication and quiet luxury.