Pink gemstones are often dazzling, eye-catching specimens. Nobody will ever forget the $1.2 million dollar pink dazzler Ben Affleck gave to then-fiancé Jennifer Lopez?! Lopez’s engagement ring was a huge, 6.1-carat radiant cut, blush-colored diamond custom-made by Harry Winston Jewelers.
Of course, not all pink gemstones have to be priced in the millions. You should know that you don’t have to break the bank to find pink gemstones and associated jewelry. There are actually many varieties of pink gemstones other than diamonds and emeralds with much more affordable price tags.
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is an example of a very well known pink gemstone. It’s the pink form of Quartz and can be found in lighter shades as well as more intense colors. Although often lacking good transparency, there is something delicate and mysterious about its hazy appearance. A lot of rose quartz is found in Brazil. Rose Quartz is a common pink gemstone and is very affordable, and that makes it particularly popular for use as a budget gemstone bead among hobbyists. Another popular use for rose quartz is carving into specific shapes like harts or small sculptures.
Morganite
This pink form of beryl is actually named after J.P Morgan (yes, the guy who founded the bank). It was so named because the renowned financier was Tiffany & Co’s best customer, and the mineralogist George Kunz, Tiffany’s chief gemologist, suggested they name the gemstone after him. Whilst Morganite is in the same family as other well-known gemstones like aquamarine and emerald, it’s less well known to the general public. As such, the demand and thus the price of Morganite remains at reasonable levels even though it is actually quite rare.
Pink Tourmaline
Pink Tourmaline is another striking example of a popular pink semi-precious stone that people fall in love with. Tourmaline actually comes in a few different colors, but pink is one of the more common and more well-liked varieties. These stones are usually bright in color, almost like that of bubblegum, but you can also find deeper shades of Pink Tourmaline. Pink Tourmaline can also go by the name Rubellite, which describes pink and red shades of Tourmaline. Pink tourmaline stones are found all over the world- in Brazil, Africa, Afghanistan, and with some of the nicest pieces found in California. Tourmaline can vary in price from very affordable to quite valuable. Tourmaline is also known to be found in multicolored varieties. For example, watermelon tourmaline is red or pink in the center and shifts to green on the outside (or vice versa). This pink gemstone is also believed to have properties that can attract love and happiness into the wearer’s life. Tourmaline is commonly used in jewelry of all kinds, but can also be fashioned into beads or used for carvings.
The price you pay for any pink tourmaline should be in direct relationship to the rarity and quality of the stone you are buying.
How much is pink Tourmaline worth? The value of natural pink Tourmaline can vary greatly depending on the size and quality of the gemstone.
Pink Spinel
Pink spinel is another popular variety of pink gemstone that brings a bright note of beauty to rings, necklaces, and pendants. Pink spinel is less well known, but it really should be more popular, given its resemblance to pink sapphire. Pink Spinel, and spinel in general, gets a bad reputation due to the fact that it is often seen to be synthetic. Indeed, spinel can be mass-produced synthetically and is very commonly used in jewelry. However, high-quality natural spinel, particularly the pink and red varieties, can and should fetch high values – after all, it’s quite a beautiful and stunning gemstone. In fact, natural, gemstone quality Pink spinel is rarer than pink sapphire. High-quality pink spinel often comes from Myanmar, and Sri Lanka and Vietnam are also sources of less sought-after versions of the pink gemstone. If you’re thinking of buying jewelry that contains Pink Spinel, make sure what you’re getting is the genuine article before paying a high price. In essence, synthetic spinel is generally very affordable in comparison.
Kunzite
Kunzite is yet another stunner in the group of gorgeous pink semi-precious stones. Kunzite is the pink or lilac variety of the mineral Spodumene, which in itself is relatively common, but it’s less common than it will yield gemstone quality material. Although many people have not heard of this gemstone, Kunzite is starting to gain more and more fans each year, and it’s simple to see why. Kunzite is actually named after famed mineralogist George Kunz (who worked for Tiffany & Co), the man who discovered it. Kunzite is an exceedingly attractive pink gemstone that is best worn in the evening due to the fact that it sometimes fades in color after prolonged exposure to heavy lighting. Kunzite demonstrates pleochroism (meaning the gem’s color can change intensity when viewed from different angles). Generally speaking, the deeper and more intense the color of the Kunzite gemstone, the more valued it is. Due to its physical properties, Kunzite can be difficult to cut into beads for jewelry making hobbyists. In essence, its more commonly cut into larger gemstones and used as a centerpiece stone in pendants, or as a decorating touch in ornaments.
What’s your favorite Pink Gemstones?
Pink gemstones are stunningly beautiful and help bring a unique characteristic to jewelry and other decorative pieces. There is a great amount of variety of excellent pink gemstones choices that can be both affordable and beautiful. Tell us what your favorite pink gemstone is!
Think pink for jewelry!