What Are the Best Gemstone Colors for Fall Jewelry?

Autumn is a beautiful time of year when the weather starts to cool off and the world seems to change color. The leaves change from greens to reds, oranges, and browns. Sunsets come earlier, and warm cider gets poured. Pumpkins are carved and harvest decor is put out around the house.

It’s also the time of year when warmer hued gemstones come out of the jewelry box. They can be paired with a more earthy wardrobe before we bundle up for the winter.

Let’s explore the world of autumn gemstone colors  and see what you may already have in your jewelry box. 

Reds: Garnet, Spinel, Ruby

Red hues naturally evoke the feeling of fall—the warmth of a glowing fire, the rich color of autumn leaves, and the striking beauty of red gemstones. There are many to choose from, but let’s highlight just a few favorites here.

Garnets can vary in color from dark red to purple red. They are most often clear of inclusions, making their color stand out even more. Depending on their hue, they can belong to different mineral types, such as almandine or pyrope. Garnets are 6.5 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes them fairly soft. This means they're not ideal for everyday wear jewelry, as they are prone to scratches. 

Spinel is often mistaken for ruby and is most famously featured in several pieces of royal jewelry. Spinel can be similar in color to ruby, but can also have pink and orange hues. It is usually free of large inclusions and has a lower refractive index than ruby. It's an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes it suitable for everyday wear jewelry. It's also quite affordable. All of this combined makes spinel a great, budget-friendly and beautiful choice for colored gemstone jewelry. 

Rubies are a member of the corundum family, which is also the family that sapphire belongs to. The difference between rubies and sapphires is that rubies contain chromium, which gives them their red color. The more chromium present in the stone, the brighter the red in the ruby. Rubies do sometimes have inclusions, but not so much that they distract from the gemstone’s beauty. They are a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which make them perfectly durable for jewelry that will be worn on a daily basis. A nice ruby of decent size can be quite pricey, so when you’re shopping for one it is recommended that you purchase it from a reputable jeweler. Additionally, you should only purchase a stone that comes with a grading certificate from a well known lab.

Yellows: Citrine and Yellow Sapphire

Yellow is the color of the leaves just as they begin to change. It marks the beginning of the fall season and makes us think of cozy sweaters and warm bonfires. There are many yellow gemstones, but there are two that really stand out for us. 

Citrine is a member of the quartz family of minerals and is known for its warm yellow tone. Its color ranges from lemon yellow to deep orange, and it typically has excellent clarity, giving it brilliant sparkle when well faceted. Citrine is often heat treated to enhance its color, but this does not negatively impact the value of the stone. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, it’s often best suited for earrings or pendants to minimize the risk of damage. Affordable and available in larger sizes, it pairs beautifully with both white and yellow metals, making it a versatile choice for all jewelry styles and budgets.

Yellow sapphire is a member of the corundum family of minerals, as are blue sapphire and ruby. The stone’s yellow color comes from iron within the crystals and can vary from a soft pale yellow to a vibrant, rich yellow. It is a 9 on the Mohs scale of hardness which makes it very durable and a great option for everyday wear jewelry. It also has wonderful clarity, so it sparkles beautifully and is a very popular choice for gemstone jewelry. 

Greens: Tourmaline, Peridot, and Green Garnet

Green marks the very beginning of fall (or maybe the end of summer), but nevertheless brings earthy vibes. There is a wide variety of green gemstones to choose from, but let’s take a look at some of the lesser known ones. 

Tourmaline is available in a wide range of colors, but green is the most popular. It can vary in color from soft mint to deep forest green. It has beautiful clarity, making it sparkle brilliantly. The color of green tourmaline is due to the chromium or vanadium present within the stone's crystals. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, it is durable enough for daily wear but is generally best suited for pendants or earrings. Depending upon the size and quality of the green tourmaline, it can be quite expensive, so keep that in mind when starting your green gemstone search. 

Peridot is not a very well known green gemstone, although it has a very distinctive green hue. It is a member of the olivine mineral family, and its color does not usually vary much from its yellow-green hue. Peridot is mined in many places throughout the world including Arizona, China, and Myanmar. It's a fairly affordable gemstone, making it a great option for those on a tighter budget. Peridot has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, so it’s not ideal for everyday wear unless placed in a highly protective setting. 

Green garnet, more commonly known as tsavorite, has a vibrant grassy-green hue and brilliant sparkle. Because it is relatively rare, larger stones can command a high price. Tsavorites are a 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so while they are fairly durable, it’s best to set them in protective settings to avoid damage. They are most often available in smaller sizes and used as accent stones as opposed to the main gemstone in a piece of jewelry. 

Final Thoughts

We’re not here to persuade you to choose one specific gemstone, but rather to highlight the beautiful options that capture the essence of autumn. There are some great earthy options that can match any outfit or event you have planned for the fall season. From the rich reds of ruby and garnet to the golden warmth of citrine and yellow sapphire, and the vibrant greens of peridot and tourmaline, these gemstones perfectly reflect the transitional beauty of fall. Whether you’re adding new pieces to your jewelry collection or deciding which favorites to bring out, consider these gemstones to complement your outfit for a trip to the pumpkin patch this year.