Colored Gemstones for Summer

Gold carries the year. Color carries the summer. When the light gets warmer and the dressing gets simpler, a single colored stone does what a whole outfit cannot. The question is which stones, and how to wear them so they read elevated rather than costume.

Here are the colored gemstones for summer, decoded.

The jewel tones

Three stones anchor any summer edit, and they happen to be among the hardest and most wearable.

Ruby, the bold one. Red, rich, and impossible to ignore. The most confident way to wear color, and durable enough for every day.

Emerald, the calm one. A green that looks expensive against tan skin and white linen. Softer than a ruby, so it asks for a little more care, and worth it.

Sapphire, the cool one. Most famous in blue, but it comes in nearly every color, including pink, yellow, and green. The all-rounder of colored stones.

The warm-gold palette

Beyond the classics, summer is the season for the earthier, sun-washed stones that look as if they were collected on a trip rather than bought in a store. Citrine and amethyst, turquoise, lapis, malachite, and mother of pearl all sit beautifully against warm gold. This is the heart of Morocco by JJ, a curation crafted for this exact season.

How to wear color now

• One stone, plus gold. Let a single colored piece lead and keep everything else simple gold. A gemstone necklace over a white shirt needs nothing more.
• Layer it. Mix a colored pendant with a fine chain at a different length so the color sits in a stack of gold.
• Stack the color on the hand. A gemstone ring or two, mixed with plain bands, is the easiest way to test color.
• Keep tones in the same family. Cool stones together, warm stones together, reads intentional. One pop against gold reads chic.

A note on care

The jewel tones are hard and travel well. The softer, more porous stones, like emerald, turquoise, and mother-of-pearl, prefer to stay out of the pool and away from sunscreen and perfume. Put them on last, wipe them with a dry cloth, and they'll last for years.

FAQ

What gemstones are best for summer?
Jewel tones like ruby, emerald, and sapphire, plus warm summer stones like citrine, turquoise, lapis, and mother of pearl, all look their best against warm gold in summer.

How do you wear colored gemstones without looking like a costume?
Let one colored stone lead and keep the rest simple gold, or keep the tones in the same family. One pop of color against gold reads elevated, not costume.

Which colored gemstones are durable enough for everyday?
Ruby and sapphire are among the hardest gemstones after diamonds and wear well every day. Softer stones like emerald and turquoise are best worn with a little more care.

Can colored gemstones get wet?
Hard stones like ruby and sapphire tolerate water, but softer, porous stones such as emerald, turquoise, and mother-of-pearl should stay out of the pool and away from sunscreen and perfume.

Shop the color. Every JJ gemstone is GIA expert-vetted, with insured 2-day shipping and a 14-day easy exchange. Explore Morocco by JJ and the gemstone necklaces. New here? Sign up for the newsletter and get 10% off your first order.