The Natural Gemstone Guide: What Every Stone in Our Collection Actually Means
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There is a difference between a stone and a gemstone. A stone is a mineral. A gemstone is a mineral with a story — where it was formed, where it was found, what people have believed about it for thousands of years, and why someone chose it for a piece of jewellery rather than any of the thousands of alternatives.
At OROSENDA, we use only natural gemstones. No synthetics, no imitation glass, no "cubic zirconia for budget reasons." When a piece in our collection has a stone, that stone came out of the earth. This guide tells you what each one is, where it's from, and why it earns its place.
Peridot
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that exists in only one colour: green. Not blue-green, not yellow-green. Olivine green — the particular shade of new growth, summer, sun through leaves.
Origin: The finest peridot comes from the Kohistan mountains of Pakistan, where it's found at elevations above 3,500 metres. Other significant sources include Arizona (USA), where the San Carlos Apache Reservation produces large quantities, and Myanmar (Burma), which yields exceptional gem-quality stones. Unusually, peridot has also been found in meteorites — making it one of very few stones with an extraterrestrial origin.
Meaning: Associated with the sun and renewal in ancient Egyptian tradition (they called it "the gem of the sun"). In modern usage, it's linked to positivity, summer, and new beginnings. It's the birthstone for August.
In our collection: Peridot appears in our Sevilla collection — where the intensity of the stone pairs with Spanish-influenced goldwork in 9kt gold. The colour reads differently depending on light source: olive indoors, sharp lime in daylight.
Care note: Peridot is moderately hard (6.5–7 on the Mohs scale) and should be kept away from ultrasonic cleaners and harsh chemicals. Warm soapy water and a soft brush is the right method.
Amethyst
Amethyst is purple quartz — the most valuable member of the quartz family. Its colour comes from iron impurities and natural irradiation within the crystal structure. The range is wide: pale lavender at one end, deep violet-red at the other.
Origin: Brazil and Uruguay are the world's largest producers, with the Uruguayan stones tending toward deeper, richer colour. Zambia produces amethyst with a distinctive reddish-violet secondary hue that many consider the finest available. Russia's Ural Mountains were once the primary source — their "Siberian amethyst" remains the most prized designation.
Meaning: The name derives from the Greek "amethystos" — "not drunk." Ancient Greeks believed the stone protected against intoxication and promoted clarity of mind. It's been associated with calm, focus, and protection across cultures from ancient Egypt to Tibet.
Natural vs synthetic: Synthetic amethyst exists and is difficult to distinguish without equipment. A few indicators of natural stone: slight colour zoning (natural stones are rarely perfectly uniform), tiny inclusions visible under magnification, and price. If an amethyst ring costs €15, the stone is synthetic or dyed. Natural amethyst in quality goldwork costs considerably more to source.
Citrine
Citrine is yellow to orange quartz. It ranges from pale lemon to deep amber, with the deepest orange-red stones (often called "Madeira citrine") commanding the highest prices.
The honest truth about citrine: The majority of citrine on the market is heat-treated amethyst or smoky quartz. When purple amethyst is heated to around 470–560°C, it turns yellow or orange. This process has been used for over a century and produces perfectly stable, beautiful stones. We say this not to diminish citrine, but because you deserve to know. Natural citrine — which forms its colour through geological heat rather than human intervention — is considerably rarer and typically paler in colour.
Origin: Natural citrine comes primarily from Brazil, particularly the Rio Grande do Sul state. Spain, Madagascar, and the USA also produce natural material. Heat-treated citrine is produced worldwide from amethyst deposits.
Meaning: Traditionally associated with abundance, warmth, and energy. Called the "merchant's stone" in some traditions. Practically speaking, it's one of the most wearable stones in the yellow spectrum — it works with gold tones in a way few other gems do.
Blue Topaz
Pure topaz is colourless. The blue varieties that are most familiar in jewellery are produced through irradiation and heat treatment of colourless or pale topaz. This is standard, fully accepted practice in the gem trade, and the resulting colour is completely stable.
Swiss Blue vs London Blue: These are trade names for two distinct shades. Swiss Blue is a bright, saturated mid-blue — vivid and clean. London Blue is darker and more muted, with grey-green undertones that read almost teal in certain light. London Blue is considered more sophisticated and commands a higher price. Sky Blue sits between the two: the palest option, often used in delicate everyday pieces.
What makes ours different: Topaz is a hard stone (8 on the Mohs scale) with perfect cleavage — meaning it can split if struck at the right angle. This makes the quality of the setting critical. In mass-produced jewellery, topaz is often set in shallow, thin prongs that leave the stone vulnerable. Our partner artisans use deeper, heavier-gauge settings that protect the stone and secure it properly.
Chrome Diopside
Chrome diopside is the stone most people have never heard of but immediately recognise the moment they see it. It is intensely, almost aggressively green — a saturated forest green that makes emerald look restrained.
Origin: The finest chrome diopside in the world comes from eastern Siberia, Russia — specifically from the Inagli deposit in the Sakha Republic. The region is so remote and the winters so extreme that mining is only possible for a few months each year. This limits supply and keeps the stone relatively rare despite its geological abundance.
Why Kabirski uses it: The Russian jewellery house Kabirski, one of our partner brands, was one of the first to incorporate chrome diopside seriously into their design language. The stone's intensity pairs with their architectural, bold approach to design. In a Kabirski piece, chrome diopside doesn't feel like a decorative accent — it's structural, intentional, arresting.
Care note: Chrome diopside is relatively soft (5.5–6 on the Mohs scale) and should be treated carefully — avoid knocking or abrading the stone. Store separately from harder gemstones.
How We Source and Verify Our Stones
We do not buy stones from commodity brokers who aggregate from unknown sources. Our gemstone pieces come through specific artisan partnerships where we know the supply chain at least two levels deep.
For our Spanish collection, stones are sourced through long-standing relationships in the Barcelona gem market, where the same families have traded for generations. For our Kabirski pieces, stones are sourced directly by the studio's own buying team in Russia and Eastern Europe. For Indian artisan pieces, stones come through established Jaipur-based gem cutters who work to certified quality standards.
We don't have a laboratory certificate for every single stone in our collection — that's not realistic at the artisan scale. But we do have relationships, provenance knowledge, and the ability to look a supplier in the eye. For us, that's the standard that matters.
Explore our Gemstone Expression collection and Spanish Artistry — or discover the work of Kabirski in our German collection.