Recognising a natural stone starts with its colour, then a few simple clues: transparency, sheen, veins, hardness. This guide gives the names of the most common stones by colour family and the pointers to avoid mixing them up. For certain identification of a valuable piece, gemmological expertise remains the reference.
Colour is the first filter, but it isn't enough: several stones share a hue. Use it as a starting point, then refine with transparency, inclusions (veins, flecks) and hardness.
Garnet (deep red, transparent), carnelian (translucent orange), red jasper (opaque brick red). Transparency tells them apart quickly.
Lapis lazuli (ultramarine + golden pyrite), turquoise (blue-green + brown matrix), aquamarine (transparent light blue). Beware: a bright-blue "turquoise" is often dyed howlite.
Amazonite (water green veined white), aventurine (sparkling green), malachite (concentric green bands, unmistakable).
Amethyst (purple), rose quartz (milky pink), citrine (yellow). All are varieties of quartz.
Black tourmaline (striated crystals), obsidian (smooth glass), tiger's eye (chatoyant), labradorite (blue flashes), moonstone (bluish veil), howlite (grey-veined white).
Hardness (Mohs scale) often decides: a stone scratched by a steel blade is soft (howlite, malachite). For a valuable piece, only gemmological expertise (GIA standards) gives certain identification. See our stone table.
Start with colour, then refine with transparency, inclusions (veins, flecks) and hardness. For example, a transparent red suggests garnet, an opaque red jasper. For a valuable piece, gemmological expertise gives certain identification.
Real turquoise often shows a matrix (brown veins) and a nuanced blue; dyed howlite shows a very uniform bright blue at a low price. When in doubt, ask the seller for the exact nature of the stone.
No: several stones share the same colour. Colour is a starting point, to be confirmed by transparency, inclusions and hardness, or by expertise for important pieces.
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