There are, of course, many gemstones that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us, and some are more popular in jewellery than others. Over the centuries, jewellery tastes have evolved, and so has the lists of precious stones they used, and with that in mind, here are the top 5 precious stones that are used to create jewellery, in order to popularity, of course.

Alexandrite – This extremely rare stone has a unique ability to change colour in different light conditions, giving it a kind of exclusivity from the other forms of precious stone. If you would like to view some stunning alexandrites, there is an online jeweller based in London who has access to some of the best alexandrites available. These rare stones have been found in a handful of countries, such as Russia, Brazil, Tanzania and Mozambique, and will change from red to green as the day progresses.

Diamonds – Just pipped by alexandrites, diamonds come in all colours, and as far as quantity of jewellery goes, diamonds win hands down. Thanks to aggressive marketing in the 1930s by diamond broker De Beers, diamonds are now a girl’s best friend, and that doesn’t look like changing anytime soon. Diamonds come in many colours, with pink diamonds particularly in demand, and there are colourless diamonds, which are quite rare. Engagement and wedding rings have long been decorated with diamond clusters, and the really big stones usually end up on the finger of a celebrity or member of a royal family.

Sapphires – Blue is the colour for this attractive gemstone, although they can be yellowish green, and this is the birthstone for September. Sapphires can be found in all forms of jewellery, and can be found naturally in parts of South East Asia and Eastern Australia, and there are online jewellers with a wide selection of stunning sapphire jewellery.

Rubies – A ruby is from pink to blood red in colour and is related to the sapphire, as it has similar chemical makeup, and the name stems from ruber, the Latin word for red. It is the element of chromium that causes the stunning redness, and generally, the deeper the red, the more expensive the stone. Ruby is the birthstone for July, and is very popular in all forms of jewellery, and you can find a great selection of ruby jewellery at the online jeweller, who would probably be a little cheaper than a traditional High St retail outlet.

Emeralds – Green is the primary colour associated with emeralds, and with green tint is the result of minute traces of chromium, which gives the stone its attraction. Graded using the same 4Cs that are used to grade diamonds, emeralds are very popular stones when it comes to jewellery making.

Of course, there are other gemstones that are commonly used in jewellery making, but the above 5 are at the top, and that hasn’t changed for many centuries. Whatever your personal preference, when buying precious stones, either separately or in jewellery, it is important to verify that the stones are of good quality, and the best way to ensure this, is to buy from a reputable online jeweller.