Beading How-To's
printer friendly versionColors of Gemstones, Shell and More
Shades of Black and Stone
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Black-dyed serpentine | |
 | Black | |
 | Translucent to opaque black, may show occasional banding | |
 | Black | |
 | Black | |
 | Grey-black | |
 | Black | |
 | Black | |
 | Black | |
 | Black with multicolored sheen | |
 | Rich dark brown-black color with marbled red and grey | |
 | Black/grey background with green brown | |
 | Dark smoky with a golden sheen | |
 | Black with white spots | |
 | Green-Black | |
 | Grey | |
 | Metallic, dark silver | |
 | Green with black brown patterns | |
 | Creamy pink tones against a dark background | |
 | Black | |
 | Grey-black | |
 | Dark stone, blending black, grey and brown colors with cream specks | |
 | Clear with green/black inclusions | |
 | Brassy yellow | |
 | Grey black brown | |
 | Black/white and green/white-grey | |
 | Translucent, grey color with occasional banding | |
 | Grey-smoky color with blue-green flashes | |
 | Swirls and spotted patterns in grey, black and white | |
 | Grey | |
 | Cream to brown color with black/green | |
 | White/cream with black spots | |
 | Mint green with spotted grey/black specks in varying patterns | |
 | Grey |
Shades of Blue and Purple
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Blue | |
 | Blue | |
 | Deep blue, occasional white calcite | |
 | Blue, some pyrite or white calcite (usually dyed) | |
 | Denim blue, some pyrite or white calcite (usually dyed) | |
 | Blue, yellow, white | |
 | Pastel blue | |
 | Multicolored (green/blue/clear/purple/golden) | |
 | Greenish blue | |
 | Aqua blue | |
 | Banded lighted blue | |
 | Lavender | |
 | Violet | |
 | Lavender | |
 | Purple | |
 | Lavender and yellow | |
 | Purple | |
 | Purple-blue |
Shades of Brown
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Deep brown, brick red, grey/black and cream colors | |
 | Chocolate brown with grey and caramel colors | |
 | Red-brown | |
 | Brown with black patches | |
 | Golden, red, brown, blue | |
 | Tan/brown | |
 | Brown/golden with metallic grey | |
 | Blue-black | |
 | Brown | |
 | Smoky | |
 | Tan/brown | |
 | Tawny deep brown tone | |
 | Medium to dark tan/brown | |
 | Cream, honey and dark brown | |
 | Earth tones with terra cotta red tan brown | |
 | Brown/tan background with golden/light brown patterns | |
 | Pink, grey and lavenders | |
 | Brown/tan | |
 | Brown with bandings | |
 | Tan/brown | |
 | Translucent to opaque, white/grey mottled with red/brown | |
 | Pink, tan or multi-color | |
 | Brown stone with a heavy golden/metallic, shimmering chatoyancy | |
 | Red, white and orange banded | |
 | Red-brown, golden, yellow and white mixed in very broad patterns | |
 | Brown | |
 | Golden | |
 | Brown-green | |
 | Smoky orange/brown | |
 | Clear with golden color inclusions |
Shades of Green and Aqua
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Green with grey/black | |
 | Any color | |
 | Green | |
 | Various colors, usually green tones | |
 | Green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green/blue | |
 | Green | |
 | Green stripes and eyes | |
 | Dark green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green with grey/green orbicular pattern | |
 | Green with red spots | |
 | Translucent to opaque, with black cross-like pattern on a light brown background, can also be dark green and transparent | |
 | Green | |
 | Translucent with moss-like inclusions | |
 | Mostly green | |
 | White background with green splotches (semi-translucent to opaque) | |
 | Blue and green | |
 | Green/blue with grey/black | |
 | Green and white | |
 | Light green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green/blue | |
 | Green-transparent/translucent with occasional bandings | |
 | Olive green | |
 | Light green | |
 | Green | |
 | Light green | |
 | Green | |
 | Green | |
 | Sea green | |
 | Dark to lime green with creamy tones and a varying black and grey matrix | |
 | Sea green | |
 | Iridescent colors | |
 | Green | |
 | Aqua blue | |
 | Aqua blue | |
 | Blue as well as green colors | |
 | Blue, some with black matrix | |
 | Blue | |
 | Blue |
Shades of Orange and Yellow
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Yellow | |
 | Orange | |
 | Peach | |
 | Amber color - can vary in color from yellow to red to honey brown | |
 | Orange-red, translucent | |
 | Orange/red - translucent | |
 | Yellow | |
 | Brown-orange | |
 | Golden | |
 | Yellow | |
 | Translucent orange/golden color | |
 | Yellow-white | |
 | Orange | |
 | Yellow | |
 | Yellow is most common. Also comes in white and pink colors | |
 | Peach | |
 | White, grey, peach | |
 | Peach | |
 | Light to golden yellow | |
 | Lemon |
Shades of Red and Pink
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Red | |
 | Red | |
 | Wine color reds | |
 | Purplish red | |
 | Brick red | |
 | Red/brown with cream/tan patches/spots | |
 | Glowing rusty orange color with scattered veins of grey-white. Has a "crackled" look (web-like pattern of white crackles) created via heat treatment, and color enhancement produces the fiery oranges and reds | |
 | Pink with black patterns | |
 | Red | |
 | Black, blue, fossil, gold, green, white, pink, purple, red or orange | |
 | Peach to red color | |
 | Red | |
 | Pink | |
 | Any color | |
 | Pink | |
 | Subtle shades of reddish-brown with cream and grey | |
 | Red with stripes | |
 | Pink and purple | |
 | Red/brown with grey/black splotches | |
 | Opaque-striped red/white cream or any other color | |
 | Earth tones with terra cotta reds and hints of purple | |
 | Brick red and avocado green | |
 | Purple | |
 | Pink | |
 | Pink | |
 | Distinct appearance of grey, mauve and pink color combinations | |
 | Pink | |
 | Translucent pink | |
 | Pink | |
 | Pink |
Shades of White and Clear
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Twisting and turning bands of various colors | |
 | Clear | |
 | Clear with red/green/brown inclusions | |
 | Creamy white pearl | |
 | Pastel green/golden | |
 | Grey/cream | |
 | White with brown/grey matrix | |
 | Golden color-translucent with occasional bandings | |
 | Mix of natural pinks, purples and greens | |
 | White with black veining | |
 | White with multicolored play of color | |
 | Champagne color | |
 | Clear with multicolored coating | |
 | Translucent white | |
 | White | |
 | Green, grey, red, orange, yellow - all colors | |
 | White | |
 | White, frosted | |
 | Crackled | |
 | White with multicolored flashes | |
 | White | |
 | White | |
 | White |
Multi-Color
Gemstone | Color | |
 | Multicolored | |
 | Dark green with red spots | |
 | Grey/white, natural or dyed any color | |
 | Multicolored | |
 | Green, rust, grey, cream, blue, brown, and camel color | |
 | Any color | |
 | Peach, white, grey | |
 | Green, cream, tan | |
 | Any color | |
 | Pink or green | |
 | Multicolored | |
 | Olive-green and subtle pink | |
 | Quartz, Fancy | Multicolored |
 | Soapstone | Any color |
 | Any color | |
| Green, rust, grey, cream, blue, brown, and camel color | |
 | Multicolored | |
 | Multicolored | |
 | Any color |
Customer Comments
 |  | We would like to share some of the customer comments we received in response to the "Colors of Gemstones, Shell and More" guide, featured in a newsletter. Please keep in mind that the comments expressed below are those of our customers and do not reflect the views of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. |
"Thank you for the awesome new tool that is part of the Fire Mountain Website - "Colors of Gemstones, Shell and More." There are times that I do seek a particular color of gemstone to use in a custom order and this chart makes the process a whole lot easier!"
- Carl
"I Loved your newsletter of Color of Gemstones, Shells, and more, especially the section entitled how to make a briolette wrap. I was looking for something a little extra special to make family and friends this year for Christmas and you gave me just the thing to do it. Thanks, keep new techniques coming!!!"
- Katrinia
"I just received and read my first newsletter, and am happy to say I'm looking forward to the next newsletter with anticipation. Thanks!"
- Edie
"The pages that you have for Gemstone Properties are perfect. I have never seen ones as good in a book. Is there any way I can get a copy of these pages? I make healing jewelry and need to learn the stones properties.I am a customer. Thanks"
- Felicia
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