THE WORLD'S SHINIEST GEMSTONES

Shiny flashes and attractive glints of light are bewitching and some of us would go a long way into adorning ourselves with light. From glittery makeup to top to toe sequin dresses and shiny jewellery and accessories, sparkling objects in all sizes tempt and fascinate us.

Newborns follow sparkly objects with their untrained eyes and little girls are obsessed by all things sparkly.

“We humans are made up of stardust. Our eyes reflect starlight. And when we crack it escapes and shines through.” - Vanshika Dhyani

Scientists think that this attraction is deeply rooted in our psyche and try to explain it by the association with water. Its ability to reflect light and fluid movement creates enticing patterns and it is the vital element that conditioned our survival as a species.

Fire, it's counterpart, is equally alluring. Its power shines bright and is a formative staple of human civilisation.

Now isn't it beautiful to understand that our love for sparkle is not just a consumerist drive but an instinct for life as materialised in two essential elements: water and fire?

Diamonds and coloured stones are forged through the power of water and fire. They are light, materialised.

So which are the most sparkly of all gemstones?

Setting aside diamonds that hold an undisputed first place, there are coloured stones that are fiery, more individualistic contestants.

ZIRCON. Not to be confused with cubic zirconia (CZ) that is a cheap man-made simulant, zircon is a natural stone with even higher refracting qualities than diamond but less durable, less hard. It displays a great brilliance and intensive fire and comes in many colours, from colourless to orange, red, green or blue.

DEMATOID GARNET. The most valuable garnet takes its name from its “diamond-like lustre” and comes in green and emerald green colours.

SAPPHIRE. This classic precious stone is one of the hardest and shiniest. Lots of sparkle on the facets, even in included stones or in sapphire beads. Take a look at our blue and pink sapphire jewellery.

 

"Any woman can look her best if she feels good in her skin. It's not a question of clothes or makeup. It's how she sparkles" - Sophia Loren

SPHENE. A lesser known and popular gemstone with a fiery fire but much softer than sapphire.

A word should be said about moissanite, a lab-created mineral that was produced to challenge the diamond supremacy. That one is really shiny, with fiery rainbow-flashes beloved by some, dreaded by others who think it resembles too much of a disco-ball.

Shiny gemstones are precious companions that we can take with us to lighten up our every day.

They remind us to value most the internal sparkle in each of us.

 

"Any star can be devoured by human adoration, sparkle by sparkle" - Shirley Temple

Also in News, trends and jewellery stories

Jewellery

Whiter-than-white gold. The bare truth.

White gold getting yellow? How come? Any alternatives available?

Read More

Trends

Do millennials love jewellery?

The much talked about generation has a particular angle about jewellery too.

Read More

Birthstones

December Birthstones for the wild heart

There are three December gemstones. Can you name them all?

Read More