The colour white is associated with purity, peace and innocence. Throughout history, white gemstones have been used in jewellery and as spiritual objects and talismans. White became a mainstream colour after Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress. Thus began the association of purity with white in a modern context. Today, clear and white gemstones are worn commonly as fashion statements, but their symbolism remains the same. These stones exude elegance, style and sophistication. Although diamonds and pearls are the two most popular white gems, there are stunning alternatives, both in precious and semi-precious categories.
In this blog, we will explore 10 white precious and semi-precious gemstones. But before that, let’s first understand what makes a gem precious or semi-precious.
Precious vs. Semi-precious stones
Gemstones are essentially mineral formations that are cut and polished to bring out their true beauty and brilliance. Of course, not all jewels are cut and polished such as pearls. Pearls are organic jewels that need no cutting and polishing as they look naturally beautiful.
Gemstones have been referred to as “precious” and “semi-precious” on the basis of their rarity and beauty. As some of the precious gemstones became more and more available, they have been categorized under semi-precious in recent times. Apart from the “value” factor, gemstone experts have also taken the gemstone’s uniqueness, quality, hardness and provenance into account. However, such categorization has no scientific backing.
Only four types of gemstones continue to be regarded as precious gems in the world of jewellery. They are diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. A pearl, an opal, or a piece of jade may occasionally be classed as a precious stone, but they are more often, classified as semi-precious. These four precious stones have historically been the most expensive and sought-after gems.
Other than those four, all other gemstones are regarded as semi-precious. Although the list is endless, some of the more popular ones are agate, amethyst, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnet, lapis lazuli, moonstone, citrine, opal, pearl, peridot, quartz, spinel, tanzanite, turquoise and zircon.
The four precious gemstones were divided into different categories because of their varying prices and rarity as compared to other jewels. And then there are some semi-precious stones that fetch substantially higher prices than precious stones too.
Also Read: List of Precious & Semi-Precious Grey Gemstones
List of 10 White Gemstones to Fall in Love with Instantly
Explore the gemstone names and colours, along with their symbolism, so that you can pick the perfect white gemstone for yourself. Let’s go ahead and dig deeper into the world of white gems, their significance and what make them unique.
1. White Topaz
White topaz is topaz in its purest form. Although topaz gemstones are most commonly worn in a blue hue, their white version is well-liked due to their exceptional qualities. White topaz is affordable and makes for a fantastic alternative to diamonds.
White topaz gemstones are highly durable and excellent for all kinds of jewellery pieces as they rank an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Also, white topaz gemstones are a versatile choice for earrings, rings, pendants and bracelets in classic, vintage as well as modern settings.
2. Moonstone
The moonstone is named after the shimmering lunar beams it emits that mimic the moonbeams. This ethereal gemstone symbolises inspiration, harmony and hope. Moonstone is an orthoclase feldspar gemstone with a vitreous sheen and has a Mohs hardness rating of 6 to 6.5.
Especially white moonstones are notable for their optical phenomenon known as adularescence and have a milky white tint. The centipede-like inclusions cause the billowy effect as light hits the moonstone. June babies call this lovely gem as their birthstone. However, no matter what month you were born, you can benefit from the healing powers of moonstone. Moonstones, which align with the sacral and third eye, can improve reproductive health and your relationship with your higher self. They are also said to increase your focus, inner vision and mental clarity.
Also Read: The History of Moonstone
3. Opal
Opal comes in a wide range of hues, including black, red, yellow and green, but the milky opal with iridescent play of colour, is the most popular. Due to its interior structure that scatters light, white opals, unlike other colour opals, can reflect a wide range of hues. The traditional birthstone for the month of October is this semi-precious stone. Cheque out Angara’s Collection for white opal jewellery. While some opals are translucent and colourless, others have an opaque, milky white appearance. They are relatively soft stones, scoring a 5 on the Mohs scale.
The significance of white opal is similar to that of other white gemstone varieties. Many believe white opals stand for purity, hope, truth and a higher power. However, if you look at history, its meanings have varied through time. Opals were once considered lucky charms, but the Black Plague of the 14th century changed that. When you are on the verge of death, opals are said to sparkle brighter. From being considered unlucky gems to be regarded as powerful talismans, opals have come a long way. Opals were subsequently called the official gemstone of Australia, as about 97 percent of the world’s opals come from this country.
4. White Quartz
White quartz is a distinctive stone in its own way. It isn’t completely transparent, but it’s also not milky like an opal. White quartz deserves a second glance because of its glass-like appearance. Even though it didn’t earn the same popularity as diamonds or sapphires, it is a great substitute for them. Quartz is a practical option for all budgets because it is easily available and reasonably priced. Look no further than white quartz if you’re seeking white gemstone jewellery on a budget! Like white quartz, milk quartz is another variety that is opaque and found virtually everywhere around the world.
5. White Diamond
The name diamond is derived from the Greek word “Adamas,” which means “invincible,” a reference to diamonds’ remarkable hardness and sturdiness. The hardest known mineral on Earth is the diamond, a clear crystalline form of carbon. In addition to its outstanding hardness, diamond, especially white diamond is coveted for its superb brilliance and “dispersion rate” of a visible fire. The most well-known diamonds are the conventional “white diamonds,”, aka colourless diamonds.
The carbon structure of white diamonds give them their unique physical properties. Essentially, the development of an immensely strong three-dimensional structure, produced by the connections between each carbon atom and four other carbon atoms that are all closely packed, gives the diamond its strength. The crystal pattern of white diamond is entirely symmetrical, which enables it to diffract light in all directions at the same speed. As a result, white diamonds rank 10 on the Mohs scale, the highest among all gems.
This nature’s marvel has traditionally been the stone of choice for engagement rings. When you shop from Angara, you get exclusively hand-crafted diamond rings with unparalleled beauty.
Also Read: 7 Diamond Birthstone Picks April Borns Will Want To Flaunt!
6. White Sapphire
The best diamond alternative for jewellery is white sapphire. Although coloured sapphire gemstones are more popular, the white variety has its own distinct qualities. White sapphires have excellent strength and stunning clarity. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and price points and are quite readily available.
White sapphire gemstones rate a 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, second to a white diamond. This makes white sapphires the second-hardest substance on Earth after diamonds because of their strength. For a large centre stone, white sapphire gemstones are a great option as they are less expensive than a diamond of the same size and quality. Cheque out Angara’s GIA-certified white engagement rings studded with white sapphires to pick a brilliant sparkler.
7. Pearls
Although pearls might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering white gemstones, they are more than deserving the top spot in the list of white gemstones. Pearls are eminent natural jewels found in the oceans, rivers and other waterways. They are a natural phenomenon, courtesy of mollusks and oysters. Pearls are known to represent femininity and innocence.
Due to the gemstone’s nature and scarcity, pearls are cultivated in freshwaters and oceans. These are cultured pearls and are used for engagement rings, pendants, earrings and necklaces. Although it scores between 2.5 and 4.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, pearl is quite a hardy gem and can continue to look flawless if taken good care. Plus, it is relatively inexpensive, thanks to the development of cultivated pearls. Many couples today choose freshwater cultured pearl rings instead of conventional gemstones for their simplistic beauty and what they represent.
8. White Jade
Jade comes in various colours, and its most well-known colour is green. But did you know that jade also comes in white? It is a highly durable stone thanks to its compact structure, scoring a 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. White jade is perfect for carvings, engravings and sculptures as it is perfect for faceting with extra depth. Also, jade is cut as a cabochon to display its smooth and waxy sheen. White jade looks impressive when it comes to white gemstone jewellery.
9. White Jasper
Jasper is a type of quartz chalcedony. The compactness of white jasper, with a hardness of 6.5-7 Mohs, is comparable to that of jade, despite being slightly higher. Jasper represents courage, new beginnings and hope. The majority of jaspers, including white, are available in plenty and also reasonably priced. This opaque white stone has distinctive patterns that make it a unique white stone. Most jaspers have opaque to transparent looks and have dark matrix inclusions and patterns.
Also Read: Different Types of Precious & Semi-precious Black Gemstones
10. White Howlite
This borate mineral is found in Canada and some areas of the USA. White howlite gemstones have a shine on its surface that gives them the look of white marble or porcelain. White howlite gemstones range from opaque to white and while some specimens may have a matrix, others may be completely white and free of it. The ability of white howlite to imitate other gemstones is its unique characteristic. In addition, white howlite gemstones can absorb dye effectively due to their porous nature, which enables them to be sold as lapis lazuli, red coral, or even turquoise.
Conclusion
White gemstones are used as diamond alternatives and substitutes since they are significantly less expensive than real diamonds. While you can opt for traditional white gems such as white diamonds and sapphires, but if you are on a budget, alternative white gems can be great picks. Shop at Angara to pick your favourite white gemstone studded jewellery and if you want to be extra certain on the quality, you can opt for a GIA certified gemstone jewellery too. Besides, you can customise your jewellery as per your choice of gem quality, carat weight and metal.
Always buy gemstones from a reputable, authorised jeweller and make sure the stone’s provenance is known. Also, it is better to take time and verify the item’s quality and value, especially if the jewellery you have your eyes on, is expensive. Excited to shop white gemstone pieces? Explore them right away!
