Just like the colourful toppings on an ice cream sundae, the gemstones of gold jewellery only make it brighter, more beautiful, and more deserving. Gold itself is quite easy on the eyes, with its shiny, unforgiving, deep yellowish hues that are uniquely only found in this precious metal. Because of this exact reason, some people might argue that gold jewellery does not need any more inclusions to make it better. While it does come to the question of subjective preference, would you really not want any toppings on your sundae? Especially when there are so many to choose from.
Jewels, as essentially toppings for gold, are not a novel concept, but rather a century-old custom among different cultures for a plethora of reasons. Currently, there are over 300 different types of exquisite gemstones on earth. However, only the right gems can elevate a humble piece of gold jewellery into something unforgettable. And, no, we are not going to be " eeny, meeny, miny, moe on this. Let us at Starlight Jewellery show you the top 10 hottest gems to pair with gold jewellery and why they make the list.
Why Gold & Gemstones Are the Perfect Match
As miraculously beautiful products of Mother Earth, gold and gems are inherently meant to complement each other. Being rare beauties, both gold and jewels are priced highly in the jewellery market and in other aspects, giving them a meaningful value that is hard for money to reach. Within this symbiotic match, gold and gems often make a match made in heaven when paired correctly.
Gold metal, with its warm-toned exterior, adds the comfort of a hug for any gemstone to shine on. It provides the picture-perfect backdrop for colourful jewels to upgrade the whole aesthetic and monetary value of any gold piece you wear. Moreover, just like gold, gemstones are associated with rich symbolism and cultural meanings that give them life, beyond their appeal. So, whether it is a cosy ruby or a cooling sapphire, the right gemstones can uplift your everyday 999 or 916 gold jewellery.
Top 10 Gemstones That Look Stunning with Gold
1. Ruby | Passion & Royalty
Often found in pinkish blushes to blood-red hues, ruby is known for its fire-like sparkle. The name for this gemstone comes from the Latin word ruber, meaning red. It is one of the cardinal gems and also the birthstone for July. This stone goes well with the warm-toned hues of gold, playing a fiery combination that attracts attention. Rubies are associated with love, romance, passion, and royalty today, while in medieval times, they were considered a symbol of wealth and health. Ruby gold jewellery typically stands out in neutral coloured or one-toned outfits, such as a black cocktail dress, a white outfit, or, if you are a bit adventurous, with a forest green outfit.
2. Emerald | Wealth & Novelty
Bringing a luscious green colour, an emerald gemstone makes an excellent partner for high-quality gold jewellery. The green-gold combo whispers quite luxury in the best possible way, giving gold jewellery an expensive appeal. This green gem is known for being related to prosperity, wealth, and new beginnings. In ancient times, due to its stark green colour, it was paired with gold jewellery as a way of creating protection against evil entities and negative energy. Emerald gold jewellery can be styled similarly to rubies with neutral and solid colours. For a more playful look, you can pair it with opposing tones such as orange, red, and burgundy.
3. Sapphire | Wisdom & Protection
If you're thinking of the Heart of the Ocean necklace Rose from Titanic had, you're spot on for the sapphire. This gemstone gets its cool blue look from cobalt, titanium, and chromium in the stone. While many of us think of clear blue when we hear the word sapphire, sapphires can come in different colours like green, orange, purple, and even yellow, depending on their categories. Sapphires are known for their astonishing hardness, which makes them a great fit for gold jewellery that lasts a lifetime with high durability. It is also known to be symbolic of knowledge, calmness, and safety. You can pair sapphire gold jewellery with cool-toned outfits or neutral ones to stand out in a crowd.
4. Pearl | Purity & Sophistication
Pearls as gemstones are quite the popular choice today, as they bring a sense of innocence, elegance, and sophistication into any gold jewellery. Pearls come in a variety of colours and shapes that give a diverse collection for gold lovers to choose from. From Akoya pearls that resemble the classic timeless look to the Tahitian pearl that plays on the edge of elegance and fashion with its deep colourful overtones, pearls are an addition that never goes out of style for gold jewellery. In different cultures, pearls as gemstones are related to purity, old money, and even fertility. Pearl jewellery is a great choice for wedding and engagement attire. They are also an amazing pick for everyday wear with any type of outfit.
5. Citrine | Abundance & Creativity
Coming with the refreshingness and daintiness of citrus fruits, the gemstone citrine, aesthetically, resembles the colour yellow in nature. These types of gemstones are a variety of quartz that typically ranges from bright yellows to burnt oranges. Being the birthstone of November, it is associated with success, happiness, and creativity. With the dainty hues of citrine, it is better paired with high contrast outfits, especially winter wear, for the gold jewellery to stand out. This gemstone has the delicacy to be a daily wear as well.
6. Garnet | Strength & Stability
Belonging to a group of silicate minerals, garnet gemstones come in different shades from deep blood reds, oranges, yellows, greens, browns, to sometimes even blue. Red garnets can often be confused with rubies, as they look similar; however, garnet gemstones are considered more affordable due to availability. The warm hues of these gems pair well with the equally summer-like shades in gold jewellery, creating a sexy, confident look when worn. You can layer garnet jewellery for a youthful look, as well as wear it solo on a date night for a romantic spin.
7. Amethyst | Balance & Calm
This purple beauty may be a childhood piece of nostalgia if you grew up with the old Barbie movies. Amazingly. Amethyst has the ability to blend sentimentality and modernism together, making it a top pick for gemstones on gold jewellery today. Amethyst is believed to have healing powers that can drain negative energy in a room, bringing balance and harmony to any place. This whimsical gemstone looks mesmerising on gold jewellery when worn with a simple white outfit or as part of a colourful attire with pops of purple.
8. Topaz | Clarity & Joy
Topaz is typically a colourless precious gemstone that decorates gold jewellery, resulting in an elegant and modern finish to any wear. However, sometimes due to defects in the crystal structure, topaz can come in colours such as red, blue, yellow, and dark orange. Topaz is also the birthstone of November, right aside with citrine, and is associated with truth-seeking and good fortune. Due to its clear look, it is often used for wedding jewellery gifts like necklaces, pendants, and rings. Depending on the colour you choose, it can be styled in highly versatile ways.
9. Peridot – Renewal & Energy
Mirroring new birth and spring, peridot is a type of mineral, olivine, and is known for sporting a vibrant olive green colour that sometimes sways towards yellowish greens. As a birthstone for the month of August, it is believed to bring good luck, novelty, and life. As the colour of this gemstone does not create much contrast against gold jewellery, they look best in less noisy outfits to stand out. Peridot gold jewellery in softer pastel-like colours will give you a serene cottage-core aesthetic.
10. Moonstone – Intuition & Femininity
Moonstone- a gemstone that looks like the mermaids themselves picked from a dainty ocean floor, is adored for its cloudy moonlit-like sparkle. Due to the colour of this gem, moonstone gold jewellery has a fairy appeal that stuns an onlooker, whether they are a jewellery lover or not. It is connected to divine femininity and, unsurprisingly, lasting beauty, adding a cool element to warm gold jewellery, creating perfect harmony. This kind of jewellery is a suitable choice for boho-chic wear due to its light hues and can uplift a colourful outfit, but keeping it minimalistic.
How to Choose the Right Gemstone for Your Gold
● Consider your budget and the prices of your favourite gems.
● Go for warm coloured gems if you have a warm undertone on your skin and vice versa.
● Think about your everyday style- does it have a lot of dark colours, neutrals, or light pastels?
● If it is a gift, what would your person like, or better yet, what is their birthstone?
Frequently Asked Questions
● What colour gemstones complement yellow gold?
Yellow gold goes great with rubies, emeralds, or blue sapphires, resulting in a striking final look.
● What are the best gemstones for daily wear?
Gemstones with high durability, such as rubies, emeralds, and amethysts, are recommended for daily wear.
● Are gemstone and gold combinations trendy in 2025?
According to Vogue, with the colourful trends that 2025 has brought, gems and gold should definitely be a staple in your closet.
Key Takeaways for Your Gold and Gem Shopping
It is a fact that gold itself is magnificent - but when married with the right gemstone, it is meaningful, impressive, and unforgettable. Now that we have given you the cheat code to finding the top 10 gemstones for your gold jewellery, remember to choose wisely with what matches you and your preferences the most. We wish you to shine even brighter with gemstone jewellery at Starlight Jewellery to get you started.