Cushion Rhodolite and Diamond Halo Ring Blue NileCushion Rhodolite and Diamond Halo Ring Blue Nile

21 Pink Gemstones (How Many Do You Know?)


Pink gemstones are becoming more popular, especially for engagement rings. Here are 21 examples for every budget and style.

11 Minute Read

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Many gemstones can exhibit a pink hue, a color associated with feelings like love, compassion, and kindness. Many of these pink gemstones also have relatively low price-per-carat costs, so anyone can find something within their price range. Here are our top 21 pink gemstones perfect for jewelry. Some will surely be familiar to you, but many will surprise you. Which one will you purchase next?
Morganite ring. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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Pink Diamond

There's a reason diamonds are the preferred gemstone for engagement rings worldwide. They're incredibly hard. In fact, diamonds are so hard their surfaces can only be scratched by other diamonds. Their abundance and durability earned them the title of April's birthstone.

In nature, pink diamonds are incredibly rare — unlike white diamonds — and command some of the highest price-per-carat values of any gemstone. However, if you want the same look for a fraction of the price, a synthetic diamond might be the best stone for you. Modern growing processes can now produce pink stones affordably. With so many lab-created pink diamonds available, jewelers can also assemble matched sets of stones, a virtually impossible task with the rare natural gems.

If you aren't bothered by the fact that these diamonds were grown in a machine, rather than inside the Earth, this is an exciting opportunity that was not available to buyers even a few years ago.

A truly luxurious gem, this 0.30-ct light pink pear-shaped diamond is one of the Earth's rarest treasures.
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at Blue Nile

Pink Sapphire

While the hardness of diamonds reigns supreme, corundum gems rank second in hardness among natural stones. While red corundum is considered ruby, corundum in any other color, including pink, is known as sapphire. Sapphires make highly durable gemstones appropriate for any type of jewelry, especially engagement rings. Sapphires of any color (not just blue) are also the September birthstone.

This spectacular pink sapphire ring would make a beautiful and unique engagement ring. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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The color saturation of pink sapphire can range from light to strong, so anyone can find one they like. Fortunately, corundum occurs in large quantities all over the world. As such, most of the pink stones on the market are pink sapphires. They have stable prices, and you can easily sort through gems of any size to find the exact pink hue you want. 

Another stunning ring from CustomMade that would make an excellent gift for anyone born in September. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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In addition, many pink sapphires have good clarity, so you can avoid stones with visible imperfections and find better options.

Pink gems like this sapphire can be set in rose gold mountings to enhance their warm color.
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Scientists have been growing synthetic sapphires for over 100 years. If you're on a tight budget and want a big, highly saturated stone, a lab-made sapphire may be your best option. 

Morganite

Morganite is the pink variety of the beryl gem species, which includes well-known gems like blue-green aquamarine and green emerald. Fortunately, unlike emerald, morganite can have very good clarity. These gems tend to have a pleasant, delicate color, possibly with a slight orange component. 

Morganite ring. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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Morganite's color becomes more saturated in larger stones. Fortunately, morganites frequently form in large sizes. In fact, gem faceters sometimes cut morganites with distinctive designs from sizable, readily available crystals. 

Even with diamond accents, this affordable necklace featuring a 0.55-ct morganite set in 14K rose gold remains under $1,000.
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at James Allen

Pink Feldspar (Moonstones and Labradorites)

Most gem enthusiasts will be familiar with the colorless and white varieties of moonstone that have a blue adularescence, a phenomenon best described as a "billowing" effect inside the gem. However, this alternative June birthstone can also show a pink body color. Labradorite, another member of the feldspar gem species, can also have a dominant pink hue. 

Moonstones like this peach-colored gem set in an 18K rose gold pendant are most often fashioned into rounded cabochons, rather than faceted.
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Pink Garnet

Many species and blends of garnet can display a wide range of body colors, including pink. Transparent pink garnets are regularly used in jewelry. However, opaque or translucent hydrogrossular garnets can show a glowing, pink color. Gem cutters often make them into beads or decorative carvings.

Garnets offer some advantages as jewelry stones. They have moderate prices compared to other colored gems. For example, pink garnets can be as beautiful as pink sapphires or tourmalines, yet they may cost significantly less. Garnets also have very good clarity, and you can easily find them in any carat weight. It's no wonder that garnet, the traditional January birthstone, has been prized as a jewelry stone for thousands of years.

This lovely pink garnet is of the rhodolite variety and has been set with diamonds in 18K white gold.
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at Blue Nile

Rose Quartz

Quartz is one of the most common minerals on Earth. Rose quartz takes on a gentle pink hue that never has especially dark tones or intense saturations. 

A delicate and distinctive rose quartz ring. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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Inclusions create this soft color, which make the gem appear a bit cloudy. Rose quartz with lots of perfectly aligned internal inclusions may show chatoyancy or a "cat's eye" effect. More often, however, these inclusions may create asterism or a "star stone" effect on its surface.

Rose quartz often forms in gigantic crystals, which makes it suitable for use in both jewelry and large decorative carvings. 

Many credit rose quartz like these set in 14K white gold earrings with the ability to help ease the effects of mental trauma.
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Pink Scapolite

Although scapolite usually has purple or violet body colors, pink gems do occasionally surface for sale on the market. Scapolites occur in many locations and can show a "cat's eye" effect. Their appearance can overlap with other, more well-known pink gemstones.

cat's eye pink scapolite
Pale pink cat's eye scapolite, 5.48 cts, 11.9 x 10 mm. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Pink Spinel

Like garnet, spinel is another abundantly available gemstone whose beauty rivals gems like sapphire. Yet, it comes with a significantly reduced per-carat price tag. Like scapolites, spinels may look like other more well-known gemstones. In fact, it was only in the 1700s that gemologists realized that spinel was an entirely different gem species than ruby.

Spinel crystals often grow in a flattened form, so gem enthusiasts usually value the color of this modern August birthstone more than its overall shape. This is good news if you're looking for custom-cut pink gemstones for your jewelry! Since faceters usually don't cut pink spinels to calibrated sizes, jewelers often take advantage of their unconventional outlines to make unique pieces.  

The color of this 3.09-ct pink spinel from Myanmar rivals even the best pink sapphire.
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at Brian Gavin

Pink Topaz

Blue topaz is famously one of the December birthstones. However, many people don't realize topaz also comes in many other attractive hues, including pink. 

A pink topaz necklace that dazzles. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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In fact, rare red and pink colors number among the most valuable colors of topaz. (In contrast, blue topaz is one of the least expensive gemstones available). Abundant and durable, topaz has also earned the distinction of being a November birthstone

Pink Tourmaline

Tourmaline, the modern October birthstone, is a relatively common pink gem that you will easily find on the market. Tourmalines actually occur in many species, each exhibiting a variety of different colors. In tourmalines, pink colors may have either orange or purple undertones. You may hear dealers refer to red and pink tourmaline as rubellite

A gorgeous pink tourmaline is the star of this ring. Photo by CustomMade. Used with permission.
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Pink tourmalines with saturated colors command the highest prices, but note that they will appear dark. While good clarity is desirable, the depth of color is considered more important. Some stones have many highly ordered inclusions that cause an attractive "cat's eye" effect.

You can easily find large tourmalines, making tourmalines a great choice for those looking for impressively big pink gemstones.

The pink tourmaline gems in this pair of 14K white gold earrings have an unusual trillion cut.
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Those looking for unusual pink gemstones might consider watermelon tourmalines, which have bright pink interiors and green rims.

Pink Pearls

Cultured freshwater pearls can have many body colors, including pink. Saltwater Akoya pearls have a white or cream body color but may also have a pink overtone. Those in the trade call it "rosé." Some Akoyas show this overtone naturally, while others are exposed to a mild red dye to induce a pink hue. With a hardness score of only 2.5-3, pearls are quite soft. This hardness value means the pearl's surface will easily accumulate scratches. Therefore, jewelers frequently set these traditional June birthstones in necklaces and earrings. 

This 14K rose gold pendant features a pink freshwater pearl that needs no additional ornamentation.
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at James Allen

Pink Apatite

Apatite occurs in many places, but a modest hardness of only 5 limits its jewelry use. Thus, you should wear and store any apatite jewelry with care. Apatite ring stones should have protective settings.

fluorescent apatite - Pakistan
Gem collectors prize apatite's strong fluorescent display. This 3.43-ct, trillion-cut apatite has a pale pink color under white light (left). Under ultraviolet light, it glows bright pink and orange (right).  With the right setting and lots of care, apatite jewelry could make a wonderful conversation piece. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Interestingly, tiny apatite crystals often form inside other gems, such as sapphires, garnets, and emeralds.

Aventurine ("Strawberry Quartz")

The aventurine variety of quartzite, a lapidary stone that contains tiny grains of quartz, can sometimes show a pink color. Inclusions cause this color, so the gems are translucent rather than transparent. You might hear this gemstone called "strawberry quartz." Aventurine stones can grow very large, so gem cutters can fashion sizable pieces from them. In fact, you may find aventurine bangles cut from a single rock.

aventurine and diamond earclips
These 14K gold earclips feature four freeform aventurines and diamond accents. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Hindman.

Pink Coral

Coral often grows in shades of pink, but finding it for sale may prove difficult. Restrictive laws and regulations protect the fragile reefs they come from. If you're looking for coral jewelry, try looking in vintage stores and estate sales.

coral and diamond gold ring
This 14K yellow gold lady's ring features a coral cabochon center stone and diamond accents. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Simpson Galleries, LLC.

Pink Danburite

Named after Danbury, Connecticut, danburite may rarely show a pale pink color. It has reasonable hardness, which means that it's strong enough for jewelry use. However, colorless danburite commands greater value than its colored varieties. Some danburites may also show cat's eyes.

oval brilliant-cut danburite - Mexico
A nearly colorless, oval brilliant-cut danburite with a slight touch of very light pink color. 36.69 cts, 29.2 x 19.6 mm, Charcas, Mexico. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Pink Fluorite

Pink is only one of the many hues that fluorite can exhibit. Although the color tends to be light and crystals can be quite large, fluorite's fragility renders it unsuitable for most jewelry types. It has a low hardness of 4 and cleaves readily in four different directions. You might find fluorites used as beads or carvings and even some raw crystal pendants. However, you probably won't come across too many fluorites when you're shopping for jewelry stones.

Portuguese-cut fluorite - pink gemstones
Medium pink, Portuguese-cut fluorite, 157 cts, 34.2 mm, Pakistan. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Pink Calcareous Concretions and Shells

Some pearl-like gems made of organic calcareous concretions and various shells can show pink and orangey pink colors. Although calcareous concretions and shells aren't pearls, strictly speaking, they are quite rare and may be highly valued by collectors.

conch shell and lapis Navajo bracelet
This Navajo sterling silver stacker cuff bracelet features a pink conch shell center stone and lapis lazuli accents. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Southwestern Style Gallery.

Pink Opal

Pink opals are a very rare variety of the popular October birthstone. These opals are part of a subgroup known as "common opals," which don't show opal's famous play-of-color effect. Rather, pink opals are opaque. All opals are soft gems, with a hardness score of 5.5-6. They are also vulnerable to drying out if stored in dry environments and require special care.

pink opal and diamond pendant
This 18K gold pendant features a pink opal and diamond accents. Photo courtesy of liveauctioneers.com and Clements.

Rhodochrosite

Usually an opaque to translucent gem, rhodochrosite has red to pink colors with saturation that may range from pale to strong. Unfortunately, rhodochrosites have a very low hardness score of 3.5-4.5. Transparent rhodochrosites are very rare.

Opaque rhodochrosite can take on a pale pink-and-white pattern known as "bacon strip," due to its similarity with the food.

rhodochrosite earrings - pink gemstones
Rhodochrosite earring with "bacon strip" pattern. Photo by Deb Nystrom. Licensed under CC By-ND 2.0.

Rhodonite

Rhodonite is a collector's gem that can be pink as well as red. Transparent gems are rare and can be deeply saturated. Translucent and opaque gems will frequently have black veins or splotches. You may see rhodonite carved into beads.

rhodonite - pink gemstones
A rare, bright pink, transparent rhodonite cut into a parallelogram design. 0.27 ct, 5.4 mm x 3.2 mm, Brazil. © Rob Lavinsky, mineralauctions.com. Used with permission.

Pink Spodumene (Kunzite)

Kunzite, the most popular variety of the spodumene family, is a lovely gem with a pink to purple color and delicate to bold saturation. Since kunzites occur in only a few places, such as California, some collectors value the raw crystals over faceted gems. These gems are also notoriously difficult to cut. Thus, you'll rarely see faceted kunzites.

While most gem buyers may not be familiar with kunzite, some famous jewelers, such as Paloma Picasso, have proudly used the stone in their work. However, kunzite's pink color will fade if exposed to too much heat or light. You should reserve these gems for occasional evening wear and always store them in cool, dark conditions.

Each of the kunzite gems in this pair of earrings set in 14K white gold with diamonds weighs an impressive 5 cts.
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at Angara

Pink Zoisite (Thulite)

Blue to violet tanzanite is the most famous zoisite gemstone. The national gemstone of Norway, thulite is an opaque, pink variety of zoisite that often features gray or white mottling. Like many other non-transparent gems, thulite is usually fashioned into beads. Some mistakenly refer to thulite as "pink tanzanite."

thulite - pink gemstones
Rectangular step-cut thulite, 3.29 cts, 14.2 x 8.4 mm, Norway. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Emily Frontiere

Emily Frontiere is a GIA Graduate Gemologist. She is particularly experienced working with estate/antique jewelry.

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