Green Gemstones – A Complete List of Natural Green Gems
There are a few things to bear in mind when choosing a green gemstone.
The first sounds obvious – the color. Gemstones come in an array of green shades and you are bound to love at least one but certain gems have those special hues that fire and sparkle more than others. Our top picks all have sensational green coloring.
The second is the durability or hardness of the gemstone. Unless the stone is going to remain in a display case it will need to take the bumps and knocks of day to day life as a ring or necklace and not break or scratch easily. We would suggest a minimum of 7 on Mohs hardness scale.
Next we have availability and affordability. Colored gemstones are by no means cheap but we do not want to mortgage the family home on the rarest green crystal on earth. Our choices reflect the fact that gemstones are scarce commodities but readably available and within the reach of most people’s finances.
You will probably want to use you green gemstone as an item of jewelry and this can take the form of rings, necklaces, earrings and so on. You may also wish to have matching sets of jewelry pieces. All this means that the gemstones will need to come in a variety of sizes suitable for different occasions and situations.
There are also the gemstone’s spiritual powers to consider. As a general rule, green gemstones are most influential over the Heart Chakra although the blue-green crystals can affect the Throat Chakra and the more yellow-green stones can help the Solar Plexus Chakra.
Generally high quality gemstones are transparent with minimal internal flaws or inclusions. Our choices have high levels of clarity although a few gorgeous but opaque green gemstones appear in our alternatives section.
Right let’s get on with it shall we?
Emerald: Undoubtedly the most famous and iconic green gemstone and sought after for centuries. Loved by royalty and the famous for its lustrous green looks and spiritual power.
| Hardness | 7.5 – 8 |
| Birthstone | May |
| Meaning | Truth and love, rebirth and new beginnings. Fertility and Good Luck |
| See our detailed Emerald gemstone information page here | |
Tsavorite Garnet: Intense bright greens which rival those of the emerald. A sparkling gemstone with great clarity available in most cuts found in only one African location.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Birthstone | January |
| Meaning | A stone of benevolence, prosperity and affluence. Positive and Protective |
| See our detailed Tsavorite Garnet gemstone information page here | |
Peridot: A very pretty grass green gemstone which is sure to bring a smile to the face. Clear and completely untreated gemstones readily available at great prices in all cuts and shapes.
| Hardness | 7 |
| Birthstone | August |
| Meaning | Boosts strength, bravery and stamina. The green color represents vitality. |
| See our detailed Peridot gemstone information page here | |
Apatite is a wonderful gemstone that would attract a much higher price if it were not so relatively soft. It comes in many colors but the greens , especially the Asparagus greens are very popular.
| Hardness | 5 |
| Meaning | Focus and concentration, environmental and humanitarian. |
| See our detailed Apatite gemstone information page here | |
Green Tourmaline The tourmaline family is a versatile and colorful bunch and includes a number of lovely green examples including the rare and expensive chrome tourmaline.
| Hardness | 7.5 |
| Birthstone | October |
| Meaning | The Study Stone, brings happiness and joy. Calming and Uplifting. |
| See our detailed Tourmaline gemstone information page here | |
Demantoid Garnet is a rich green garnet gemstone first found in Russia and famous for its fiery luster. Clear examples are very rare but gems with horsetail inclusions are also very much desired.
| Hardness | 7.5 |
| Birthstone | January |
| Meaning | Energizing and Protective, great for unblocking the Heart Chakra. |
| See our detailed Demantoid Garnet gemstone information page here | |
Green Sphene is a green gemstone with a high luster and an intensely fiery appearance. Also known as titanite and is usually translucent or opaque and quite tricky to cut.
| Hardness | 5 - 5.5 |
| Meaning | Stimulates the mind and enhances creativity. Good for learning and organization. |
| See our detailed Sphene gemstone information page here | |
Chrome Diopside is a rich green gemstone with an envious sparkle that really should be as famous as tsavorites or emeralds. Perhaps it is the odd name or its rarity but this gem is worth a second look.
| Hardness | 5 - 6 |
| Meaning | Compassionate gemstone for nature lovers and environmentalists. |
| See our detailed Chrome Diopside gemstone information page here | |
Green Agate is a translucent to opaque gemstone with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale which means it can be used for any type of jewelry, comes in lovely large sizes, various cuts and shapes and very reasonable prices.
| Hardness | 7.5 |
| Birthstone | May (alternative) |
| Meaning | Abundance and wealth, Love and Security |
| See our detailed Agate gemstone information page here | |
Fluorite comes in a variety of colors including a delightful green. It is quite soft for a gemstone so is often acquired for collections and for its spiritual powers more than for jewelry items.
| Hardness | 4 |
| Meaning | Clears negative energy and inspires creativity and innovation. |
| See our detailed Fluorite gemstone information page here | |
Idocrase was first discovered on Mt Vesuvius and are nearly always green. This rare gemstone is more popular with collectors than jewelers but, when well cut, is a very bright and attractive stone.
| Hardness | 6.5 |
| Meaning | Frees the mind and helps attain wishes and desires. |
| See our detailed Idocrase gemstone information page here | |
Malachite is an historic gemstone with swirls of light and dark green highlighting its surface. A gemstone that is admired as much for its spiritual strengths as its decorative use.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Meaning | The Stone of Transformation, absorbs negative energy. |
| See our detailed Malachite gemstone information page here | |
Chrysoprase is an apple green, opaque gemstone from the chalcedony family, usually cut into dome shaped cabochons, excellent for chunky rings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Birthstone | May (alternative) |
| Meaning | Brings new love, joy and happiness, prosperity and abundance |
| See our detailed Chrysoprase gemstone information page here | |
Green Sapphire: Sapphires do not just come in the famous blue, they can also be found in delightful green colors. A very durable and very prestigious gemstone.
| Hardness | 9 |
| Birthstone | September |
| Meaning | The stone of wisdom, abundance and prosperity. Faith and Fortune. |
| See our detailed Sapphire gemstone information page here | |
Grandidierite is a very rare and often expensive gemstone which ranges in color from turquoise to pale green. The only gemstones worthy of cutting and polishing come from the exotic island of Madagascar.
| Hardness | 7 - 7.5 |
| Meaning | Great influence on the throat and heart Chakras. |
| See our detailed Grandidierite gemstone information page here | |
Amazonite is a light green gemstone with patterns and swirls, used by Ancient Egyptians and named after the famous South American river.
| Hardness | 6 - 6.5 |
| Meaning | EMF protection, calms anxiety, excellent for throat and heart Chakras |
| See our detailed Amazonite gemstone information page here | |
Aventurine is an opaque green form of quartz which is quite similar in looks to jade with a shimmering polish and a reputation for being good luck.
| Hardness | 7 |
| Meaning | The Lucky gemstone, brings prosperity and wealth, good for gamblers. |
| See our detailed Aventurine gemstone information page here | |
Green Jade is a gemstone of great significance that has been mined and revered in China for at least 5000 years. In the past it was reserved only for imperial families and, to this day, quality gemstones can demand the highest of prices.
| Hardness | 6 - 6.5 |
| Meaning | Jade is a gemstone of purification and protection, harmony and balance. |
| See our detailed Jade gemstone information page here | |
Green Kornerupine is a seldom found, somber colored green gemstone which is usually more sought out by collectors than jewelry makers. The autumnal colors are beginning to catch on with those looking for something a bit different.
| Hardness | 3.5 - 4 |
| Meaning | The Stone of Self-development, promotes emotional stability. |
| See our detailed Kornerupine gemstone information page here | |
Green Maw-Sit-Sit is a jade-like green gemstone first found in the northern Burmese village of Maw-sit-sit. It is a rock rather than a mineral with interesting patches and feathering.
| Hardness | 6 - 7 |
| Meaning | Revitalizing and re-energizing, calms anxieties. |
| See our detailed Maw-Sit-Sit gemstone information page here | |
Chrysocolla is a less well known gemstone which is gaining popularity through its eye-catching green colors and complex patterns as well as its spiritual power.
| Hardness | 2 - 4 |
| Meaning | A communication gemstone ideal for meetings and negotiations. |
| See our detailed Chrysocolla gemstone information page here | |
Bloodstone is a deep green gemstone with the famous blood red speckles that give it its name. This dramatic looking type of chalcedony is as loved for its spiritual power as its beauty.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Birthstone | March (alternative) |
| Meaning | Protection, courage and wisdom, boosts confidence and is an aphrodisiac. |
| See our detailed Bloodstone gemstone information page here | |
Actinolite Cat's Eye Cat’s Eyes are a pale green gemstone with a glassy finish that displays the chatoyant phenomena with a similar appearance to nephrite jade.
| Hardness | 5.5 - 6 |
| Meaning | Detoxifying and purifying, strengthens the immune system. |
| See our detailed Actinolite Cat's Eye gemstone information page here | |
Hiddenite Hiddenite is the green sister gemstone to the pink Kunzite, both being examples of spodumene. It can display different shades of green when viewed from different angles giving it a nice twinkle.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Meaning | Encourages mental development, humanitarian and loving. |
| See our detailed Hiddenite gemstone information page here | |
Green Serpentine was so named because its color was similar to that of a classic tropical snake. It is made up of a number of different minerals and has been confused with jade.
| Hardness | 2.5 - 5.5 |
| Meaning | Healing crystal that purifies and detoxifies. Activates Kundalini. |
| See our detailed Serpentine gemstone information page here | |
Prehnite is a usually translucent apple green gemstone which is gaining in popularity as it becomes more well-known and more readily available.
| Hardness | 6 - 6.5 |
| Meaning | Relieves the suffering from nightmares and phobias. The healer’s healer. |
| See our detailed Prehnite gemstone information page here | |
Quartz Cat's Eye is a variety of quartz with fibrous inclusions which cause light to be reflected in such a way as to resemble cat’s eyes.
| Hardness | 7 |
| Meaning | Protection from evil spirits, increases psychic abilities and intuition. |
| See our detailed Quartz gemstone information page here | |
Ruby Zoisite is a natural combination of ruby and zoisite. The intertwined pinkish red ruby and mossy green zoisite creates an attractive contrast.
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Meaning | Relieves feelings of anger and despair. Encourages personal growth. |
Green Variscite is a rare green gemstone more likely found in a collector’s display case than a jeweler’s window although they can make for some very interesting odd shaped pendants.
| Hardness | 4 - 5 |
| Meaning | Calms anxiety and stimulates creativity and self-expression. Good for meditation. |
| See our detailed Variscite gemstone information page here | |
Green Seraphinite is actually a mineral called clinochore which got its new name because the gemstone’s wispy white pattern on a deep green background resembles the feathery wings of an angel.
| Hardness | 2 - 4 |
| Meaning | Heightens all the senses and allows for communication with the inner mind. |
| See our detailed Seraphinite gemstone information page here | |
| Gemstone | Color Rating | Hardness |
|---|---|---|
|
Emerald |
10 |
7.5 - 8 |
|
Tsavorite Garnet |
10 |
6.5 - 7.5 |
|
Peridot |
9 |
7 |
|
Apatite |
9 |
5 |
|
Tourmaline |
8 |
7.5 |
|
Demantoid Garnet |
8 |
7.5 |
|
Sphene |
8 |
5 - 5.5 |
|
Chrome Diopside |
8 |
5 - 6 |
|
Agate |
7 |
7.5 |
|
Fluorite |
7 |
4 |
|
Idocrase |
7 |
6.5 |
|
Malachite |
7 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Chrysoprase |
7 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Sapphire |
7 |
9 |
|
Grandidierite |
7 |
7 - 7.5 |
|
Amazonite |
6 |
6 - 6.5 |
|
Aventurine |
6 |
7 |
|
Jade |
6 |
6 - 6.5 |
|
Kornerupine |
6 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Maw-sit-sit |
6 |
6 - 7 |
|
Chrysocolla |
6 |
2 - 4 |
|
Bloodstone |
6 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Actinolite Cat's Eye |
6 |
5.5 - 6 |
|
Hiddenite |
5 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Serpentine |
5 |
2.5 - 5.5 |
|
Prehnite |
5 |
6 - 6.5 |
|
Quartz Cat’s Eye |
5 |
7 |
|
Ruby Zoisite |
5 |
6.5 - 7 |
|
Variscite |
5 |
4 - 5 |
|
Seraphinite |
5 |
2 - 4 |
- First Published: September-11-2020
- Last Updated: September-11-2020
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