Grey Gemstones List – My Top 8

If you are a fan of grey color gemstones and searching for a list of different types, properties, advantage and disadvantages, you are in the right place. The purpose of this article is to come up with a grey gemstones list with all the important information of each stone.

Grey Gemstones List

Following grey gemstones list is not created in any specific order. The list is followed by details of each gemstone and I will cover advantages and disadvantages of each different stone. Depending on those, you can select the best stone for your requirement.

• Grey Diamond
• Grey Spinel
• Grey Sapphire
• Grey Moonstone
• Grey Pearl
• Grey Agate
• Grey Chalcedony
• Grey Tourmaline

Let’s go through the details one by one.

1. Grey Diamond

Though it is not very popular, grey diamonds are a great choice if you are looking for grey color gemstones. When hydrogen is present in diamond, it get a grey hue. As per the classification of Leibish.com, this grey hue varies in a wide range, from faint grey to fancy dark grey.

You can check the prices of grey diamonds at Leibish from here.

Diamonds are the hardest material on earth with a hardness of 10 in the Moh’s scale and therefore it is the ultimate scratch resistant material. But diamonds are not as tough as sapphire and it can chip or crack if faced with a hard knock.

2. Grey Spinel

Spinels are another very popular and a beautiful gemstone. Red and blue spinels are the most expensive but grey spinels have certainly made their mark recently. Grey spinels come in a range of different color tones from light grey to dark grey.

Spinels has a hardness of 8 in the Moh’s scale of hardness and a refractive index of 1.71. Therefore, this stone is a very durable gemstone with good brilliance and it is a great choice for everyday jewelry.

Although not as common as synthetic sapphires, lab grown spinels are available. The GRS (Gem Research Swiss Lab) issued a notice about lab grown spinels in 2015.

Therefore, when you are purchasing spinel gemstones or jewelry, you should buy from a trustworthy seller or request for a gemstone certificate.  (When buying any type of expensive gemstone or a jewelry, buying from a trustworthy seller is a must as there are so many different ways which you can get ripped off)

3. Grey Sapphire

Grey sapphire is another uncommon gemstone. But it certainly add a unique elegance to jewelry. Thought it is not as expensive as blue or pink sapphire, it might be difficult to find as it is not a commonly used color of sapphire.

The hardness of sapphire is 9 which is second only to diamond and it also has a high refractive index of 1.76.  Sapphire is also less prone to cracking or chipping due to its strong structure. Therefore, grey sapphire is a highly durable gemstone.

Due to its high hardness and strength, it is a great choice for an important piece of jewelry such as an engagement ring or a wedding ring and also for everyday jewelry.

4. Grey Moonstone

Out of all the gemstones discussed so far, grey moonstone might be the most popular grey color gemstone. There are few types of moonstones such as rainbow, blue, white, colorless and grey. All these types are used in different types of jewelry. Moonstones are famous for its unique silky sheen and soft surface which ads a unique value to its jewelry.  Colorless moonstones also demonstrate a blue, white or a mixed color sheen. There are some moonstones which demonstrates the cat’s eye effect as well.

Since its hardness is only 6 – 6.5., it can get scratched easily. Moonstones are generally cut as cabochons and raw moonstones are also used in some jewelry.

5. Grey Pearl

Although white is the most popular color for pearls, they come in a range of colors including grey. Grey pearls come in a range of different grey hues, from faint grey to strong metallic grey. Pearls also demonstrate different colors when viewed from different angles, which is known as iridescence.

Hardness of pearl is only 2.5 – 4.5 in the Moh’s scale probably the softest gemstone in this list and therefore it can easily get damaged.

Pearls are gown inside mollusks and oysters. Long ago, pearls were one of the most valuable gemstones as it was hard to find. Sri Lanka, where I am from, was known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean as the sea around Sri Lanka was famous for pearls. But pearls are now abundant and affordable as those are now cultured by oyster famers and mussel farmers.

6. Grey Agate

Agate is another gemstone found in abundance and hence it is very affordable. It is a mix of minerals and quartz and chalcedony are its main components. Agate comes in so many different colors including grey. Grey agate ranges from translucent to opaque and it adds a unique beauty to jewelry with its soft oily brilliance.

It is a fairly durable stone with a hardness of 7, especially when compared with the price you pay.

7. Grey Chalcedony

Grey chalcedony is another popular gemstone and it is also very affordable. Chalcedony often comes in translucent to opaque variations.

Since this gemstone has no cleavage, it is resistant to chipping and cracking. But since the hardness is about 6.5 – 7 in the Moh’s hardness scale, it is not as hard as diamond, sapphires or spinels.

8. Grey Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a very popular gemstone for jewelry. As most of the other grey gemstones, grey tourmaline is also not a popular gemstone. But, it can be faceted to give a great luster and brilliance which will definitely make a great piece of jewelry.

With a hardness of 7 – 7.5, it has a good durability. It is also an affordable gemstone and comes in a range of different green tones

Final Thoughts

The objective of this article was to make a grey gemstones list which are suitable for different types of jewelry. I have highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of each gemstone which will make selecting one particular type easier.

p.s.

(The basic gemstone valuing criteria is the 4 c’s framework which I have covered for diamonds, sapphires
and emeralds
before. Either one of these articles will give you a basic understanding on the 4 c’s criteria for a gemstone if you are keen on learning more about it).

Note : If you are planning to buy gemstones or jewelry online, I recommend you to read this article for some important tips)