Christmas is a time of warmth, celebration, and colour. Whether you’re designing jewellery for festive gifting or simply love the idea of working with a palette of Christmas gemstones, certain gems feel especially fitting for this season. These stones capture the hues, symbolism, and energy that make Christmas so magical.
1. Garnet – The Classic Christmas Red
Few gems say “Christmas” quite like garnet. Its deep red tones mirror holly berries, velvet ribbons, and mulled wine by the fire.
Traditionally linked to love, friendship, and vitality, garnet has been worn since ancient times as a talisman for protection and courage. It’s also one of January’s birthstones, making it perfect for those born just after the holidays.
Design tips – Garnet’s deep red hue pairs beautifully with warm gold or silver, and its good hardness makes it ideal for rings, pendants, and statement earrings.
🔗 Explore my Jewellers Guide to Garnet for tips on working with this vibrant gemstone
2. Emerald – Evergreen Beauty
Alongside red, green completes the classic festive palette, and Emeralds are often the first gemstones that come to mind when thinking of green.
Emerald’s lush green has long symbolised renewal and life. All fitting themes for the festive season. In ancient Rome, emerald was linked to Venus, goddess of love and beauty, while in more modern symbolism it’s associated with friendship and harmony. Its evergreen hue pairs beautifully with red gemstones in Christmas jewellery designs.
Design tips – Emeralds are relatively easy to chip, so use protective settings like bezels or halo designs to keep these lush greens safe in festive jewellery.
🔗 Want a few pointers for working with Emerald? Read Jewellers Guide to Emerald
3. Ruby – Passion and Joy
Rubies bring both luxury, and a bold, fiery energy to any Christmas collection. Their intense red symbolises love, vitality, and success, perfect sentiments for the end of the year. Rubies were once believed to hold the fire of the sun, a fitting contrast to the cold winter months.
Design tips – Ruby’s vibrant red and toughness make it perfect as a centrepiece in rings or pendants, and it works well alongside diamonds or white sapphires for contrast.
🔗 Discover expert tips for working with Ruby in my Jewellers Guide to Ruby
4. Sky Blue Topaz – Winter Sky Serenity
Red and green don’t have to be the only colours you use in your Christmas designs. Sometimes considered an alternative December birthstone, blue topaz captures the crisp clarity of a frosty winter morning. Its frosty blue tones inspire calm, sharpen clarity, and promote open expression, adding tranquil elegance to winter jewellery.
Design tips – Sky blue topaz shines in open settings where light can pass through, and its icy tones look stunning against platinum or white gold for winter-inspired pieces.
🔗 Want some guidance for working with Topaz? Check out my Jewellers Guide to Topaz
5. Turquoise – The Gift of Good Fortune
One of Decembers birthstones, Turquoise has been treasured for thousands of years as a charm for luck and protection in many cultures. Its soft blue-green tone recalls both evergreen boughs and frozen lakes, making it a natural choice for winter jewellery. Turquoise has also been exchanged as a friendship stone, an especially fitting sentiment for Christmas gifting.
Design tips – Turquoise is relatively soft, so it’s best suited to pendants, earrings, or rings with protective settings that help prevent scratches while showing off its beautiful blue-green colour.
6. White Sapphire – Snowflake Sparkle
White sapphire offers brilliant sparkle without the diamond price tag. Its clear, icy light fits the season perfectly, symbolising purity, clarity, and faithfulness. In some traditions, white sapphires were thought to bring wisdom and protect travellers, something that certainly fits all those holiday journeys.
Design tips – White sapphire is durable and sparkly, making it an excellent diamond alternative for rings and earrings that will see everyday wear during the holiday season.
🔗 Learn how to handle Sapphires like a pro with my Jewellers Guide to Sapphire
7. Lapis Lazuli – Starry Night Magic
With its deep royal blue and golden flecks, lapis lazuli calls to mind a starlit Christmas Eve sky. Historically linked to royalty and spiritual insight, it was once ground into pigment for religious artwork, including depictions of the Madonna’s robes. For those drawn to the mystical side of the holidays, lapis offers a sense of wonder and reflection.
Design tips – Lapis’s rich blue with golden flecks looks amazing in cabochon or bead designs, and pairing it with warm metals like gold enhances its celestial look.
8. Peridot – A Touch of Festive Light
Although more often associated with summer, peridot’s bright green offers a nice contract to emeralds often deeper tones. Its glow also complements Christmas beautifully. Ancient Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun,” and its golden-green tones add a cheerful contrast to deeper holiday hues.
Design tips – Peridot’s bright green hue works beautifully as an accent around deeper reds or golds, and its medium hardness is best for pendants and earrings rather than high-wear rings.
🔗 Get practical advice for making jewellery with Peridot in my Jewellers Guide to Peridot
Choosing Your Perfect Christmas Gem
Whether you prefer the timeless elegance of emerald, the warmth of garnet, or the frosty beauty of blue topaz, there’s a Christmas gemstone for every mood and design. These stones don’t just look festive, they also carry centuries of meaning tied to love, hope, and renewal.
🛍️ Discover our current selection of loose gemstones and find the perfect stones for your festive designs.
📌 Don’t forget to save this list of Christmas gemstones for next time you need design inspiration.
