GIA Highlights Red, White and Blue Gemstones in Honor of the U.S. 250th Anniversary

CARLSBAD, CA — The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is highlighting a selection of red, white and blue gemstones and pearls, some from the GIA Museum collection, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The red gems include a carved ruby depicting Abraham Lincoln, red spinel, rhodochrosite and red beryl. The white portion of the selection features zircon, beryllonite, apophyllite and natural pearls, which form through layers of nacre inside certain mollusks. The blue gems include dumortierite, blue spinel, euclase and benitoite, California’s state gemstone.

Nathan Renfro, Senior Manager of Colored Stones Identification at GIA, said: “Red, white and blue are instantly recognizable, but in gems and pearls, they are far from uniform. This mix highlights how those colors show up across different materials, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar palette.”

The selection is accompanied by explanations of how trace elements, crystal structure, natural formation and cutting techniques produce color in gems and pearls.

For more information, contact Stephen Morisseau at smorisse@gia.edu.