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| Browse by stone type
The stones and crystals represented on this page have proved to be amongst the most popular in our shops over the many years Crystals (UK) have been trading.
Below you will find a brief description of each stone or crystal, along with direct links to products available for each type – plus the relevant FactSheet where available.
For information about Birth & Zodiac stones, please consult the right-hand column on this page >>>
We hope you enjoy perusing this 'stone type' listing and find many things that interest you.
If you already know what form of item you are looking for (a bracelet, for example) but are undecided as to which stone type would suit you best, then it may be quicker to directly access the 'product type' listings through the regular links in the left-hand menu which appears throughout the website.
 Amber
The amber used by Crystals is Baltic Amber or “Gold of the North” is actually the fossilised resin from an extinct type of Pine tree. It is one of the first stones to have been used as jewellery, many ancient pieces have been found in prehistoric burials and were believed to help the person in the spirit world. Warm to touch, easy to carve and polish and a beautiful colour amber is just as popular today.
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 Amethyst
Amethyst is a type of quartz that has a small amount of iron giving it a lovely purple colour. Historically said to be a cure for drunkenness it is also known as the bishops’ stone due to its spiritual qualities. Popular in the Victorian period when it was highly valued as a rare gemstone it has now become more widely available due to large deposits being discovered in Brazil.
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 Carnelian
Carnelian is a form of Agate that has undergone changes through being heated deep in the earth. The best quality carnelian is used for the carving of signet rings and as the base stone in Cameo rings. Strong and resilient it is also the chakra stone for the Solar Plexus. Most Carnelian is now mined in India.
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 Citrine
Citrine is another form of quartz and is formed when amethyst is slowly heated deep underground . The depth of colour varies from pale lemon yellow to orange depending on the amount of heat that was involved in its evolution.
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 Fluorite
The most famous type of Fluorite is Derbyshire Blue John, originally Bleu Jeune, meaning blue and yellow. Fluorite also comes in purple and transparent and is often attractively banded. It is rather a soft stone and should be treated with care. China is the biggest producer of Fluorite which is also important in the chemical industry.
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 Garnet
Garnet is most often associated with India where it has been used as a gemstone for thousands of years. Most often a deep blood red it can also more rarely occur in orange or green forms. Hardwearing and lustrous, garnet has an enduring appeal.
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 Hematite
Hematite (also spelt Haematite) is the main ore of Iron and has been used since the Iron Age to produce valuable metal. One form of Haematite is Red Ochre which was used in pre-historic cave paintings and is still used as a red pigment. A harder, silvery-black variety is used in jewellery where it shiny finish reflects the colours it is worn with.
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 Jade
Jade is the historically the stone of the Orient and is the most highly valued stone still in the Far East. Green is a lucky colour in China and the best green stones are very expensive. An extremely complex crystal structure makes it very strong, so it can be carved into minutely detailed figures without breaking. More recently the Nephrite form of Jade is used since large deposits found in Canada have made it more affordable.
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 Labradorite
The name of this stone denotes the place of its’ original discovery in Labrador in Canada, Almost opal like in its’ array of intense rainbow colours which change according to the angle that the stone is held, it is one of the most attractive gemstones. Today, much of our Labradorite comes from Madagascar.
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 Lapis Lazuli
Literally the stone of the heavens its deep blue colour flecked with fools gold being likened to the evening sky studded with distant stars. It is the source of the pigment ultramarine used in artists’ paints for hundreds of years, perhaps most beautifully seen in monastic illuminated manuscripts. Today most Lapis Lazuli comes from Afghanistan.
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 Moonstone
Always seen as a very soft feminine stone, the subtle lights and colours of Moonstone has always been admired. The best stones have a lustrous quality and reflect the essence of the moon, pale and luminous. Most Moonstone comes from India where pink, peach, and grey forms also occur. The highest quality blue moonstones come from Sri Lanka.
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 Peridot
Peridot is a bright apple green form of olivine and is formed by volcanic activity. Many volcanic islands have beach sand studded with crystals of Peridot, but few of these are large enough to produce gemstones. These form deeper underground where the rocks have cooled more slowly. A lovely, vibrant stone popular in India.
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 Quartz
Although made of silicon, the commonest element on earth, good quality, clear, flawless crystals are quite rare. The main sources are Arkansas,Brazil and Madagascar although some fine crystals have been found in the Alps and Himalayas each with their distinctive patterns of growth and formation. Quartz chandeliers will produce thousands of rainbows due to its refractive properties.
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 Rose Quartz
Known as the stone of love and friendship the gentle pink tones of Rose Quartz are much admired the world over. In the chakra system it relates to the heart and touches our emotions. It is durable and hard enough to be carved and worn as jewellery. The best Rose Quartz is found in Brazil, Spain and Madagascar.
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 Tiger Eye
Tiger-eye is an earthy golden brown stone that flashes like an eye when viewed from different angles. It is one of the gemstones more popular with men perhaps due its’ association with the hunting spirit. Most Tiger-eye comes from South Africa, Australia and USA and is also more rarely found as blue or red forms.
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 Topaz
Topaz is a hard wearing stone with a mellow lustre. Some the worlds' largest crystals are of topaz. Because it is so tough it is often found as water-worn pebbles. There is a variety of colours, from colourless to yellow,green, violet,blue and pink.
The colour changes with heat, some colourless stones becoming blue, the shade varying with temperature.Imperial topaz from Brazil is famously bright and fiery.
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 Tourmaline
A very complex mineral composition means that Tourmalines are found in a range of colours depending on the fine balance of elements in each stone sometimes changing within a single stone. Black is commonest colour followed by various greens, pinks, blues, yellows and colourless. Green stones with pink centres are known as watermelon. As a result, according to the chakra system it affects all parts of the body, and of course there is always a tourmaline to go fashionably with any colour.
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 Turquoise
Like amber, Turquoise has a long history of use by man as a much valued gemstone and traded across continents by ancient man. It is often said to bring good luck to travellers. Native Americans associate Turquoise with the spirit of the sky and some of the finest stones come from the deserts of Arizona, but also from Iran and the Tibetan Himalayas.
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Other stones...
Crystals (UK) deals with a far wider variety of stones than can be featured on the website at this time and we'll always be pleased to help you source what you are looking for if we can.
We do have a few items on the site already in rarer stones and these can be found by clicking the stone names below:
Anhydrite, Apophyllite, Chrysocolla, Herkimer Diamond, Kunzite, Magnetite, Mookite, Mother of Pearl, Obsidian, Pietersite, Rhodocrosite, Seraphinite, Sugilite, Vesuvianite
Check our nearest High St shop
If there is something specific that you are looking for, and you live in the south or west of England, then please check the retail outlets page to find details of the nearest shop to you.
Find further information on our FactSheets
Please check the FactSheets page to quickly see whether there is a FactSheet relating to the crystal, mineral or fossil you are interested in.
More coming to the website soon
We aim to increase the range of items covered here on the website throughout 2009 and beyond – let us know what you would like to see here!
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| Over hundreds of years many traditions have developed ideas that associate certain gemstones with times of the year. Within these traditions certain stones have also been recognised as offering particular healing qualities, or having the ability to bring good luck, or ward off evil energies – and choosing to wear the correct stone according to your birthdate is considered to enhance these natural and mystical properties.
Help in choosing gifts
Since the 18th century, wearing something made from your birthstone has been in and out of fashion, but many people find knowing the birthstones is a useful aid in choosing a personalised gift for a loved one, friend or family member.
Many traditions & choices
Each culture and area of the world has identified its own birthstones, most of which have changed over time as the culture has developed, so there are now a lot of options to choose from!
The lists below (Birth-month and Zodiac) we feel are the most popular these days, and our choices of stones are an amalgamation of modern and traditional systems, as well as those originating from Roman, Hebrew and Ayurvedic sources. We hope you find them useful.
January – Garnet
(also Rose Quartz)
February – Amethyst
(also Onyx)
March – Aquamarine
(also Bloodstone, Red Jasper)
April – Diamond
(also Rock Crystal/Quartz)
May – Emerald
(also Agate, Chrysoprase)
June – Moonstone
(also Pearl, Alexandrite)
July – Ruby
(also Jade, Carnelian)
August – Peridot
(also Carnelian, Sardonyx)
September – Sapphire
(also Chrysolite, Lapis Lazuli)
October – Opal
(also Beryl, Pink Tourmaline)
November – Yellow Topaz (also Citrine)
December – Turquoise
(also Blue Topaz)
Aquarius – Garnet
Pisces – Amethyst
Aries – Bloodstone
Taurus – Sapphire
Gemini – Agate
Cancer – Emerald
Leo – Onyx
Virgo – Carnelian
Libra – Chrysolite
Scorpio – Beryl
Sagittarius – Topaz
Capricorn – Ruby
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