Smokey quartz is, as its name implies, a type of quartz, and as such it’s in the same family of gemstones as both amethyst and citrine. However, its appearance alone wouldn’t lead you to believe that it’s related to its brightly-colored purple and yellow cousins. The unique look of this stone calls to mind the smoke rising from a crackling fire on a cool day, making it a lovely choice for the last chilly days of February.

The unique, subdued hue of smokey quartz allows it to complement both warm and cool colors, making it an incredibly versatile addition to your jewelry collection. It’s simultaneously brown and gray, with a chic shimmer that emulates good taste and sophistication without losing its ability to work well with even the most casual of ensembles.

Smokey quartz earrings complement a wide range of skin tones and eye colors, allowing them to add flattering sparkle to just about anyone’s ears. While studs that feature smokey quartz are always lovely, the 1.20 Carat Smokey Quartz and Diamond Earrings add a slightly more dressed-up touch of smokey quartz that’s fitting for any day. This classy pair features 5mm cushion-cut smokey quartz stones, suspended under tiny accent diamonds for a style that would complement with nearly any outfit.

Smokey quartz pendants can add a dose of subdued sparkle around your neck and give your eyes an extra hint of sparkle. The 7mm x 5mm Oval Shaped Smokey Quartz and Diamond Flower Pendant forms a striking blossom that, despite the brown hue of its center, glistens with life. A 7mm-high oval-shaped smokey quartz is surrounded with a ring of 12 round diamonds like the petals of a delicate flower. The 14K white gold that holds these stones adds the perfect complement, as does the coordinating 18-inch box chain that’s included.

Smokey quartz gives a wide range of rings a subtly sophisticated look. From classic three-stone styles to feminine vintage designs to more modern looks, smokey quartz rings overflow with understated class and soft sparkle. While this stone may be a slightly unexpected choice for many of these designs, it’s always welcome.

Rings that combine smokey quartz and diamonds create a beautiful contrast between two incredibly adaptable stones for a look that’s chic and classy. For instance, the Cushion-Cut 3.52 Carat Smoky Quartz and Diamond Ring places a 9mm cushion-cut smokey quartz in the spotlight and surrounds it with total of 16 round diamonds. This lovely piece elevates the chic brown stone it holds like a piece of fine art, placed in a glittering colorless frame.

In addition to their versatile beauty and sophisticate sparkle, smokey quartz earrings, pendants and rings are remarkably affordable. Try one of these pieces for a fresh take on basic color.

Smokey quartz may seem like a strange choice for expressing love, at least at first, but its subdued, always-perfect good looks prove to be the perfect way to celebrate a relationship that’s steadfast and that brings out the best in you. This gemstone lives up to its name as it sparkles with a brownish-gray hue that brings to mind a soothing, smoldering campfire and adds a hint of mystery to your jewelry collection.

The Crown Heart Smokey Quartz and Diamond Pendant is a lovely example of this gem’s understated intrigue. A 10mm heart-shaped smokey topaz is placed in the center of a unique, airy, 14K white gold crown, celebrating the one who rules your heart. Filigree-like heart shapes constitute the points of this crown, while three small diamonds serve as accents.

Pink topaz is bold yet feminine, providing unexpected, dazzling color with a touch of a sweet yet outgoing personality. It’s simultaneously girly and grown up, with a sophisticated sparkle, and pieces that feature it are perfect ways to demonstrate that your unabashed love. For instance, the 4.75 Carat Heart-Shaped Pink Topaz Pendant in 14K White Gold features a sizeable heart of pink topaz that will leave no question about how you feel. Accented with diamonds placed in a graceful, asymmetrical setting, this pendant includes an 18” chain so that it’s ready to slip around that special someone’s neck.

Opal has an iridescence that makes it unique among gemstones. Pliny, the Roman philosopher, raved about the beauty of this gem:

“Made up of the glories of the most precious gems, to describe them is a matter of inexpressible difficulty. For there is amongst them the gentler fire of the ruby, there is the rich purple of the amethyst, there is the sea-green of the emerald, and all shining together in an indescribable union. Others, by an excessive heightening of their hues equal all the colors of the painter, others the flame of burning brimstone, or of a fire quickened by oil.”

Pliny wasn’t too far off when he described the opal as having a multicolored allure. This stone appears to change color depending on the angle at which it’s viewed. The Opal and Diamond Heart Pendant in 14K White Gold pairs this gem with three classic diamonds, creating an expression of love that’s always fitting. A 0.48-carat pear-shaped opal is suspended from the top of a gleaming 14K white gold heart, held by a twist of white gold and diamonds. The highly-polished finish and sweeping lines of this piece will sweep her off her feet.

Heart pendants with unexpected gemstones are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time that you want to celebrate your unique love. Give one to show that the one you love stands apart from the rest.

In addition to their one-of-a-kind beauty, each of these semiprecious stones is a relatively affordable choice. And, any one of them can infuse fresh life into time-honored styles, giving them an eye-catching edge.

Smokey quartz is has a slightly mysterious appeal that lives up to its name. This variety of quartz has a cool brownish hue that brings to mind a smoldering campfire on a crisp fall evening. Smokey quartz rings aren’t only for fall, however. Their subtle, sophisticated color works well in any season, complementing both the deep, rich shades of the cooler months and the lighter looks of summer. While we know that the out-of-the-ordinary look of this stone is due to free silicon within this gem, a result of natural radiation, it never ceases to intrigue all who see it.

The understated color of smokey topaz allows even sizeable specimens of this stone to maintain a subtle, classy allure. For instance, the Cushion-Cut 3.52 Carat Smoky Topaz and Diamond Ring proudly displays a 9mm cushion-cut smokey topaz, accented by .40 carats of glittering diamonds, including 14 diamonds that form a frame around this ring’s main attraction. The contrast created by the two gems in this ring seems to add to its intrigue.

Kunzite was discovered in California a little over a century ago, making it a relative newcomer to the jewelry scene. This pale pink stone, a member of the spodumen family, has just a hint of violet and a soft sparkling nature that makes it a lovely choice for feminine styles. For instance, the Vintage Rose Kunzite Ring in 14K White Gold places a sizeable but demure oval-shaped kunzite in a stunning Victorian-inspired setting that’s lavishly adorned with intricately carved flowers. This lush 14K white gold setting elevates the stone it holds like a crown, putting its unique glimmer on display.

While most of us are familiar with the purple variety of amethyst, green amethyst is relatively unknown. That’s a shame, because this gem exhibits a cool, soft green that’s unmatched by any other stone. Green amethyst rings offer a soothing yet invigorating sparkle that’s as refreshing as the first crocus popping up through the snow.

Sea-Foam Green Amethyst and Diamond Ring in 14K White Gold features a dazzling 2.80 carat green amethyst, 10mm high, surrounded by smaller diamonds in a loop that frames this oval-shaped center stone. A slender band studded with additional diamonds provides an extra measure of sparkle. While this style isn’t complicated, the unique gem it contains sets it apart and makes it truly memorable.

There’s no need to be ordinary when it comes to your jewelry! Don’t miss these three unique gemstones to express your one-of-a-kind sense of style.

Garnet is an unexpected but stunning choice for engagement rings. The deep red of this semiprecious gemstone is a natural symbol of love, and pieces that feature heart-shaped garnets play off of this connection to affection. For instance, the Vintage Filigree Garnet Heart Ring in 14K White Gold places a centimeter-high scarlet heart within a Victorian setting that emulates romance.

Tanzanite rings feature a stone that’s found only in one small area of the world, just five miles square. This sense of exclusivity makes them ideal symbols of the love that you feel only for your special someone. For instance, three alluring oval-shaped tanzanite stones are accented with six channel-set diamonds in the Three Stone Tanzanite and Diamond Ring in 14K White Gold, creating a look with a sense of rare beauty

Green amethyst is another out-of the ordinary stone that’s perfect for representing a love like no other. Its refreshing light green color is both full of life and mesmerizingly soothing, perfect for the one who makes you come alive and who sets your heart at ease. The Sea-Foam Green Amethyst and Diamond Ring in 14K White Gold showcases a 2.80 carat oval green amethyst, framed by diamonds and set on a diamond studded band. This straightforward but stunning style is fit for a fairytale.

Smokey topaz is a modern yet timeless gemstone. Its soft taupe sparkle is supremely sophisticated and incredibly versatile, making it ideal for expressing lasting love. The 1.75 Carat Oval Cut Smokey Quartz & Diamond Ring in 14K White Gold demonstrates this unique gem’s upscale beauty with a gently glimmering oval-shaped stone, accented by four small diamonds. Rings such as this speak of a love that’s mature and poised to endure for a lifetime.

If you’re looking for an engagement ring without a hint of shyness, don’t miss Apples of Gold’s pink topaz rings. While the bright hue of the stones in these rings isn’t the first color to come to mind when most of us picture topaz, it’s a surprising pop of color that’s sure to bring smiles as well as admiring glances. The Vintage Leaf Pink Topaz Ring in 14K White Gold beautifully features this bold yet feminine stone. A delicately engraved leaf motif adorns the slender band of this time-honored-style, and when it’s viewed from the side it reveals a surprise: a heart-shaped cutout beneath the gemstone, adding a secret symbol of your love that only the wearer will see. While this ring is inspired by the past, the stone it contains is an up-to-the minute burst of lighthearted, ladylike charm.

Unique gemstones are perfect engagement ring options for one-of-a-kind brides! Choose a style with an unusual stone to demonstrate that your love is anything but ordinary.