Every jewelry collector wants to know more information about the gemstones they’re getting in their jewelry, such as the unique gemological traits and the spiritual meanings. That is why American West Jewelry has created this informative guide! Like all our Southwestern jewelry collectors, we have a longstanding and deep appreciation for genuine gemstones ~ unique treasures from Mother Earth that are crafted into beautiful and wearable designs. Come along for the journey as we share what we know about gemstones and their significance in Native American heritage.
Q: What does genuine gemstone mean?
When people say they are shopping for gemstones, they are generally referring to either genuine gemstones or synthetic gemstones.
Genuine gemstones, also called “real gemstones”, are naturally occurring minerals, rock, or other organic material that come from the Earth. They form over millions and billions of years by going through natural geological processes of heating, cooling and pressurizing.
In contrast, synthetic gemstones, also called “simulated gemstones” or “faux gemstones”, are imitation stones that are also created in a laboratory but do not contain the same chemical compositions as genuine gemstones. This difference in chemical composition results in significant differences in pricing, value and availability when compared to natural and lab-grown gemstones.
American West Jewelry uses only natural genuine gemstones in our products. We take pride in crafting beautiful designs inspired by our connection with Mother Earth and the heritage of the Southwest.
Q: Where do gemstones come from and how do they form?
Natural genuine gemstones are formed below the Earth’s surface. Most form in a layer called the crust, where there are rock formations with cavities for the natural materials to deposit and crystallize during the long processes. According to gemologists though, there are two specific gemstones that form much deeper down in a layer called the mantle ~ the Diamond and the Peridot.
The long formation processes vary depending on many geological conditions and are not straightforward to gemologists’ knowledge because there are so many liquids, gases, magma chemical composition and other environmental changes involved in the rock cycle that constantly creates and destroys minerals. It is difficult to witness the full journey of a gemstone being created since all of it occurs over millions of years and far beneath the surface where humans live. These gemstones all rise closer to the surface, where they can be mined and studied, through the natural shifting of tectonic plates which causes mountains to form. Those mountains are eventually weathered down over a long period of time, leaving gem deposits accessible. The formation processes and the shifting of tectonic plates explain why some gemstones are found in abundance everywhere, while others only appear in certain geographical locations.
Q: What are the lines present on some gemstones? Why do some gemstones come in different shades?
These lines are called matrix, and they are formed when remnants of the host rock that the gemstone formed in becomes a part of the gemstone itself. One of the most notable gemstones that matrix lines appear within is Turquoise, which forms in either a limonite host rock or a sandstone host rock. Copper-acidic water reacts with Turquoise’s host rock and seeps into the gemstone during formation and solidifies into mesmerizing lines that are often thin, weblike and desirable for Turquoise jewelry designs with personality. This is an example of Mother Earth metaphorically leaving her fingerprints on each gemstone, making them all unique and one-of-a-kind.
Another example of Mother Earth influence on the gemstone formation process is the vast shade and color range that some gemstones can form in ~ a characteristic that Turquoise also boasts. The amount of different elements like copper and iron can impact the color of Turquoise stones, making some greener and others bluer. Learn more about Turquoise ~ The Treasured December Birthstone on our other blog! American West Jewelry is proud to be able to offer a range of Turquoise selections for our collectors. Our Southwestern jewelry collections include Blue Turquoise, Green Turquoise and Kingman Turquoise. We also offer Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, which is notable for its vibrant solid color due to not containing matrix lines.
Q: What are gemstone grades and what does AWJ use?
Gemstone grading is how the Gemological Institute of America and gemologists evaluate gemstones. The four properties that determine grading include color, clarity, cut and carat (weight). Summarily, American West Jewelry uses 1st grade quality natural gemstones, most are without any treatment. Most of our gemstones are opaque, with only a small percentage being semi-transparent.
Our gemstones are responsibly sourced from mine locations and distributors, then sent to the GIA for testing. After quality is verified, the gemstones are sorted according to color range guidelines and lapidary (stone cutting) guidelines. They are then cut into cabochons and bead stones suitable for jewelry crafting with Sterling Silver. The gemstones are reviewed in a multi-step quality checking process that removes imperfect stones to ensure that our collectors only receive the best quality jewelry crafted with love and care.
Q: Is gemstone jewelry significant in Southwestern fashion?
Yes! Gemstone jewelry is an iconic staple of Southwestern fashion, particularly bold statement pieces crafted with Turquoise. The reason that Turquoise is featured in so many Southwestern jewelry designs is because a significant amount of Turquoise used today came from mines located in the southwest of the US. The most notable states being New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and California. Turquoise also has a symbolic meaning in Native American culture, particularly for the Navajo and Pueblo tribes whose heritage and history shaped the culture and style of the Southwest as we know it today. To them, and most people who wear Turquoise jewelry, this gemstone symbolizes health, safety and protection.
Southwestern and Western fashion continues to be trendy, which is why American West Jewelry is so proud to offer Western jewelry collections that are timeless and valuable investments for generations to come. The opaque gemstones used in our jewelry are also trending right now. Opaque jewelry has been revived in 2025 by a new sense of love and appreciation for its bold and exciting colors!
Q: Do gemstones have spiritual meaning?
Yes! Native American culture and many other cultures around the world believe that gemstones carry spiritual energy and power, thus they are used and worn during important ceremonies, rituals and other practices. Our jewelry is inspired by Southwestern and Native American heritage, but transcends cultures and generations, bringing all beautiful people together from around the world, so we hope that our jewelry can represent something meaningful for everyone.
Want to know more about the spiritual meaning of your favorite gemstone? Check out our gemstone chart.
A statement from our founder, Carolyn Pollack:
“From a very young age I have been a ‘rock hound’. I remember being on a field trip and finding Amethyst, which seemed like a miracle given that it is my birthstone! My ‘rock hound’ days evolved into my passion for gemstones. Living a casual elegant lifestyle in New Mexico, I am most intrigued by opaque gemstones. I find them fascinating, each with its own personality. The matrix, striations and range of color are all created by Mother Earth, the original artist. In my 25 trips to the Tucson Gem Show, I have seen just about every gem Mother Earth has blessed us with. I am always drawn to the absolute finest quality cabochons and beads, each with their own personality. Our stone cutters and artisans at American West Jewelry are true masters, with a vision for bringing out the best in the rough material, and then matching these gems, each with their own personality, for true wearable pieces of art. Isn’t it wonderful knowing your work of art is a one of a kind? No two stones are alike in the world of opaque gemstones. Opening your AWJ box is like discovering your own gem. Perfect, because as American West Jewelry collectors, we love to express ourselves with our own unique style!”
