Fair Trade Gemstones
If you're considering placing a custom order, please be sure to read my custom ordering tips. Also, please be aware that not all stones are available in all sizes and shapes.
A gem's hardness is measured by its Moh's Hardness rating, which ranges from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). The scale is not linear though – the difference between a hardness of 9 and one of 10 is greater than the difference between a hardness of 1 and one of 2.
Gemstone | Supplier | Notes | Moh's Hardness (1-10) | |||
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Alexandrite (Lab-Created) | Chatham | A lovely color-change stone that displays intense blue, green, and purple tones depending on the light source. | 8.5 | ||
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Amethyst | OOOM | Mined in the USA and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. | 7.0 | ||
![]() Photo courtesy of CGH |
Amethyst, Iris | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0 | ||
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Aquamarine | Lanyi Gems, OOOM, or CGH |
7.5-8.0 | |||
![]() Photo courtesy of CGH |
Citrine, Fire | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0 | ||
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Citrine, Madiera | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0 | ||
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Citrine, Smoky | OOOM | Mined in the USA and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Some color variation. | 7.0 | ||
![]() Photo courtesy of CGH |
Citrine, Standard | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0 | ||
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Emerald (Lab-Created) | Chatham | 7.5-8.0 | |||
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Garnet, Andradite | OOOM | Mined in the USA and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Typically available only in smaller sized stones. |
6.5-7.5 | ||
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Garnet, Grape | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.25 | ||
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Garnet, Raja | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 6.5-7.5 | ||
![]() Photo courtesy of CGH |
Garnet, Rhodolite | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0-7.5 | ||
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Garnet, Spessartite | OOOM | Mined in the USA and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Typically available only in smaller sized stones. |
6.5-7.5 | ||
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Moissanite (Lab-Created) | C&C | An excellent conflict-free alternative to diamonds. Read more about moissanite. | 9.0-9.5 | ||
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Moissanite, light green (Lab-Created) | C&C | An excellent conflict-free alternative to diamonds, now available in light and dark green! Read more about moissanite. | 9.0-9.5 | ||
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Moissanite, dark green (Lab-Created) | C&C | An excellent conflict-free alternative to diamonds, now available in light and dark green! Read more about moissanite. | 9.0-9.5 | ||
![]() Photo courtesy of CGH |
Opal, Mexican Fire | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 5.0-6.5 | ||
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Opal, Oregon | CGH | Fair trade level 1. | 5.5-6.5 | ||
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Peridot, Mesa Verde | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 6.5-7.0 | ||
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Quartz, Smoky | CGH | Fair trade level 2. | 7.0 | ||
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Ruby (Lab-Created) | Chatham | 9.0 | |||
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Sapphire, Blue (Lab-Created) | Chatham | 9.0 | |||
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Sapphire, Padparadscha (Lab-Created) | Chatham | Some color variation - some are more pink, others more orange, and some in between. | 9.0 | ||
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Sapphire, Yellow (Lab-Created) | Chatham | 9.0 | |||
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Sapphire, Yellow | CGH | Sourced from Malawi; fair trade level 1. | 9.0 | ||
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Sapphire | CGH | Sourced from Malawi or Australia; fair trade level 1. | 9.0 | ||
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Sapphire, Pink | Ruby Fair | Somewhat limited availability in a range of shades from light to dark. | 9.0 | ||
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Sapphire, Purple | Ruby Fair | Somewhat limited availability in a range of shades from light to dark. | 9.0 | ||
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Spinel, Black | CGH | Fair trade level 1. | 8.0 | ||
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Sunstone, Oregon | OOOM | Mined in Oregon, USA. Also available as faceted stones, and in a wide variety of shades (see more pics). | 6.2-7.5 | ||
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Tourmaline, Afghan | OOOM | Mined by an independent family mining operation in Afghanistan and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Also available as cabochons, and in a variety of shades (see more pics). |
7.0-7.5 | ||
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Tourmaline, California - Green | OOOM | Mined right here in California and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Also available as cabochons, and in a variety of shades (see more pics). |
7.0-7.5 | ||
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Tourmaline, California - Pink | OOOM | Mined right here in California and cut by a small family business in Sri Lanka. Also available as cabochons, and in a variety of shades (see more pics). |
7.0-7.5 | ||
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Turquoise | OOOM, Cassidy |
Mined in Nevada, USA. | 5.0-6.0 | ||
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Variscite | OOOM | Mined in Nevada, USA. | 5.0-6.0 | ||
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Zultanite | Zultanite | Mined in Anatolia, Turkey. A gorgeous natural color-change stone, displaying a range of greens, browns, yellows, and even pinks depending on the light source and intensity. | 6.5-7.0 |
This month's featured charity:
5% of April's gross sales will be donated to Cooperation Humboldt.
Since May 2007, I've raised $111,465 for charity. Thank you for supporting my work!


