Every St Patrick’s Day, the color green comes to the fore as people across the world celebrate all things Irish in honor of the Emerald Isle’s patron saint. To mark the occasion, new research from 77 Diamonds suggests green gemstones may be widely admired but significantly underrepresented in jewelry boxes. While almost 70% of women say they love green stones, fewer than 30% actually own one.
77 Diamonds surveyed 2,000 UK women and found that 68% say they like green gemstones in jewelry. However, only 29% currently own any pieces containing green stones, highlighting a notable gap between admiration and ownership. Furthermore, only 6% of respondents wear green gemstone jewelry on a regular, weekly basis.
At the same time, when asked what words and sentiments they most closely associate with green gemstones, the most common response was vintage/traditional (24%), followed by elegant/classy (17%). A further 16% said natural/earthy, while 14% said unique/distinctive.
The results suggest that while green gemstones hold strong aesthetic appeal, they remain less commonly chosen than more traditional jewelry options such as diamonds or clear gemstones.
Emerald still the most popular green gemstone
Among those who appreciate green gemstones, emerald is the clear favorite. Around 31% of women name it as their top green stone.
Intensely green, emeralds have long been associated with peace, hope and renewal. They are the birthstone for May and are traditionally given to celebrate both 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, with its distinctive color created by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. High quality emeralds can command prices starting at around $1,500 per carat, with exceptional stones reaching significantly higher values.
Another popular stone is jade (16%), a strong, tough, and historically significant previous stone that comes in two common shades – the classic creamy, deep green of nephrite, and the rare, more vibrant green of jadeite. Revered in Chinese culture for centuries, it is a symbol of purity, longevity, and luck.
The grand spectrum of green gemstones
While emerald may dominate in public awareness, the world of green gemstones is remarkably diverse, ranging from extremely rare collector stones to more accessible options suited to everyday jewelry.
Green diamond
Green diamonds sit at the top of the rarity scale. Among the rarest diamonds in existence, they can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars per carat when natural color is present. Their green hue is caused by natural radiation altering the crystal structure of the diamond over millions of years.
Green sapphire
Green sapphire is another prized stone, with prices starting from around $1,000 per carat. These gems are valued for their durability and subtle color palette, though fine stones with rich green tones are relatively difficult to source.
Tsavorite
Tsavorite, a vibrant green variety of garnet, offers strong brilliance and color at a more moderate price point of around $300 to $500 per carat. It is often less included than emerald and is admired for its clarity and sparkle.
Green tourmaline
Green tourmaline typically ranges from about $150 to $300 per carat. Tourmalines are complex borosilicate minerals whose colors are produced by small amounts of trace elements within their crystal structure.
Peridot
Peridot represents one of the more accessible bright green gemstones, usually valued between about $90 and $130 per carat. The gem variety of the mineral olivine, peridot ranges in color from yellowish green to olive green depending on the iron content within the crystal. It is also the birthstone for August and is often associated with a light, summery aesthetic.
A gemstone color worth rediscovering
While green may be the color of choice on St Patrick’s Day, the research suggests green gemstones remain something of an overlooked category in contemporary jewelry. Despite strong appreciation for their color and character, alongside the high versatility of green stones that pair so beautifully with both the crisp white of platinum and the warm hues of yellow gold, relatively few women currently own or regularly wear them. That gap between admiration and ownership could create the perfect conditions for a renewed interest in green stones in the months ahead.
Co-founder of 77 Diamonds, Tobias Kormind, commented:
“Green gemstones carry a sense of heritage that few other colors can match. Emeralds in particular have long been associated with vintage jewelry and the glamour of classic Hollywood, where bold green stones often featured in some of the most iconic pieces ever worn on screen and on the red carpet – such as Angelina Jolie’s emerald drop Oscar earrings, or Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari emerald necklace.
That legacy still influences how people see green gemstones today. Our research suggests that many women love their elegance and character, but relatively few currently own them, which leaves plenty of room for these striking stones to make a comeback.”
photo credit: 77 Diamonds
Survey results and sources:
Survey of 2,085 UK women carried out by ProperPR on behalf of 77 Diamonds via consumer research platform Find Out Now (12th March 2026).
