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Shopping Natural Gemstone Jewellery Online

Written by Corinne Srouji

Buying natural gemstone jewellery online can be both exciting and daunting. With so many options available, from natural gemstone rings and necklaces to bracelets and beads, it’s important to know how to shop safely while enjoying the advantages of online browsing.

 

Tips for Buying Safely Online

Check authenticity: Always ensure the jewellery features natural gemstones rather than synthetic alternatives. Look for details on origin (e.g. natural emerald gemstones, natural ruby gemstones) and proper descriptions.

Read customer reviews: Trustworthy jewellers will have transparent feedback. Reviews often highlight service, craftsmanship, and the authenticity of stones.

Look for certifications: Reputable jewellers working with gold and precious gemstones (such as ruby, sapphire, or emerald) often reference gemological training or industry standards to show that stones are graded and genuine. For sterling silver and semi-precious gemstone jewellery, like ours at Mounir, this is less common, instead, the focus is on authenticity, craftsmanship, and the natural beauty of each stone.

Understand faux vs. treated stones

Not all gemstones are what they first appear to be. Some common types buyers may come across include:


  • Glass imitations, often made to mimic popular stones but lacking their natural qualities.
  • Synthetic or lab-created stones – man-made versions of gems such as ruby or zircon, sometimes used in very small sizes (like 3mm).
  • Composite stones – created by fusing materials together to look like a single gem.
  • Treated stones – natural gemstones that may be dyed or heat-treated to enhance their colour. These are not “fake” stones, but it’s helpful to know when treatments have been applied.

At Mounir, we work with genuine natural semi-precious stones, some of which may be carefully treated for colour enhancement, but never replaced with glass or composite imitations. This transparency helps you shop with confidence.

 

Advantages of Online Shopping

Wider choice: Online collections often include exclusive pieces not found in physical shops,  from natural gemstone bracelets UK to gemstones in nature-inspired designs.

Better value: With fewer overheads than high-street shops, online jewellers may offer more competitive pricing on natural gemstone jewellery UK.


Exclusive collections: Many jewellers release designs available only online — from natural gemstone beads for makers to unique fine jewellery crafted with responsibly sourced stones.

 

Why Natural Gemstones Matter

Natural gemstones are more than decorative. Each carries history and meaning, whether the deep blues of lapis lazuli, the calming tones of amazonite, or the soft blush of rose quartz. These stones connect us to nature and, when crafted into jewellery, tell a story that lasts a lifetime.

 


Discover Mounir’s Natural Gemstone Jewellery

At Mounir London, we believe every gemstone holds a story waiting to be told. Since 1989, we have specialised in creating handmade jewellery in our London studio, using recycled gold, sterling silver, and responsibly sourced gemstones.

Gemstone Sourcing & Craftsmanship

Most of the stunning gemstones in our collection are cut to our precise specifications in Jaipur, India, a region celebrated for its centuries-old tradition of gemstone cutting. Skilled artisans there carefully shape each stone to enhance its natural beauty and brilliance, ensuring they meet our exacting standards. While we primarily use natural gemstones, our collection also features two carefully chosen lab-created options: zircon and 3 mm ruby beads.

Pearls of Distinction

Nearly all of our pearls are sourced from China, renowned for producing some of the highest-quality freshwater pearls. Each pearl is hand-selected for its lustrous sheen and smooth finish, bringing elegance and sophistication to our designs.

The Beauty of Natural Gemstones

Because we use genuine, natural stones, many will feature small inclusions or unique characteristics. Rather than flaws, these are reassuring signs of authenticity, tiny fingerprints of nature that make each gemstone truly one of a kind. In fact, if a stone appears too perfect, it may well be synthetic. Common types of inclusions you might see include:

Silk
Fine needle-like inclusions that create soft shimmer.

Iridescence
Rainbow-like flashes of colour inside the gem.

Chatoyancy
A cat’s-eye effect caused by light reflecting off fibrous inclusions.