So it’s a night of dressing up and playing bewitched, and the only thing you’re missing: a dark ring that calls in the magic.

Dark gemstones don’t get the credit they deserve. Whenever I wear one, someone will definitely drop a comment. How could you not? Dark gemstones are hard to miss!

Let’s talk about brightness, reflection and fire - present in dark gemstones just as they are in their clear counterparts.

Do dark gemstones reflect light? Is there a colorful fire dance when you’re looking into the stones? How about its luster?

We’ll guide you through the look and mood of various dark gemstones, including how they shine and glimmer.

Dark gemstones are known to be unapologetic. So beware: these rings might cast a spell on you!

Black diamonds are composed of tiny graphite inclusions aka dark impurities aka the ‘pepper’. If you’ve been in awe with the galaxies in our salt and pepper, then black diamonds are basically its final transformation: a stone with so many layers of pepper, it looks black. But don’t fret: these graphites aren’t exactly the same as the brittle graphites in your pencil. Black diamonds are just as hard as clear diamonds and can be cut into various shapes. 

Compared to white diamonds, black diamonds don’t sparkle. So it’s harder to catch the fire brilliance shining from within, one of the properties of diamonds many look for. When properly faceted, black diamonds can still reflect light on the surface. So that means the quality of the cutting becomes even more important on black diamonds. 

Looking for the ultimate Halloween stone? Consider hematite. These rocks are black or silver on the surface, but blood-red when cut. This is because hematite contains iron (high in your red blood cells), which gives it a naturally reddish look. Hematite was long popular as a healing stone exactly because it contains iron, which is great at getting your blood flowing. 

When hematite is polished, its metallic shine comes through. Hematite is usually cut into cabochon to maximize its lustrous and smooth luster, but even as rough stones, hematite has a distinctive sheen. 

Black sapphires have all the strength and toughness of a corundum, but contain iron and titanium, the source of its black color. Black sapphires are often very opaque, you can barely see the depth and mirage within. Think of it like a black hole, where no light passes through. Some black sapphires display asterism and are cut into cabochons to reveal their star. 

If you’re looking for an opaque ring, black sapphires can be your statement rock. 

Black looks good on spinel. Seriously. If you’re looking for a dark (and I mean jet-black) gemstone with serious glimmer, then spinel it is. It’s sexy, powerful, and wild. Unlike black sapphires which don't reflect light (no hard feelings), spinels are still highly reflective and have great luster. 

Spinel is also a seductive stone to have when you’re on a date night... by your invitation. Black spinel can be faceted into various gemstone cuts, like cushion, square, oval, pentagon or pear, making it an easy go-to dark gemtone when you’re feeling sultry.  

You might have known how tourmaline comes in a rainbow of colors, but did you know it also comes in gorgeous monochromatic shades of black? Black is actually the most common color for tourmalines, and similar to spinel, it’s the kind of black which absorbs light. If you’re looking for something softer and more translucent, choose a grey tourmaline. Grey tourmalines are quite rare, making it a precious find and its glassy look is perfect for those looking for a dark ring to be worn everyday. 

Black pearls aren’t only rare, they have a gorgeous peacock-like sheen which makes black pearls stand out from the rest of the dark gem gang. Black pearls have hues and overtones of reds, blues, and greens. Real black pearls only come from Tahiti, and are usually cultivated. But the majority of black pearls in the market are color-treated, which means the skin of the pearl is dyed a certain color. If your black pearls are from Ayoka, Japan, assume it was probably dyed.