Loose Gemstones for Jewelry Making

Start with how the stone will be set. Faceted gems (amethyst, garnet, peridot, blue topaz) drop into prong or bezel settings and are sold by carat in calibrated millimeter sizes — 4mm, 6mm, 8mm rounds and ovals are the everyday workhorses. Raw and rough chunks, crystal points, and tumbled stones suit wire wrapping, resin, and macrame, and are usually priced by the gram or per piece. Always check whether a listing states natural, heat-treated, dyed, or lab-created, plus a Mohs hardness rating; softer stones like opal and turquoise (5-6) scratch more easily than quartz (7) or sapphire (9). For matched pairs (earrings) confirm the maker sells calibrated, color-matched stones. Small faceted accent stones run about $3-$15; a single 6-8mm semi-precious gem often lands $12-$60; rough parcels and tumbled lots commonly $8-$40. Many suppliers ship in 3-7 business days; custom cutting or hand-selected parcels can take 1-3 weeks.

Use the filters for stone type, cut, size, and treatment, and the related searches to jump to specific stones like raw amethyst or calibrated cabochons.