Happy July! The air fills with the unmistakable scent of sunscreen and barbecue smoke, and the distant, slightly terrifying pop of a firecracker. We love a good celebration, but we’re here to file a humble petition. Why do we celebrate with fleeting explosions when we could be celebrating with timeless sparkle? Consider this our official proposal to trade the smoke show for a stone show. Let’s dive into the red, white, and blue gems that truly sing of America the beautiful.

FIREWORKS? OUT. GEMSTONES? IN 

 

 

Let’s be real, fireworks? They’re a bit of a one hit wonder. Literally. So what if, instead of investing in a fleeting flash that scares every dog within a five-mile radius, you opt for a scintillating sparkle that lasts you a lifetime? A patriotic palette of red, white, and blue that offers no shortage of sparkle.For our fiery red, we nominate the incomparable ruby, a stone that embodies passion and courage. For the brilliant white, it has to be the eternal sparkle of a diamond or its equally dazzling celestial twin, Moissanite. And for the majestic blue? We’re not using just any sapphire; we’re calling up the all-American Montana sapphire. It’s a trio that offers all the “oohs” and “aahs” of a grand finale, with the added bonus that you can wear it next year.

RED IS FOR RUBIES 

 

 

When it comes to the “red” in our patriotic trio, there’s no room for subtlety. You have to call in the headliner, the undisputed heavyweight champion of color: the ruby. For millennia, this gem wasn’t just pretty; it was power. Warriors in Burma literally embedded them into their skin for protection in battle, and ancient royals considered it the most precious thing on earth—a symbol of passion, prosperity, and the lifeblood of humanity itself.

So, what gives the ruby its signature fiery personality? A little bit of geological drama. A ruby is a form of the mineral corundum, which would be completely colorless if not for one crucial party-crasher: chromium. When trace amounts of this element sneak in during the gem's formation, it blushes that iconic, stop-in-your-tracks red. The more chromium, the more intense the fire. And fun fact? A ruby is pretty much the same thing as a sapphire. It’s deep red color, and presence of chromium, is what distinguishes it from its cooler-hued fraternal twin. 

And don’t get us started on symbolism. This potent hue holds deep meaning that predates any flag. For many Indigenous cultures across North America, the color red is sacred. It often represents the blood of the earth and its people, symbolizing life, strength, and our connection to the land. It can represent faith, the sacred directions, and the potent energy of both war and happiness. It’s a color that speaks of the physical and the spiritual—a powerful reminder of the life force that pulses within all of us.

WHITE IS FOR DIAMONDS AND MOISSANITE

Alright, let's talk about the “white” in red, white, and blue. This is the crisp, brilliant flash that makes the whole combination pop. For this essential role, we have two stellar contenders: the classic, heavyweight champion, diamond, and its dazzling, out-of-this-world rival, Moissanite. 

While diamonds have been the object of human obsession for thousands of years and symbols of everything from invincible power to eternal love, Moissanite is a cosmic newcomer. It was first discovered in 1893 by Dr. Henri Moissan (hence the capitalization of the name), not in a mine, but in a meteorite crater. That’s right—it’s literally stardust.

Now, let's get one thing straight: these stones aren't technically white. They’re colorless. The magic lies in what’s not there. A perfectly colorless diamond is a marvel of purity, formed under immense pressure with virtually no chemical impurities to muddy its crystalline structure. Color in diamonds (usually a yellow or brownish tint) comes from trace elements like nitrogen. Moissanite, being lab-created, is engineered for this same colorless perfection. Think of them not as a white crayon, but as a perfect prism, ready to capture light and blast it back out in a shower of sparkle.

This concept of purity and clarity is reflected in the symbolism of the color white across many Indigenous American cultures. It often represents the north, the wisdom of elders, and the stillness of winter. White can signify peace, spirit, and the beginning of life’s journey. It’s a color of powerful potential and sacred clarity, reminding us of the clean slate from which all things can grow.

DIAMOND OR MOISSANITE: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

 

 

Both diamond and moissanite offer unrivaled sparkle, shine, and hardness. So how do you know which is right for you? We have a few ideas. 

• The Sparkle: This is where diamond and Moissanite differ most. See, a diamond offers that classic, coveted brilliance—a crisp, balanced mix of white and colored light. Moissanite, due to its unique faceting, has more fire. It throws off fiery, rainbow-like flashes that some call the "disco-ball effect." It’s all a matter of taste: timeless glimmer or a full-on light show?
• The Durability: On the Mohs scale of hardness, a diamond is a perfect 10—the hardest natural material on Earth. Moissanite clocks in at a mighty impressive 9.25, making it harder than any other gemstone besides diamond itself. Both are fantastic choices for everyday wear. And both won’t let you down in terms of daily wear. 
• The Price Tag: Here’s the big one. Because diamonds are mined and Moissanite is created in a lab, there's a significant price difference. Moissanite offers a much larger look for a fraction of the cost of a diamond of similar size and quality, making it a budget-friendly powerhouse. Of course, you can still buy lab grown diamonds. And here, while the diamond’s price will be more affordable, Moissanite will still be the cheaper option. This has everything to do with market demand. More people want diamonds so their cost, even when lab grown, will be higher. 
• The Vibe: A diamond is tradition. It's history. It’s the ultimate symbol of luxury and love that has reigned for centuries. A Moissanite is modern. It’s science. It’s a brilliant, ethical, and wallet-friendly alternative born from the cosmos. Ask yourself which vibe feels right with you, the answer may surprise you. 

BLUE IS FOR MONTANA SAPPHIRE

Finally, we arrive at our "something blue." But for this, we’re not just picking any blue; we’re going with America's gemstone sweetheart, the one and only Montana sapphire. While sapphires have been adored for centuries across the globe as symbols of wisdom and royalty, our homegrown version has a uniquely American backstory. They were first stumbled upon in the late 1800s by gold prospectors on the Missouri River who were annoyed that these pretty blue pebbles kept clogging up their equipment. Little did they know, they’d struck a different kind of treasure.

Unlike the deep, velvety blues of sapphires from Sri Lanka or Burma, Montana sapphires sing a different tune. Their color palette is famously wild and varied, often described as teal, seafoam green, or a gorgeous, dusky cornflower blue. The blues are less "royal" and more "denim"—a hardworking, ruggedly beautiful shade that feels perfectly suited to the American landscape. This unique coloration comes from the specific geological cocktail they form in, with a delicate balance of trace elements like iron and titanium giving them their signature, often slightly greenish or grayish, undertones.

This connection to the sky and water is echoed in the spiritual beliefs of many Indigenous American tribes. The color blue often symbolizes divinity, wisdom, peace, and the sky above or the water below. For tribes of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, the region where these sapphires are found, the color blue could represent the thunder beings, sacred mountains, or the heavens. While there isn't extensive documentation of specific historical use of Montana sapphires by these tribes, the reverence for the color blue and the sacredness of the land from which these gems are unearthed adds another layer of profound meaning to this all-American stone.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM OLIVIA EWING JEWELRY

 

 

So there you have it. Our official, heartfelt pitch to make this Fourth of July—and every one after—a little more brilliant. Why settle for fleeting flashes in the sky when you can celebrate with a forever sparkle that tells a story?From all of us at Olivia Ewing Jewelry, we hope you have a celebration that is safe, joyful, and full of sparkle.

Ready to find your own personal fireworks? Explore our full collection of gemstone jewelry, mix and match your dream loose stone with a setting, or let’s create a custom piece that will light you up for years to come

 

Meet the Author: Olivia Ewing