The 10 Most Popular Jewelry Stones Right Now — and the One With the Highest Price Tag Isn’t Diamonds

Pinterest’s 2026 Trends Report has been calling it: maximalism is back, colour is back, and chunky gold-forward jewelry is having its moment. And for once, the actual sales data agrees.

Specialists at Dawsons Auctioneers tracked thousands of jewelry transactions throughout 2025 and ranked the stones buyers were actually spending money on. Here are the results nobody saw coming.

(Worth noting: plain metal pieces with no stone at all under “none” ranked fourth by transaction volume, averaging £1,989 each and outselling emeralds, amethyst, and several color stones.)

1. Diamond
198 pieces sold | Average: £2,655

Diamonds led by volume, and it wasn’t close; they outsold the second-ranked stone more than two to one. At £2,655 on average, they’re still the first choice for buyers who want staying power alongside style.

The demand for Old Cut stones has been building steadily. (Taylor Swift’s engagement ring might have something to do with this.) These earlier hand-crafted diamonds don’t turn up at auction as often as they once did, and buyers chasing rarity alongside long-term value are noticing.

2. Sapphire
58 pieces sold | Average: £1,320

Sapphires have had cultural staying power for decades (Princess Diana’s engagement ring made sure of that), and the data shows buyers are still paying for it. At £1,320 on average, it’s a strong option for heirloom pieces and offers real visual weight at a lower entry point than diamonds.

3. Ruby
41 pieces sold | Average: £1,423

Rubies averaged slightly more per piece than sapphires and held their own in the top three. With color being one of the biggest jewelry stories of 2026, that makes sense. It is exactly what the maximalism vibe calls for.

4. Cultured Pearl
11 pieces sold | Average: £491

Pearls appear three separate times in this top ten, with cultured pearls having the accessible entry point. For anyone thinking about jewelry as an investment, though, natural pearls are the play. Scarcity keeps pushing individual pieces past five figures at auction.

5. Emerald
10 pieces sold | Average: £682

Rich greens are everywhere in 2026 styling, and emeralds are well-positioned for it. They pair naturally with yellow gold (the top-performing metal in the 2025 data), making that combination feel current rather than traditional. Quality varies a lot in this category, with condition and setting carrying more weight here than with most stones.

6. Pearl
9 pieces sold | Average: £607

Classic pearl jewelry averaged slightly more per piece than cultured and is drawing a noticeably younger crowd than it did five years ago. Less formal strand, more layered and mixed with metals.

7. Amethyst
7 pieces sold | Average: £889

Purple is having a significant year, and amethyst is one of the more accessible routes into it. At £889 average, it sits below rubies and sapphires but brings real visual distinctiveness. The shade range (pale lavender through deep violet) gives it more flexibility than most colored stones.

 
8. Seed Pearl
7 pieces sold | Average: £1,112

This one surprises people. Seed pearls (tiny stones most associated with Victorian and antique pieces) averaged over £1,100 per piece – more than emeralds and amethyst.

The reason is craftsmanship. These pieces are intricate, difficult to restore well, and increasingly rare in solid condition. When a well-preserved example comes to auction, collectors pay for it.
 

9. Garnet
7 pieces sold | Average: £4,536

The number that makes people do a double-take. Garnet averaged £4,536 per piece in 2025 which is well above the diamond average, and the highest figure on this entire list.

Some context: the garnet category spans everyday fashion pieces through significant antique settings, and a handful of high-value sales can shift the average considerably. The right piece commands serious money.

10. Swiss Blue Topaz
Average: £1,247

Swiss blue topaz doesn’t crack the volume top ten on its own, but Dawsons specialists flag it as one of the standout performers among the colour stones shaping 2026 buying behaviour. At £1,247 average, it outperforms emeralds and most pearl categories. Tourmaline (£896), malachite (£862), and pink sapphire (£690) are all moving in the same direction. Buyers have traded minimalism for colour, and the numbers show it.

And once you’ve picked your favorite stone, the setting matters too. The right earrings can make a huge difference in how jewelry looks on you, so I also asked a jewelry expert how to choose the most flattering earrings for your face shape.

Read more: How to Pick the Most Flattering Earrings for Your Face Shape, According to a Jewelry Expert

And if you need a caption for your next jewellery photo: 100+ Jewelry Quotes for the Perfect Instagram Caption