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GEMSTONESGemstones have captivated man since the beginning of civilization. Colored gems were thought to have magical powers and were used as talismans, amulets, medicine, divining and religious rituals. The gemstone color had meanings and uses and could give the wearer certain abilities or attributes. Sometimes these were different for man than a woman: “blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts….and on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance.” Each gem cured different ailments, helped in childbirth, induced the love of another or avoided it. Most cultures and civilizations have had their own interpretations and uses for each of the gemstones. It was thought that certain planets influenced stones and these could then endow those powers from the planets to the wearer. A list of special powers has been passed down from an early Hindu legend for Zodiac gemstones. Going back well into the 1st century or before, was the belief that a certain gemstone representing each month possessed a special attribute or “cure” for those born in that month. This idea and love of colorful gemstones in our birthstone chart has carried forward to our modern day. We even have lists of special gemstones for the hours, days, seasons and for our anniversaries. Our love of color today is what usually determines the choices of gemstones we choose and the clothes we wear. Color can express our mood, our personalities, have a symbolic meaning in our lives or as a gift express something special. We have a wide array of colorful gemstones today to color our lives. Amethyst Amethyst is the February’s birthstone and the anniversary gemstone for the 6th year of marriage. Amethyst played an important part of Egyptian trade and commerce and was often entombed with the Egyptian rulers. Amethyst quarries near Aswan were very productive during early history. The Egyptian royalty became wealthy enough to fund much of the foreign ventures to near by regions. Amethyst is thought to bring tranquility and stability to its wearer and to have great healing powers. Aquamarine Aquamarine is the birthstone of March and the anniversary gemstone of the 19th year of marriage. The name came from the Roman’s: “aqua” meaning water and “mare” meaning sea. Aquamarine was considered sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea. It was first known use by the Greeks between 480-300 BC. Aquamarine amulets were engraved with the god Poseidon on a chariot. Aquamarine varies from deep blue to blue-green of different intensities depending on traces of iron. Sailors wore amulets made of aquamarine and believed bravery would be instilled in their souls, giving them the power to overcome powerful storms. Black Diamond – Hematite Hematite is mined in England and has a mirror-like polish. It can be faceted like a diamond and has a hardness of 6-7 on the mohs scale. It is thought to preserve life. Black Onyx Black onyx was first popular in ancient Roman days were a method was developed of permanently coloring clean gray agate to a pure black jet color. Black onyx is a rich looking gemstone and is known for its simple but elegant beauty. It is believed to assure the wearer of victory and strength. Black onyx is the anniversary gemstone for the 7th year of marriage. Crystal-Fire Opal Crystal-Fire is a lab-created opal that has been stabilized to preserve its beautiful rainbow of colors. Crystal-Fire’s advantages over mined opal are enormous: the opal is lab-created from sand and no mining is required, the stone will not check or crack caused by loss of water from its crystal structure; color consistency and quality is paramount and will remain so; Crystal-Fire lab-created opal is much more durable than natural opal and it is much less expensive, beautiful gemstone. Cubic Zirconia – CZ Cubic zirconia, or CZ, is an artificial gemstone used in jewelry because it resembles a diamond in refraction, dispersion, hardness and color. Because cubic zirconia is one of the finest synthetic gemstones, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between a diamond and a well-cut cubic zirconia without the assistance of magnification. Since it does not contain any of the impurities or flaws of a diamond, cubic zirconia usually presents more sparkle and clarity. While they are not quite as hard as a diamond they are harder than most other gemstones. The value to the CZ is that you can get a great looking gemstone for a great price. Diamond Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April and anniversary gemstone for the 10th and 60th year of marriage. Diamonds are unique because they are composed of pure carbon while most other gemstones are complex minerals. In Europe, the first diamonds were worn by French and English royalties in the 13th century. Louis lX of France was quick to establish a law reserving the diamond for the king. Kings rode into battle with heavy leather breastplates studded with diamonds, which were believed to have magical qualities that would protect them from harm. Over the centuries the symbol of strength, courage and invincibility eventually acquired its unique status as the ultimate sign of love, thus the diamond was worn by women and men of European aristocracy. The diamond engagement ring was introduced when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. Diamonds remain the ultimate symbol of love. Dichroic Glass Dichroic in Greek means two color. Dichroic glass being made today has many colors seen to the human eye. There are many layers involved in the production of this specialized glass. Some of the processing causes the glass to become a partial mirror. Only certain wavelengths of light are reflected as the piece of glass is moved. Dichroic glass is made up of the same materials as regular glass, sand, soda ash and limestone, but it has trace amounts of special metals like titanium and silicon added. Emerald Emerald is the birthstone for May and anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th year of marriage. Emeralds were first found in Egypt almost 4,000 years ago and were prized by Cleopatra. It is said that Nero wore glasses with lenses made of emerald when viewing the gladiators in battle to “soothe his eyes”. Emerald is also believed to improve one’s memory and also sharpening the wit, enhancing intelligence and bestowing eloquence. Emerald is a symbol of the Greek Goddess Venus and is reported to reveal the sincerity of a lover’s oath. Also, it is said to provide the owner with the ability to see the future bringing good fortune. Our eyes naturally focus on green hues making it soothing to the eye. Green is a color of rebirth, nature, the forest and creation. Fine Austrian Crystal Rock crystal is the name given to all clear colorless quartz. It is widely used as a popular ornamental stone and is also used as a gemstone in jewelry. Although it is one of the least expensive gemstones, cut rock crystal has been used as imitation diamonds. Rock crystal does not have the fire and rarity to be ranked as a fine precious gemstone. Belief in the healing properties of gems has a very long history, as the rituals of medicine men in ancient tribes attest. Crystal healers today believe that each gem has the power to influence the health and well being of a specific part of the body. The light reflected off stones placed on vital nerve points is thought to be absorbed by the body, supplying it with healing energy. Prized for their beauty and clarity, rock crystals are often chosen for use in crystal healing. Fine Austrian crystal is a high quality lead crystal glass which is more brilliant in color and flash. Waterford and Swarovski both use this same type of premium quality glass crystal. Due to its beauty and clarity, Fine Austrian Crystal in jewelry is beautiful and fashionable. Garnet Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and the anniversary for the 2nd year of marriage. Garnet jewelry has been found dating back to the Bronze Age approx. 3000 BC. The majority of this ancient jewelry was a very primitive style of lapidary work found among the graves of a village of lake dwellers. It has also been found in Sweden between 1100 and 2000 BC, in Samaria around 2300 BC and Egypt in 3100 BC. Garnet is believed to have many medicinal purposes with some of which have been recorded throughout Medieval History with attributes to protect from poisons. Garnet also was believed to be important with ailments pertaining to the blood and infection. Many curing huts in the Middle Ages were believed to carry garnets. As a birthstone, garnet is a protective and guiding gem. Gaspeite Gaspeite was discovered in 1966 in the Lemieux Township of the Gaspe’ Peninsula, Quebec, Canada. It is also found in western Australia – the best from North of Perth, Australia. It is found as a secondary mineral around nickel sulfide deposits. Gaspeite comes in light green to an unmistakable apple green color. Gaspiete is usually cut in cabachons. Jet Jet is Anthracite Coal which is a sedimentary rock formed from plants that lived millions of years ago. The most well known source of jet is along the eastern coast of Yorkshire, England and there are large deposits in Utah, US. Jet is black in color and is used a great deal in contemporary and traditional Native American inlay jewelry and southwestern jewelry. Lapis – Lapis Lazuli Lapis is a pure ground mass rock comprised of several different minerals: lazurite, sodalite, hauyne, calcite and pyrite. Since it is a rock made up of more than one mineral, the color and composition of lapis varies even within the same deposit and from different areas of the world. Lapis is deep, blue with sometimes bands of white calcite and small seemingly free floating gold metallic flakes of iron pyrite (fool’s gold) dispersed throughout the rock. Lapis is the anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage. Malachite Malachite is named for the Greek work “mallow” which is a green herb. Malachite is a copper ore that comes in a brilliant green marked with bands of contrasting shades of the same green. Malachite is often found in copper producing areas such as Russia, Mexico, Australia, England, Southwest U.S. and notably Zaire is a major producer today. Never clean malachite with any product containing ammonia. Marcasite Marcasite jewelry was first popular in the Art Deco period in the early 20th century. It is characterized in jewelry by its faceted shape and blackish gold color. Marcasite is an iron sulfide mineral and its nearest relative is “fool’s gold” or iron pyrite. It is used in jewelry in small stones usually grouped together giving the impression of a larger stone. Marcasite is most often seen in sterling silver jewelry. In recent years, Marcasite jewelry has become popular once again. Mother of Pearl Mother of Pearl is the iridescent lining of the shell of a
pearl-bearing clam or oyster. This lustrous gemstone usually has the
same composition and quality as the pearl. The bright flashes of
light are caused by light being reflected from the many layers that
make up the pearl lining in the shell. Opal Opal is the birthstone of October and anniversary gemstone for the 14th year of marriage. The name, opal, evolved from the Roman word opalus and Greek word opallios – “to see a change of color”. The Greek word was a modification of the ancient Indian Sanskrit name for opal, upala, which means “precious stone”. Opal has for centuries been a treasured gemstone. Beliefs associated with the wearing of opal have varied. Early Greeks thought that opals gave their owners the powers of prophecy. Romans adored it as a token of hope and purity. Eastern people regarded it as being sacred. Arabs believed that it fell from heaven. Opal is a hardened silica gel and non-crystalline and usually contains 5-10% water. Because of the water it contains, it can change colors when heated or even held in the palm of a hand. If the water is allowed to dry out opals can crack. It forms at low temperatures and may fill cavities in sedimentary rocks or in veins of igneous rocks. Opal is commonly found in many countries around the world. Opals are admired for their extraordinary display of light and color and can be found in gold and silver jewelry. Paua Shell Paua shell is a blue shelled relative of abalone and unique to New Zealand’s coastal waters and forms a part of the nation’s history. The Maoris have used the shell for centuries for personal adornments and as inlay pieces in ritual carvings that decorate weapons and dwelling houses. The shellfish meat is edible and sought after as a national delicacy. Paua shell or Haliotus Iris, in Latin, is a univalve shellfish and can grow to 20 centimeters in length. Across the back of the shell there is a row of small openings which the fish uses to expel water after aerating through its gills. The brilliance of the Paua shell has been highlighted by traditional tumbling processes, giving it opalescent blues, rich greens and luminous fiery flashes. Peridot Peridot is the birthstone of August and anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of marriage. Peridot is a volcanic gem and is the best-known variety of olivine mineral. Peridot is a distinctive, bright yellow-green to green gemstone that has caught the fancy of people for thousands of years. Peridot is thought to bring success, peace and good luck. Pearl Pearl is the birthstone of June and anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th year of marriage. The glowing beauty of a strand of pearls has been worn by brides for millennia. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying. During the Crusades in the Middle Ages, pearls were the gift of choice for a knight to give to his lady. During the 14th and 15th Centuries, Royal wedding scenes closely resembled a sea of pearls, with everyone from the bride down to the male guests were adorned with pearls. The pearl is unique as it is the only precious gemstone to be created from a living creature. Pearls are characterized by the translucence, luster and by a delicate play of surface color. Pearls range from black to white and other colors included are cream, grey, blue, yellow, lavender, green, mauve and champagne. ‘The richest merchandise of all, and the most sovereign commodity throughout the whole world, are these pearls.’ Pliny, A.D. 105 Pink Shell Pink shell comes from mussels that live in the riverbeds of the Ten Killer Lake System located in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee. A mussel is a simple creature enclosed by two shells – bi-valve. The shells are formed out of dissolved minerals, mostly calcium carbonate extracted from their environment and secreted in successive layers in the shell. The brilliant flashes of color are caused by the light reflected from the many layers that make up the lining of the shell. The freshwater mussels also have been known by interesting names such as monkeyface, shiny pigtoe, elephantear, pink heelsplitter, rabbitsfoot, purple wartyback and black sandshell. Native Americans used shells as a money system as well as for adornment. Today, pink shell is most often seen in sterling silver jewelry. Red Coral Coral is one of the world’s few organic gems. The oldest known findings of red coral date from the Mesopotamian civilization from about 3000 B.C. Coral is formed from a colony of marine invertebrates that is primarily a skeletal calcium carbonate gem. The formations as seen in the water look like tree branches. Many colors and varieties of coral are found in warm coastal waters from around the world. Coral varies in color: white, pink, orange, red and black. The rarest variety is the blood coral or oxblood coral. This is a very deep red variety. The best oxblood coral comes from the Mediterranean Sea. Coral is usually cabochon cut. Because of its calcium composition coral should not come in contact with acid such as vinegar. Ruby Ruby is the birthstone of July and anniversary gemstone for the 15th and 40th years of marriage. The scarlet-colored gem is said to bring wearers wisdom, happiness and health. Some say it brings particularly good luck to gamblers and lovers as well. Rubies are more than a talisman or good luck charm but have been cherished throughout history and are valuable. Value is a set of human conditions that are rarity, durability and beauty. Especially fine rubies are rarer than diamonds, emeralds or sapphires. Their beautiful color and durability often come as a surprise new the new owner. Rubies are most often set in gold jewelry. Sapphire Sapphire is the birthstone of September and anniversary gemstone for the 5th and 45th years of marriage. Sapphires known as the gem of heavens, the divine gemstone has been cherished for thousands of years. The ancient Persians believed the earth rested on a giant sapphire and its reflection colored the sky blue. Sapphires can be found in a beautiful range of colors: from mid-night blues to the light blue of a noon sky, golden sunrise to lively reddish-orange, and the soft violet of twilight. The most famous and valuable sapphires are royal blue. Snowflake Obsidian Obsidian has an interesting and important history in the development of man. Many of America’s early settlers in the north made their first tools from this natural glass. It was used in knives, arrowheads and tools for gathering and preparing food. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when hot lava cools quickly. Obsidian was the actual flow of lava. It cooled so quickly that no crystalline structure could form. The white snowflakes in the black background are a rare form of high temperature quartz that formed before the rest of the lava cooled into glass. The final gemstone is different depending on the type of mineral content of the lava flow. Spiny Oyster Shell Spiny Oyster Shell, Spondylus Brodnip Princess, is found in the Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico. Spiny Oyster began to be exported for jewelry making in the Southwest in 1976. The shell comes in three main colors: red, orange, purple and sometimes white and yellow. Spiny oyster shell can be found most often in southwestern jewelry and Native American jewelry. The name Spondylus is a Latin word that means “spines on its back”. Brodnip was the name of the scientist who traveled with Cortez when Baja California was explored. The name “princess” was given to the shell when Cortez presented his marine discoveries to the King of Spain. The king’s daughter fell in love with the shell; thus, it was named after her. Sugilite Sugilite is named for the Japanese petrologist who discovered it, Kenichi Sugi. Sugilite is found only in South Africa and is a by product of mining for manganese ore. It is found in very deep shafts about 2 miles deep. Sugilite first appeared in jewelry in the late 1970’s and was sold as Royal Azel and Royal Lavulite. It is lovely, deep, rich purple to purple red in color. It is an opaque gem that is usually cut into cabachons or beads and is used in inlay work in contemporary, Southwestern jewelry and Native American Indian jewelry. Topaz Topaz is the birthstone of November and anniversary gemstone for the 4th year of marriage. Topaz is believed to enhance one’s spiritual potential, to increase intelligence and creativity, and to impart wealth and wisdom. Some believe it aids in meditation, protection against diseases, improving eyesight, and dispelling enchantments. The Greeks believed that it had the power to give strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency. Topaz is also said to change color in the presence of poison food or drink. Topaz is a naturally occurring aluminum fluorosilicate and most often occurs colorless. It can have naturally occurring colors of light blue, yellow and brown. Rare are the natural colors of “Imperial” topazes of orange, pink, red or violet. Turquoise Turquoise is the birthstone of the month of December and the anniversary gemstone for the 11th year of marriage. Turquoise is one of the oldest known gem materials and popular for over 6,000 years of man’s history. Turquoise was mined in the Sinai Peninsula before the 4th millennium BC in one of the world’s first hard rock mining operations. It was also mined by other ancient civilizations: Egyptians, Mayans and Aztecs. Turquoise has been, since 200 B.C., extensively used by both southwest American Indian tribes and by many other Indian tribes in Mexico. Archaeological evidence exists that the prehistoric people, the Anasazi and Hohokam, mined turquoise at Cerrillos and the Burro Mountains of New Mexico. The magical blue color of turquoise was thought to have powerful metaphysical properties by ancient cultures. The Apache Indians thought that turquoise gave warriors and hunters better aim. The Zuni Indians believed that it protected them from demons. In parts of Asia, it is thought to protect against the “evil eye”. In ancient Mexico, turquoise was reserved for the gods and not worn by mere mortals. Turquoise has also been said to bring prosperity to its wearer. Turquoise, chemically, is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum and is formed by the percolation of meteoric or groundwater through aluminous rock in the presence of copper. For this reason, it is often associated with copper deposits as a secondary mineral. Turquoise is most often found in arid, semiarid or desert places such as Iran, Tibet, China, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Turkestan and the southwest U.S. Turquoise gets its color from the heavy metals in the ground where it forms. Blue turquoise forms when there is copper present and green turquoise forms where iron is present in the rock. Matrix is the host rock, mother rock. It can be made from several different elements such as pyrite, chert, quartz, cuperite and manganese oxide. Turquoise can be found in contemporary jewelry settings, Native American Indian jewelry, southwestern jewelry and western jewelry. Turquoise jewelry is traditionally set in silver in the US but is also found in gold as well. Turquoise jewelry is as popular today as it was thousands of years ago. Tigereye – Tiger Eye Tigereye is light to dark brown with lustrous yellow to brown
fibrous inclusions. It has a strong light reflection that moves when
the stone is turned or seen from a different angle. Tigereye comes
mainly from South Africa and can also be found in Australia, Burma,
Namibia and California, US. |
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