A
AGATE
It is the stone of strength. This translates in all areas of life particularly that of creativity, courage and intellect. An aid to balancing yin/yang energy, it is a centering stone that is said to give emotional strength self-confidence that can dispel fear.
ALEXANDRITE
Alexandrite was first discovered in the 1830s in Russia’s Ural Mountains, and named after the future Czar of Russia, the young man who became Alexander II.
AMETRINE
Ametrine is rare. It is a very hard stone made from a combination of Amethyst and Citrine. Its history tells a tale of the love between Princess Anahi who gave the bi-coloured stone to her lover, Spanish explorer Don Luis Felipe, as an expression of her passion for him and her allegiance to her homeland.
AMBER
Amber is fossilised tree resin. Some amber may contain plant or animal material that was trapped millions of years ago while the resin was still soft.
AMETHYST
Traditionally associated with St. Valentine, amethyst is a fortunate stone for friends and lovers.
APATITE
Apatite is a mineral that forms the building blocks of animal’s vertebrate bones. An accurately cut Apatite refracts light and shimmers with brilliance, giving the illusion of Tourmaline, Peridot and Topaz.
AQUAMARINE
Aquamarine hails from the same family as Emeralds (beryl). It is renowned for its shimmering shades of blue.
AVENTURINE
Aventurine promotes opportunity and prosperity. Luck infuses this stone, attracting positivity and dispelling apathy.
AZURITE
Azurite is the child of Malachite. It is formed by the oxidation of copper ores. Over time water transforms Azurite into Malachite and the two are found together with intense blues with splashes of brilliant green.
B
BERYL
Beryl is a single mineral with variations that are distinguished by their colour. Goshenite is the white to colourless variety of Beryl. It was discovered in the state of Massachusetts in USA and is said to be the purest form of Beryl.
BLOODSTONE
Referred to as ‘heliotrope’ in Greek which simply means ‘sun turning’. Many believed that the sun turns red when this stone is immersed in water. Bloodstones were also believed to be a magical stone in ancient times. Touching the stone simply stopped hemorrhages. Ancient warriors carried with them bloodstone amulets for reasons to stop the bleeding whenever they had wounds.
C
CARNELIAN
The distinctive shades of red are created by iron oxide in the stone. Carnelian is also the 17th anniversary gemstone.
CHRYSOCOLLA
The name Chrysocolla derives from Greek chrysos – gold and kolla – glue, referring to its use as a flux in soldering gold. The term was used from antiquity.
CHRYSOPRASE
Chrysoprase is a rare form of quartz. It is said that Alexander the Great favoured this striking green gemstone above all.
CITRINE
Citrine is a stone brimming with warmth and joy. Referred to as the ‘Success Stone’, Citrine brings fortune and prosperity in the most serendipitous ways.
CORAL
Corals are organic gemstones made from the skeletal remains of tiny marine animals. Ancient Egyptians believed coral contained blood from divine gods and placed pieces of coral in tombs to protect against dark spirits.
D
DIAMOND
The name Diamond comes from the Greek word ‘Adamas’ which means unconquerable – signifying the eternity of love. Diamonds are a symbol of purity and one of the hardest minerals on Earth. When cut with skill, diamonds are unsurpassed in their fiery brilliance.
DIOPTASE
Expanding consciousness to the highest vibration, Dioptase has a massive influence on human energy fields. It’s intense, fiery green-blue colour lifts all chakras.
E
EMERALD
Emerald is the stone of everlasting love, a sacred gem of the goddess Venus. It balances friendships and partnerships, calming emotions and solidifying unity.
F
FLUORITE
Ancient Egyptians decorated their statues and scarabs with fluorite. It is a protecting stone that can be used to block electromagnetic stresses from household electronics.
G
GARNET
Garnet is a stone of abundance with numerous colours according to its mineral content. For success in business and confidence with new people, Garnet is a lucky stone to keep.
H
HEMATITE
Hematite comes from the Greek word for ‘blood’. Because of its high iron content, similar to that of blood, hematite is popular for treating blood disorders.
HOWLITE
Howlite is a calming stone and is an excellent prescription for insomnia and excessive mind chatter.
I
IOLITE
Heralded by Viking explorers who took Iolite with them on their colossal ocean voyages. They used iolite as a light polarising filter that helped determine the position of the sun, making open-water navigation accurate.
J
JADE
Jade is the fortune stone for wealth, success and love. The people of China have admired the beauty and mystery of jade for over 7000 years. Ancient civilizations like the Mayans and Aztecs considered Jade more precious than gold.
JASPER
Jasper was a favoured stone of antiquity and can be found in the histories of Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Geek and Latin.
JET
Formed from the fossilization of hardwoods, Jet was used as a popular mourning jewellery during Victorian times. Jet was considered a powerful magical talisman used to ward off negative influences. It was worn in the 16th century as rosary beads to gain favour with God.
K
KUNZITE
A relatively unknown gem until the late 19th century when it was discovered at the Pala Chief Mine in San Diego, California.
L
LABRADORITE
Labradorite is named after the peninsula it was first discovered on, the Labrador Peninsula in Canada, during the late 1700’s. Inuit folklore describes Labradorite as a stone that fell from the Aurora Borealis. When light touches the stone it illuminates with an intense blue-rainbow glow similar to that of the Northern Lights.
LAPIS LAZULI
Lapis Lazuli derives its name from two cultures, ‘lapis’ is Latin for stone and ‘azula’ is Arabic for blue. Lapis lazuli has been found in ancient Greek and Egyptian artefacts where the intense blue stone was valued as highly as gold.
M
MALACHITE
The name ‘Malachite’ is extracted from the Greek work ‘mallow’ which is a herb of the same green colour. Traditionally it was believed that Malachite protected children from witches and other malevolent forces.
MOLDAVITE
Moldavite is a tektite-a mysterious group of glassy objects, that is the product of a meteor collision with Earth nearly 15 million years ago (14.8 to be exact) which created the Reis impact crater. It is believed to have fallen from the sky only once, over what is now called the Moldau River Valley in Czechoslovakia.
MOONSTONE
As its name suggests, Moonstone is connected to the moon and is the stone of the Roman goddess Diana. Give your lover a moonstone pendant and your passions shall culminate on the rising of a full moon.
MORGANITE
Discovered in California in the early 1900’s, and soon thereafter in Madagascar, this crystal was known as Pink Beryl until 1911 when, at the suggestion of George F. Kunz, the chief gemologist at Tiffany & Co., it was renamed Morganite in honor of the legendary financier and gem collector J. P. Morgan, for his gemological and mineral contributions to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, USA.
MOTHER OF PEARL
Mother of Pearl is the shimmering lining of ocean molluscs. The lining of these shells create pearls, hence the name Mother of Pearl. Fortune-tellers believe Mother of Pearl enhances spiritual sensitivity and adaptability to unusual situations.
O
OBSIDIAN
Obsidian is a glass that forms naturally when volcanic lava cools too quickly. It has a brilliant glassy sheen and comes in different varieties including Snowflake Obsidian that has a mottled-white affect throughout.
ONYX
Strikingly beautiful, Onyx was popular with ancient Greeks and Romans who used the stone in ornamental works.
OPAL
The name Opal comes from the Greek word ‘opallus’ meaning ‘to change colour’. Precious opals, compared to common opals, each have an individual fiery brilliance that stands this stone apart from other gems. Flashes of iridescent colour may be seen in the stone when viewed from various angles.
S
SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN
A form of Obsidian, it is volcanic glass. When clustered crystals of Cristobalite produce, it creates the snowflake like pattern. This can also be caused by patterns of gas bubbles left in the lava flow.
SAPPHIRE
Sapphires and Ruby are of the same mineral, corundum. Sapphire is the blue sister of ruby and, in fact, all other colours of corundum except red are considered sapphire. Sapphire is one of the hardest gemstones on earth, second only to diamonds.
SARDONYX
A type of Onyx, Sardonyx has a brown base instead of a black base as Onyx has. Historically it was used as a material for carving cameos. Onyx is a stone that gives bodily strength. Sardonyx focuses on strength of will power, integrity and stamina.
SMOKY QUARTZ
Smoky quartz is said to be uplifting and allows the mind to focus on the present – the here and now.
SPINEL
The fiery brilliance and intense colours of Spinel have often seen this stone mistaken for Ruby and Sapphire. Spinel has even fooled royalty – in the 16th century, King Edward the Thirds’ son adorned his crown with what he believed to be Ruby. It was not until the 1940’s that the British Crown Jewel was discovered to actually be a red Spinel.
SUGILITE
Sugilite is named after the scientist who first discovered it, Dr. K. Sugi. Found in 1944 it is a relatively recent find, and is only known to be found in two countries, this making Sugilite rare.
P
PAUA
Paua is an iridescent shell that is found in New Zealand. Also known in other regions as Abalone or “sea Opal,” Paua is a unique species of Haliotis and the shell is kept for decorative and spiritual uses. It is know to stimulate intuition, psychic development and imagination.
PEARL
Pearls form in mollusc, especially in oysters and mussels. Pearls were thought to be teardrops from gods or the moon. It is a symbol of purity and innocence and often sewn into bridal gowns.
PERIDOT
General Napoleon gave gifts of Peridot to Josephine, to woo his beloved and state his eternal admiration for her.
PYRITE
The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, also known as fool’s gold.
Q
QUARTZ
Also known as rock crystal, quartz is beautiful and very durable. It comes in a spectrum of colours depending on the mineral content of the stone. Amethyst, Citrine and Aventurine are all variations of quartz.
R
ROSE QUARTZ
The pink colour of the stone is due to the tiny amounts of titanium. Rose quartz is blessed for love and a happy marriage. It opens the heart to all positive energies of love.
RHODOCHROSITE
The presence of manganese is what colours this stone pink and orange. The heart is motivated to open with rhodochrisite, relieving emotional distress and encouraging a positive outlook.
RUBY
Ruby is a dynamic and sociable stone that attracts hedonistic energy and courageous minds.
T
TANZANITE
It is one of the most valuable of all metaphysical crystals for spiritual exploration, bringing together all aspects of communication and psychic power. Its high vibrational energy invites protection and safety in linking with higher realms, and allows for deep profound meditation.
TIGERS EYE
Tiger’s Eye, also known as cats eye and chatoyant quartz, has a fibrous construction with inclusions of crocidolite. The inclusions give Tiger’s Eye its cat’s-eye like quality.
TOPAZ
The radiance of these beautifully coloured stones have been prized for millennia. The name topaz originates from the ancient Sanskrit word for fire – ‘tapas’.
TOURMALINE
Tourmaline is a rainbow among gemstones exhibiting almost every colour imaginable. Tourmaline is used in shamanic ceremonies and assists in healing the mind and body to remove any spiritual blockages.
TURQUOISE
Turquoise was one of the world’s first actively mined gemstones and dates back 6,000 years to Sinai. Particularly loved by the Tibetan people and prized for its intense colour and unique dark-coloured veins it is a popular stone in many cultures.
Y
YELLOW TOPAZ
The use of topaz goes back to Egyptian times when the ancient Egyptians believed that yellow topaz received its golden hue from the Sun God, Ra.
W
WATERMELON TOURMALINE
It is a rare variety of Toumaline that forms like the physical aspects of a watermelon. With its green outskirts, pink interiors and pale white colouring, it resembles the colourful fruit.
Z
ZIRCON
Noted for its high refractive index, Zircon is most famous for its clear stones that are often mistaken for diamonds. The brilliance of Zircon fire can outshine Ruby and Sapphire making this stone attractive for jewellery settings.
AGATE
1. COLOUR
Green or bluish-green in daylight, Alexandrite can change to raspberry red or purplish-red in incandescent light.
2. FOUND IN
Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Russia and Brazil.
3. HEALING PROPERTIES
Said to aid in physical ailments, alexandrite is recommended for those recovering from surgery or a prolonged illness. Also useful for one’s emotional well being, as well as promoting self-esteem and the ability to be appreciative of the world around us. The stone assists one in developing “inner energy changes” which corresponds with age and maturation.
