The ruby was considered in the ancient east to be the luckiest of gems, able to confer protection from all misfortunes manmade or natural. A member of the corundum family,  More »

The ruby was considered in the ancient east to be the luckiest of gems, able to confer protection from all misfortunes manmade or natural. A member of the corundum family, ruby is primarily found in India, Burma and Ceylon. Sanskrit writing refers to it as “the king of gems”. Because of its rich red color, ruby is thought to avert diseases of the blood and stomach. In eastern philosophy, ruby promotes peace and prosperity for its owner, and grants invulnerability from evil. Its warm glow casts a spell over the heart of all who behold it.Medium: Ruby/Gold   « Less

The name of this exquisite purple quartz crystal comes from the Greek word meaning “not drunk” as the stone was believed in Antiquity to keep the wearer sober no  More »

The name of this exquisite purple quartz crystal comes from the Greek word meaning “not drunk” as the stone was believed in Antiquity to keep the wearer sober no matter how much wine he might consume. All the great ancient civilizations valued the gem, which was particularly popular in Egypt for scarabs and in Greece and Rome for intaglio rings. Because of its wine-dark color and its use to prevent intoxication, many were carved with the head of the wine-god Dionysus. The oldest known stone in the Crown Jewels of England is an amethyst first worn in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor. Even today, the rings of high-ranking ecclesiastics often have amethysts as their center stones. Many wonderful and therapeutic properties are ascribed to the gem: it can cure gout, it cleanses the body of impurities, it keeps the mind clear and alert and improves the memory, it gives the wearer pleasant dreams and keeps him immune from infection and contagious diseases. Because it is a crystal the energy level radiating from this translucent royal gem is particularly high, causing the wearer to feel wonderful both inside and out.Medium: Amethyst   « Less

Regarded in the east as an especially lucky gem, and in India as a sacred one, moonstone is so named because its translucent milky white color resembles the glow of the moon.  More »

Regarded in the east as an especially lucky gem, and in India as a sacred one, moonstone is so named because its translucent milky white color resembles the glow of the moon. A member of the feldspar family, it is most commonly found in India and Ceylon. It is said to arouse the tender passions of lovers and to give them the power to read the future. Moonstone soothes and balances the emotions, giving mastery over internal feelings and allowing for calm expression. It is said to protect against epilepsy and insanity, to aid women during their menstrual cycles, and to place men in touch with their gentler nature. In addition to its soft beauty, moonstone continues to be valued for its ability to bring good luck to those who wear it. Of a clear and vibrant green color, peridot is prized as a healing stone, one which calms the emotions and soothes the spirit. It is thought to stimulate the intellect and fire up creative energy even as it relieves anxiety and stress. According to eastern belief, the peridot favorably affects the endochrine glands, improving the entire physical system of the wearer. According to myth, peridot can mend damaged relationships, especially those between lovers. Any person who sees its lush and radiant color cannot help but feel happy and touched with energy.Medium: Moonstone-Peridot   « Less

The name "millefiori" comes from the Italian for "a thousand flowers" because this brightly colored glass is said to resemble a field full of blooms. The technique for  More »

The name "millefiori" comes from the Italian for "a thousand flowers" because this brightly colored glass is said to resemble a field full of blooms. The technique for millefiori was first discovered in ancient Alexandria in the 2nd century B.C. The ancients referred to it as "mosaic glass". Rods or sheets of different colored glass were fused together at high temperatures to form exotic patterns. The fused glass was then cut and shaped into exquisite jewelry and vessels. Late in the medieval period, Venetian artisans re-discovered the process. Throughout the renaissance, Venice was a powerful trading nation whose ships sailed into every known port of east and west. For barter, these traders carried millefiori beads, which become especially sought after in Africa. The Africans were seized with a passion for these glass ornaments, for which they traded gold, ivory, and spices. In Africa, millefiori beads quickly became a medium of exchange, and were used by some tribes as a bridal dowry.Origin: India Circa: 20 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb  More »

During the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance, Venetian artisans rediscovered the ancient secrets of glass making. On the island of Murano, they created superb vessels and jewelry which were valued throughout the known world. It was also during this period that Venice became the most powerful trading nation in Europe, a city whose ships visited every port both east and west. Venetian traders used glass beads for barter, and these jewels became especially prized in Africa, where they were traded for gold, ivory, rare woods and spices. Venetian beads quickly became a medium of exchange throughout Africa, and in some tribes were used as a bridal dowry. The rare and subtle beauty of these beads continues to dazzle the senses even after the passage of centuries.Origin: Venice, Italy Circa: 18 th Century AD to 19 th Century AD Collection: Jewelry Style: Venetian Medium: Glass   « Less

Agate, a member of the quartz family formed in the recesses of volcanic rocks, is found in a variety of colors: red, green, blue, brown, gray and striped. Since Antiquity,  More »

Agate, a member of the quartz family formed in the recesses of volcanic rocks, is found in a variety of colors: red, green, blue, brown, gray and striped. Since Antiquity, agate has been one of the most popular stones for talismans and amulets, and remarkable powers are ascribed to each of the different varieties. The use of agate amulets bas continued unabated into modern times, though early examples exist from the Sumerian and Egyptian cultures, dating back four millennia before Christ. In addition to jewelry, agate was carved into cups, dishes and works of art. The Roman naturalist Pliny records that pharmacists favored mortar and pestles crafted from agate, a practice that is still common. By far the most preferable of the agate gems is the brown, or "tawny" type. It is believed to cure an enormous number of ailments, including fevers, epilepsy, schizophrenia, intestinal troubles, rheumy eyes and difficult menstruation. It is a good antidote for poison, and is said to quicken the intelligence. Green agate is excellent for quelling eye diseases and preventing sterility; blue cures depression and sleeplessness; gray or white prevents neck problems and stomach upset; while red (or blood) agate was used by the Ancients as an antidote to poisonous insect bites and other ailments spread through the circulatory system. All varieties of agate are useful for curing insomnia and inducing pleasant dreams and are thought to have a universally positive effect on those who wear them.Medium: Agate   « Less

A gem of contrasts, onyx is a chalcedonic quartz frequently layered in different shades of contrasting color, most commonly the polar opposites of black and white. Found in  More »

A gem of contrasts, onyx is a chalcedonic quartz frequently layered in different shades of contrasting color, most commonly the polar opposites of black and white. Found in both the Old and New Worlds, onyx was used by the Classical Greeks and Romans to carve cameos and other personal jewelry, and by the tribes of ancient Mexico to make masks and sacred ritual objects. The gem is mentioned in The Old Testament Book of Exodus as figuring prominently in the breastplate of the High Priest. Its lustrous, rich polished surface-- usually of deepest ebony black, rich green, or very pure white-- makes it highly desirable stone for modern jewelry. The chief virtue of onyx as an amulet is that it seems to attract and absorb negative humors from the body of the wearer, causing relief from bath physical pain and mental anxiety. Black onyx is especially thought to have unique properties, as black suggests both the presence of all colors and the absence of light. For that reason, it serves as a buffer from pain, a defensive wall against evil and illness.Medium: Onyx   « Less

A gem of contrasts, onyx is a chalcedonic quartz frequently layered in different shades of contrasting color, most commonly the polar opposites of black and white. Found in  More »

A gem of contrasts, onyx is a chalcedonic quartz frequently layered in different shades of contrasting color, most commonly the polar opposites of black and white. Found in both the Old and New Worlds, onyx was used by the Classical Greeks and Romans to carve cameos and other personal jewelry, and by the tribes of ancient Mexico to make masks and sacred ritual objects. The gem is mentioned in The Old Testament Book of Exodus as figuring prominently in the breastplate of the High Priest. Its lustrous, rich polished surface-- usually of deepest ebony black, rich green, or very pure white-- makes it highly desirable stone for modern jewelry. The chief virtue of onyx as an amulet is that it seems to attract and absorb negative humors from the body of the wearer, causing relief from bath physical pain and mental anxiety. Black onyx is especially thought to have unique properties, as black suggests both the presence of all colors and the absence of light. For that reason, it serves as a buffer from pain, a defensive wall against evil and illness.Medium: Onyx   « Less

Condition: Fine

Condition: Fine   « Less

The name of this exquisite purple quartz crystal comes from the Greek word meaning, “not drunk” as the stone was believed in Antiquity to keep the wearer sober no  More »

The name of this exquisite purple quartz crystal comes from the Greek word meaning, “not drunk” as the stone was believed in Antiquity to keep the wearer sober no matter how much wine he might consume. All the great ancient civilizations valued the gem, which was particularly popular in Egypt for scarabs and in Greece and Rome for intaglio rings. Because of its wine-dark color and its use to prevent intoxication, many were carved with the head of the wine-god Dionysus. The oldest known stone in the Crown Jewels of England is an amethyst first worn in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor. Even today, the rings of high-ranking ecclesiastics often have amethysts as their center stones. Many wonderful and therapeutic properties are ascribed to the gem: it can cure gout, it cleanses the body of impurities, it keeps the mind clear and alert and improves the memory, it gives the wearer pleasant dreams and keeps him immune from infection and contagious diseases. Because it is a crystal the energy level radiating from this translucent royal gem is particularly high, causing the wearer to feel wonderful both inside and out. Medium: Amethyst   « Less