Jasper is an opaque member of the quartz family, found in a variety of colors but most commonly green, red, yellow, brown or mottled (called leopard's skin). Because of its  More »

Jasper is an opaque member of the quartz family, found in a variety of colors but most commonly green, red, yellow, brown or mottled (called leopard's skin). Because of its rich hues and the fact that it polishes to a high luster, jasper has been used in jewelry throughout history. Moreover, the protective properties of the stone, which vary depending on the color, have favored its use in amulets and talismans since before recorded history. In the Old Testament (Exodus, xxviii 15-30) jasper is named as one of the twelve stones representing the twelve tribes to be set in gold and placed in the breastplate of the High Priest. The Egyptians carved scarabs from jasper; the Greeks and Romans made entire vessels from it, believing that the stone's powers would pass to them through the food or drink the vessel's contained. Jasper's chief virtues since antiquity has lain in its ability to attract poisons and venoms into itself, thus removing the cause of disease. This is especially believed to be true of green jasper, which was used in the ancient and medieval worlds to cure snakebite. The verdant green stone has also been associated for millennia with rainfall, fertility and abundance. Red jasper is said to cure ailments of the blood, and to imbue the wearer with renewed strength and vigor. Its associations with the deities of combat and courage are thought to make red jasper an ideal stone for those seeking victory over existing disease. Yellow and brown jaspers are useful for maintaining a healthy liver and spleen. Jasper is found throughout the world, and mankind is fortunate that in addition to its helpful nature, it is also extremely becoming to wear.Medium: Jasper   « Less

Considered in the ancient East to be the luckiest of all gems, the ruby is said to confer upon its owner protection from all misfortune either manmade or natural. Like the  More »

Considered in the ancient East to be the luckiest of all gems, the ruby is said to confer upon its owner protection from all misfortune either manmade or natural. Like the sapphire, the ruby is a member of the corundum family, an aluminum oxide which owes its bright red color to the trace presence of chromium. The major sources for this mineral both in antiquity and today is the Orient, especially Burma, Thailand and India. On a carat for carat basis, the ruby is generally the most expensive of all precious stones. The most prized hue for the gem is called "pigeon's blood", a deep red touched with violet. A necklace of these stones is said to have been given by Alexander the Great to the Queen Mother of Persia. However, because of its Eastern origins, the ruby was little known to the classical cultures of the West. In the East, especially India, the ruby was much sought after. Sanskrit writings refer to it as the "king of gems". Its red color associated it medicinally with diseases of the blood, and it was especially valued to ward off pestilence, to staunch bleeding, as well as cure diseases of the stomach. In Eastern belief, it also promoted peace and prosperity for its owner, and granted him invulnerability from all evil.Origin: Siri Lanka Collection: Ruby Necklace Medium: Ruby/Diamonds/Gold   « Less

The fabled sapphire, one of the four gems called precious today, is an extremely hard variety of corundum occuring in transparent or translucent crystals. Corundum is  More »

The fabled sapphire, one of the four gems called precious today, is an extremely hard variety of corundum occuring in transparent or translucent crystals. Corundum is aluminum oxide, and the rich blue color of sapphire is believed to be caused by the presence of titanium and iron oxides. The finest sapphires come from Burma, Thailand, India and other parts of the East. According to ancient Oriental legend, the earth rested on a giant sapphire, whose blue color was reflected in the bowl of the sky. Though the stone was known in the West, it was rarely used by any but royalty until the Christian era. This rarity contributed to its reputation as a magic stone of immense and all-encompassing power, capable of warding off every kind of pestilence and contagious disease. The sapphire is also reputed to bring good luck to its owner and to promote wisdom and clarity of mind. The deep and vibrant blue of this gem makes its precious reputation a deserved one.   « Less

Of an intense blue color, sodalite is thought to clear the mind for rational thought, and to quicken the intellect. It stabilizes the emotions and promotes self-awareness.  More »

Of an intense blue color, sodalite is thought to clear the mind for rational thought, and to quicken the intellect. It stabilizes the emotions and promotes self-awareness. The deep, rich color of the evening sky, sodalite is thought to revive the spirit in much the same fashion as a good night's sleep. Without question, the person who wears this unusual gem should be congratulated on a wise choice. Collection: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Sodalite   « Less

Obsidian is a hard, glassy volcanic rock, usually black in color. Since the dawn of time, obsidian has been prized for its ability to be shaped into a sharp cutting edge.  More »

Obsidian is a hard, glassy volcanic rock, usually black in color. Since the dawn of time, obsidian has been prized for its ability to be shaped into a sharp cutting edge. Early knives and daggers made tram this stone have been found in tombs dating to the Neolithic period. The presence of obsidian tools at sites far removed tram volcanoes indicates that it was a valuable trading good. Throughout antiquity, obsidian was commonly used for razors and sacrificial knives, as well as for amulets. The stone is believed to beneficially influence the stomach and intestines. It is felt to connect the mind and the emotions. to ground spiritual energy to the physical plane. Because of its dense black color. it is believed to absorb and disperse negativity to reduce stress and calm the mind. Obsidian grants the wearer a detached perspective on life, but one which is bath loving and wise. For those attuned to its energy, this lovely gem can be a powerful healer.Collection: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Obsidian   « Less

One of the important ores of iron, the red ferric oxide hematite takes its name from the Greek word for blood, because when the surface of the stone is scratched it appears  More »

One of the important ores of iron, the red ferric oxide hematite takes its name from the Greek word for blood, because when the surface of the stone is scratched it appears to be bleeding. The gem takes on several forms and colors, the most common of which are red and metalic-grey. Since earliest antiquity, hematite has been prized for its potent protective qualities. The Egyptians and the Persians in particular used the stone in a talismanic capacity. Because of its assoications with the blood, hematite is believed to alleviate hemorrhage, and to stimulate the iron in the human circulation system, thus relieving fatigue. In ancient Egypt, amulets made from hematite were used to protect the head from injury, and were frequently formed in the shape of a miniature headrest or pillow. It was also felt that hematite gave courage to the wearer, and warriors frequently rubbed the stone over their bodies before battle to make themselves invincible. According to a treatise on gems written in the first century BC by Azchalias of Babylon, hematite procures for the wearer a favorable issue of lawsuits and judgements. The gem's mysterious physical properties--it seems part stone, part metal--make it as appealing to the modern eye as it has always been throughout history.Collection: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Hematite   « Less

Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known to man. Amulets made from it have been found in tombs dating from the Stone Age. Of rich color,  More »

Amber, the fossilized resin of extinct trees, is one of the oldest gems known to man. Amulets made from it have been found in tombs dating from the Stone Age. Of rich color, its electrical properties made it magic to primitive man and this fascination has continued to the present day. Widespread trade in amber began over 9,000 years ago, when it traveled from the Baltic region to the palaces and cities of the ancient Mediterranean, such as Knossos and Mycenae. It was believed in Antiquity-- as now--that amber could cure numerous ailments and avert evil or prevent witchcraft. Ancient myths ascribed its origins to the rays of the setting sun, cooled in the ocean; to the tears of rare birds; or to the urine of the lynx. Homer makes mention of amber in the Odyssey. In prehistoric times, the resin oozing from trees sometimes encased insects and other specimens of natural life. These inclusions are highly prized today. Amber varies in color from pale yellow, to rich honey brown, to deep orange to red. Soothing to the touch as well as to the eye, it is still one of the most popular gems after the passage of millennia. For centuries, coral-- like pearl, a gift of the sea--was classed among the precious gems valued by man. Not strictly a mineral, coral is an organic substance, composed of the skeletons of millions of tiny marine animals. In its natural state, coral is plantlike in appearance and grows in warm water at depths of up to 90 feet. In hue, it varies from white, to pink, to red or orange, to black. Coral jewelry is known from the Egyptian, Biblical, Classical and Islamic periods. Coral is used as a heart stimulant, as an antidote for fevers and toxins in the body, and for preventing vomiting, colic, and childhood diseases. Its mysterious strength seems to derive from its organic source material, the accumulated energy of living things.Collection: Beaded Necklaces Medium: Amber-Coral   « Less

The Ancient Egyptians believed that fiery orange-red carnelian was the distilled essence of the Sun's rays, and many of the jewels of the Pharaohs were carved from it. The  More »

The Ancient Egyptians believed that fiery orange-red carnelian was the distilled essence of the Sun's rays, and many of the jewels of the Pharaohs were carved from it. The name of this generally translucent variety of chalcedony comes from the Latin word for flesh, for that is what its warm reddish tones reminded the Romans of. Since earliest times, carnelian has been prized for its rich, radiant color like the heart of a glowing fire. Carnelian jewels have been discovered in the Royal tombs of Ur, Egypt and the Holy Land. One royal lady of ancient Jordan was found buried with a carnelian and gold necklace over ten feet in length. The Prophet Mohammed himself is said to have worn a ring set with this gem. As an amulet, carnelian is favored to act on the blood, preventing it from rising in excess to the head, stopping nosebleed, easing menstrual flow and causing blood to circulate smoothly throughout the body. It is believed to make the skin healthy and youthful, removing sores and blemishes when worn. Because of its calming effects on the blood, carnelian also makes one feel peaceful and slow to anger. It is theorized that the color orange is the harmonious balance of passionate, creative red and bright, cheerful yellow, which makes it particularly soothing to wear. Carnelian is the perfect stone to achieve that blissful state of balance. Medium: Carnelian   « Less

In Matthew, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a single rare and costly pearl for which a man would sell all he has. The delicate, lustrous beauty of the pearl has captured  More »

In Matthew, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a single rare and costly pearl for which a man would sell all he has. The delicate, lustrous beauty of the pearl has captured the imagination of men and women since the dawn of time. Early cultures worshiped it as a symbol of the moon goddess, a token of perfection. This exquisite gem is formed when an irritant becomes trapped inside the shell of a mollusk, most often an oyster. To protect itself, the animal forms a coating of nacre around the intrusive object, and this eventually may become a pearl. The gem ranges in color from pale white, to rosy pink, to gray or black. In the classical world, the finest pearls came from the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, sometimes traveling for years to reach the palaces of Greece and Rome. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, is said to have dissolved an enormous pearl in wine, which she then drank to impress her lover Marc Antony with her extravagance. In the courts of renaissance Europe, status was often measured through the size and beauty of one's pearls. Over thousands of years, pearls are one of the few jewelry items to remain continuously in fashion. It is easy to see why. They delight the eye and flatter the wearer, a true gift from nature.Medium: Pearl   « Less

Tourmaline, which ranges in hue from green to pink, to blue or black, is one of the most intense and beautiful stones known to man. It is said to channel creative energy and  More »

Tourmaline, which ranges in hue from green to pink, to blue or black, is one of the most intense and beautiful stones known to man. It is said to channel creative energy and focus thought, for which reason it is much favored by artists. When worn on or about the body, tourmaline provides a spiritual and physical balance, a feeling of harmony and happiness. It is valued as a healing stone on all levels, bringing restorative energy to both the body and the emotions. Its bright radiance, its clarity, and the broad spectrum of its colors make tourmaline one of the most magical of stones, possessed of an energy which transforms the wearer both inside and out.Medium: Tourmaline   « Less