Our Gemstones
Amber
Known as Freya’s tears by the ancient Norse, amber is the fossilized resin of coniferous trees. Amber artifacts and ornament dating back to the Stone Age are found particularly in European historical sites. Most amber is dated at 30-90 million years old, and although it is found around the world, the most famous locations are in Russia and Poland.
A soft, warm, golden gem, amber has long been used as a magical stone, worn to attract love, ensure fertility, ease childbirth and to welcome newborns with the protective and warmth associated with the stone. It is said to enhance beauty and pleasure, due to its sensual and magnetic nature.
Emperor Nero was a lover of amber, and the Romans sent armies to conquer amber producing areas. Amber was considered the most suitable stone for rosaries in the Middle Ages, and the trade was controlled by knights, making unauthorized possession of amber in Europe illegal until the 1400’s.
Amythest
The vivid violet birthstone of February has been coveted and made legend by almost every culture on earth. Steeped in ancient magic, amethyst has many attributes. It is said to protect its wearer from nightmares, and to produce a peaceful sleep, even insuring its wearer doesn’t oversleep.
The Greeks say amethyst became purple when Dionysus (deity of wine and merrymaking) was annoyed with Artemis (the virgin huntress and lunar deity), so he set his sacred tigers on a maiden named Amethyst who was attending to her shrine. To protect her, Artemis turned her into a sparkling quartz. Feeling badly afterwards, Dionysus poured the contents of his ever full cup of wine over the stone statue of the maiden, and it became infused with the color of the grapes. Since then, amethyst has been said to protect from intoxication, and the Greeks and Romans drank from vessels of amethyst.
Seen around the world as a spiritual stone, the amethyst is known as the Stone of Peace.
Moses described the amethyst as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the High Priests robes, eternalizing the role of amethyst in papal ornament. Also considered a stone of the Divine Feminine, amethyst is said to symbolize wisdom ,discretion and clarity of mind. In Tibet, the stone was dedicated to the Buddha and rosaries and prayer beads of amethyst are found there.
Amethyst is mined in a variety of locations around the world, the largest producers being in Brazil and Uruguay.
Back to top
Ammonite
Spiral shaped fossils that date back as far as 400 million years ago; ammonites are a unique and beautiful adornment. During fossilization the chambers can became filled with many types of sediments and crystals, resulting in pyritized ammonites and opalized ammonites as well as other variations.
Throughout Europe, the ammonites were interpreted as resembling coiled-up serpents. The story of Saint Patrick says that he banished all the snakes from Ireland; those which did not leave, he rolled down the hill, and then they turned to stone. In Britain, ammonites are still commonly known as 'snake stones.' Resembling the coiled horns of the ram, ammonites were named for the Roman god Ammon.
Back to top
Aquamarine
With a fabulous color range from the palest blues to sea green shimmer, aquamarine is an easily recognizable member of the semi-precious beryl family. Aquamarine is found in various locations around the world, including Madagascar, Russia and Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colorado and North Carolina.
Beads of aquamarine were found in ancient Egyptian mummy pits, and aquamarine is traditionally the stone of the sea goddess. Aquamarine is considered to be soothing and calming, and is worn as a protective amulet when sailing or flying over water. Aquamarine is a stone of peace, joy and happiness, especially in relationships, and in the magical world is considered an appropriate gift for a bridegroom to present to his bride on the day of their nuptials.
Back to top
Citrine
The birthstone for the month of November, citrine is a member of the quartz family. Brazil is the leading producer of naturally mined citrine. Yellow is a rare color in the gemstone world, and with a color range from pale lemon yellow to warmer rustic autumn tones, citrine is a favorite in the jewelry world. The name ‘citrine’ comes from the old French word for yellow, ‘citrin’.
Traditionally, citrine is known as the stone of success and abundance, once called the “Merchants Stone”, it was kept in the cash box to increase business. Citrine is also said to deflect negative energies from the environment and protect its wearer from unsavory energies. Some say it increases our psychic abilities and aids us in our dream world.
Back to top
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase is an apple-green variety of chalcedony quartz. Found in Arizona, California, Australia and Brazil, chrysoprase is considered to be a happy stone of luck, good fortune and health. Prized for its color and rarity, chrysoprase is one of the most expensive of the chalcedony stones, and derives its green color from the presence of nickel.
Magically, chrysoprase is said to be worn for eloquence, success in new undertakings, and to attract new friends. In the 13th century, an image of a bull was carved into pieces of chrysoprase, making it into a magical amulet of protection.
Back to top
Dendrite Quartz
A curious and pleasing gemstone, dendrite quartz appears to contain fossilized plants and ferns, the shapes forming small trees and branches. However, the patterns are formed by inorganic manganese oxide trapped within the quartz during its formation.
Most included quartzes are mined in Brazil and Africa. It is considered to be an "earthy” or "nature spirited” stone.
Back to top
Drusy
When ground water carrying dissolved silica is forced into a porous area of the rock, rapid cooling often occurs, causing the formation of tiny crystals on the surfaces or in cavities of the rock. The clear crystals often form on top of previously deposited minerals. This is called a drusy. Some minerals found in this form are chrysocolla, malachite, hematite, psilomelane, uvarovite, pyrite, carnelian and cobalto-calcite.
Back to top
Fossil Coral
Coral has played significant roles in the magical and religious rites of the Pacific Islands. Coral was thought to contain the ‘life essence’ of the Mother Goddess, who dwelled in the ocean, in a ‘tree’ of coral. Coral is considered to be a powerful amulet in many cultures and is often considered to be a protector of children, a traditional gift at times of birth and to commemorate motherhood. In ancient times, coral was a gift from the deities. Fossil coral is the ancient remains of coral, and carries the same properties of coral, without harvesting living corals.
Back to top
Garnet
The fiery red garnet comes mostly from African countries, but also is found in India, Russia, and South America.
Garnet has always been believed to be a protective and healing stone. Early explorers and travelers carried garnets, and it is said that Noah used a lantern of garnet to light the night and guide the ark. Legends of garnet lighting the night and guiding travelers have their roots in the scientific fact of garnet’s high refractive index. In ancient times, garnets were exchanged between parting friends, to magically ensure that they would meet again.
Today, garnets are a favorite of romantics observing the Valentine’s Day gift giving rituals.
Back to top
Labradorite
According to an Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador, and then a wandering Eskimo warrior found them and freed most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped within the stone however, and thus we have today the beautiful mineral known as labradorite.
The name labradorite comes from the province of Labrador in Canada, which is a famous locality for labradorite with an irridescent play of colors. Irridescent labradorite is sometimes referred to as spectrolite.
Traditionally, labradorite is thought to bring good luck, and to help bring calm within chaos.
Back to top
Mother of Pearl
Mother of Pearl is the common name for the lovely opalescent or irridescent nacre that coats the insides of the shells of mollusks and oysters. Nacre is secreted by the sea creature to protect the shell, and is the same substance that coats an object lodged inside the oyster, to become the pearl.
Mother of Pearl was once a traditional gift for the family of a newborn, as it was said to bless and protect them from the perils of their new existence. Seashells were once the medium of exchange in Polynesian cultures, and the mother of pearl is said to attract prosperity and abundance.
Back to top
Obsidian
When lava cooled so fast it didn’t have time to form crystals, it formed a natural volcanic glass, which we call Obsidian.
Obsidian is found in the United States, Turkey, Mexico, Greece and Scotland, and has been used extensively since Pre-Columbian times. Ancient Aztecs used obsidian to create mirrors, and it was a popular mineral for creating stone knives, arrowheads and spear points.
Considered to be a grounding and protective stone, obsidian is said to help us keep our focus and concentrate our energies on our intent.
Back to top
Variscite
Variscite is a rare, sometimes translucent mineral often confused with greener colored turquoises or chyrsocolla. Discovered in Germany, variscite is named for the region where it was found, Vogtland. The colors vary from light hues of green with bluish tints to darker shades of green. Variscite is said to be an excellent stone to aid in meditation, healing and to relieve depression and stress. It is said to be healing to the nervous system, and right down to the DNA. Famous deposits of variscite are found in Nevada and Utah, with deposits also found in Germany, Australia and Brazil.
Back to top
Smokey Quartz
Smoky quartz is a brown transparent quartz that is sometimes used for unusual faceted cuts. Smokey quartz is naturally occurring brown stone, a rare color for gemstones. Its deep warm tones are the result of small but persistent amounts of radiation occurring deep under the earth in the deposits of quartz.
Natural smoky quartz comes from many sources around the world. A few of the more noteworthy locations include Brazil, the worlds largest supplier; Pikes Peak area of Colorado, USA, and the Swiss Alps, which has produced many tons of fine specimens.
Metaphysically speaking, smokey quartz is said to be a grounding stone, useful for relieving depression and for meditation.
Back to top
Staurolite (fairy crosses)
It is said that long ago good fairies were dancing around a spring when an elfin messenger brought news of the crucifixion of Christ. The fairies wept. As they cried, their tears fell to the ground - forming these enchanting crosses of stone. Long after the fairies disappeared, these amazing crosses of the mineral Staurolite remain.
Called fairy crosses, staurolites were thought to be a gift from the fey folk & were associated with fairy magic. Staurolites have been carried for centuries as protective charms. The cross represents the meeting of the four elements.
President Teddy Roosevelt was said to wear one for luck.
Staurolite is the state mineral of Georgia, where it is mined, and it is also found near Taos, NM and in Russia.
Back to top
Tiger Iron
Tiger iron, sometimes called mugglestone, is a combination of hematite, red jasper, and sometimes yellow jasper or golden tiger-eye. Tiger iron is a chatoyant stone with a silky luster. It is mined primarily in South Africa and Australia.
It is said to assist one to see the truth below the apparent surface of issues, and to help with creative endeavors and all types of artistic abilities. In medieval times, tiger iron was worn to protect one against all types of danger.
Back to top
Topaz
The birthstone for the month of November, topaz is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor.
In mysticism, the topaz is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy.
Today topaz is a popular stone for color enhancement, wonderful colors complementing today's fashion trends. Treated topaz is mined from the earth, and color enhanced by bonding it with a fine layer of titanium atoms, in a process called vacuum deposition. This creates a flashy rainbow of colors across the surface of the topaz gem like light moving through a prism. The light displays a rainbow of colors or certain color spectrums depending on angle and depth that is bonded to the topaz. Only pure white stones of best quality are used for this color enhancement. Two of the most popular and well-loved treated topaz colors are “mystic topaz” & “ecstasy topaz.”
Topaz deposits are found around the world, including well-known mines in Afghanistan, the Czech Republic, Germany, Brazil, and the United States.
Back to top
Tourmalated Quartz
Tourmalated quartz is naturally occurring quartz crystal deposits with needles of black tourmaline growing inside of it. Every stone is unique, some with a single visible needle, others so thick with tourmaline they appear to be black at first glance. Mined in Brazil, tourmalated quartz is said to combine the properties of black tourmaline (grounding, healing) with those amplification properties of quartz crystals.
Back to top |