Gemstone Meanings
Over the centuries, various cultures have contributed to the legend and lore surrounding gemstones. These rare products of nature have inspired philosophers and mystics to attribute unusual powers to these special minerals. Ruby – For Good Luck and Good Health The best compendium of gemstone lore is undoubtedly that found in George Frederick Kunz’s book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones,
August Birthstone
In 2016, August joined June and December as one of the three birth months represented by three gems. The original birthstone for August was Sardonyx, and then peridot was added, becoming August’s primary gem. The addition of spinel, which can be found in a variety of colors, gives August babies a plethora of options! Learn
History of Gemstones
The materials first used as gemstones tended to be ones that were relatively easy to find and easy to work. Thus it is not surprising that gems such as amber, turquoise, coral, lapis lazuliand malachite were among the first human adornments, since they were soft enough to be worked by readily available materials such as sand. Amber is without doubt one of the earliest
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Origin of Gem Names
What’s in a name? When it comes to gemstones, sometimes it’s a long story. While the names of some of the best-known jewels, such as diamonds, are lost in antiquity, many gem quality minerals were not identified until relatively recently, with the advent of the science of gemology. When a new variety is found, the name
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The Oldest Jewelry in the World
Ancient Shell Bead Have you ever wondered about the oldest jewelry? Perhaps the oldest jewelry could be an ancient pearl. Maybe it is some 5,000-year-old Egyptian lapis lazuli or some 4,000-year-old Aztec turquoise or gold. Think again! The oldest known jewelry items are two shell beads that were found in Skhul Cave in Israel. The organic beads are around 100,000 years
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