Know Your Stones
Semi-precious Stones
BAROQUE PEARLS are pearls with an irregular non-spherical shape. Shapes can range from minor aberrations to distinctly ovoid, curved, pinch, or lumpy shapes. Most cultured freshwater pearls are baroque. While baroque is the common term used to describe pearls that are not round, it is also one of the subtypes. It includes pearls shaped like elongated spheres. They are asymmetrical and their surface is dented and uneven. These pearls were greatly used in Victorian and Art Nouveau pieces.
LAPIS LAZULI is a semi-precious opaque gemstone that is well-known for its intense deep royal blue color and shimmering golden flecks that are reminiscent of a starry night sky. The famous Italian painter and sculptor, Michelangelo, used ground Lapis Lazuli to produce an ultramarine colored pigment for some of his paintings during the Renaissance period. This gemstone is said to be one of the first gemstones ever worn as jewelry having been fashioned into cabochons and beads.
ROSE QUARTZ is a very light pink to medium-dark pink colored gemstone valued for its healing properties. Known as the Love Stone, it encourages unconditional love and tends to soothe one’s mind and body. It is a popular jewelry gemstone and is also known as Love Stone or Bohemian Ruby. The color of this gemstone may range from very pale pink to deep reddish-pink.... Rose Quartz is a silicon dioxide crystal, is one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family.
CITRINE known as Sunela in Hindi, is a natural yellow to golden-brown semi-precious gemstone from the Quartz family. In Vedic astrology, it serves as a substitute for Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj), attracting wealth and enhancing knowledge. It is rare in nature. In the days before modern gemology, its tawny color caused it to be confused with topaz. Today, its attractive color, plus the durability and affordability it shares with most other quartzes, makes it the top-selling yellow-to-orange gem. In the contemporary market, citrine’s most popular shade is an earthy, deep, yellow, brownish or reddish orange.
TURQUOISE is the traditional birthstone for December and the gemstone for the 11th anniversary. 2. Turquoise is among the first gems to be mined. 3. It is only found in dry barren regions. 4. It is the national gem for Tibet. 5. Turquoise is derived from the French expression "pierre tourques" or "Turkish stone". 6. It is an opaque blue-green mineral that is hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum. 7. Ancient people believed Turquoise represented wisdom, tranquility and protection. 8. Buried in ancient tombs Turquoise is among the world's oldest jewelry.
There is no stone quite like the PERIDOT, the beautiful birthstone of August. Its vibrant hue is quite unique in the world of jewelry - a refreshing shade of green that is often compared to freshly cut grass, or olives if the peridot is green with a subtle yellow undertone. Pele is the goddess of the volcano and her temper is said to be as dangerous as lava. Peridot is a volcanic gem that is formed deep in the Earth’s mantle. The green gemstones are believed to be the tears of Pele and are thought to have powers to heal and bring wealth and growth.
AMETHYST was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems. The Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in the belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed. An interesting trivia around the February birthstone. Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness, which is why wine goblets were often carved from it. The French poet Remy Belleau (1528–1577) invented a myth in which Bacchus, the god of intoxication, of wine, and grapes was pursuing a maiden named Amethyste, who refused his affections. Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the chaste goddess Diana answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethyste's desire to remain chaste, Bacchus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple.
The name RUBY comes from the Latin word ‘ruber’, which means ‘red’. In Sanskrit, Ruby is known as ‘ratnaraj’, meaning ‘the king of gems’. It is probably the most iconic colored gemstone in the world, and its name will forever be linked with its striking, definitive color. It is part of the Corundum family of gemstones, which also includes Sapphire - Ruby is the only form of Corundum not to fall under the Sapphire name. Mining of the gemstone can be traced back over 2,500 years, a period of time over which the stone has amassed an incredible history.