Gemstone Library

Amber is fossilized tree resin, which has been appreciated for its colour and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is often made into beautiful jewellery.

Amber is very popular as it has been thought to hold marvellous metaphysical properties for psychic protection. Amber has traditionally been used as a powerful healing stone that gives the person who wears it a sense of health and healing.

Amber is said to hold properties that balance the emotions, clear the mind and release negative energy, in addition to easing stress by clearing phobias and fears.

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Ancient Greek term for “intoxicated”, a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. Amethyst is also said to bring luck, and have many other supernatural powers.

The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and made drinking vessels decorated with it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. It is one of several forms of quartz. Amethyst is a semiprecious stone and is the traditional birthstone for February.

Aquamarine (from Latin: aqua marina, “water of the sea”) is a blue or cyan variety of beryl. It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl. The gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine.

Traditionally, Aquamarine was often worn as a keepsake by sailors who travelled dangerous waters, or as a way to keep harmony between two loved ones.

Black Spinel was traditionally used as a protective stone; it was thought to repel negativity and remove feelings of anger and resentment. Black Spinel was also though to lend inspiration and a greater sense of empowerment to the wearer.

Physically, Black Spinel has been used for detoxifying the body. It is said that Black Spinel can heal the body as a whole, but is often helpful for the bladder, intestines, and female reproductive system.

Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare. Typically, colourless, grey or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue.

Blue topaz is the birth stone for the month of December. Its name may come from the Sanskrit word tapas, meaning heat or fire. Steeped in mystery, blue topaz has been believed since ancient times to have the protective power to make its wearer invincible, and to enhance one’s eyesight as well as wisdom.

Citrine is a variety of quartz whose colour ranges from a pale yellow to brown due to ferric impurities.

Citrine is a joyful stone with bright energy which lights up many aspects of lives of those who work with it. It has energies of good fortune and good luck, though these may appear in unexpected ways.

Carnelian is found in nearly all parts of the world and derives its name from the Latin word meaning flesh coloured. It varies in intensity from deep reddish-brown to a yellow or cream coloured translucent stone.

Carnelian can be placed on the Sacral Chakra and is said to increase ambition, drive and confidence. It is believed to protect the wearer from negative emotions and to calm the angry, and the envious. It is also reputed to bring about warmth, sociability, creativity and happiness and to restore self-esteem. Carnelian is believed to increase fertility

Placed near the front door Carnelian is said to invoke protection and to bring abundance into the home.

In mineralogy, diamond is a metastable allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Most natural diamonds are formed at high temperature and pressure at depths of 87 to 118 mi in the Earth’s mantle.

In addition to being a symbol of everlasting love, the diamond was once thought to bring courage. In Sanskrit, the diamond is called “vajra,” which also means lightning; in Hindu mythology, vajra was the weapon of Indra, the king of gods. Diamond is the birthstone of April.

Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl, coloured green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.

Traditionally associated with attributes of fertility, love and rebirth, the Emerald was dedicated by the Ancient Romans to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The striking magnificent lush shade was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. Today, emerald meaning represents wisdom, growth and patience. By weight, the emerald is the most valuable gemstone today. Emerald is the birthstone of May.

Garnet is a useful stone in a crisis as it is thought to fortify, activate and strengthen the survival instinct bringing courage and hope into seemingly hopeless situations. It is also traditionally known to remove inhibitions and taboos opening up the heart and bestowing self-confidence. Garnet is the birthstone of January.

Labradorite is a feldspar mineral that can display an iridescent optical effect (or schiller) known as labradorescence.

Lore of the Inuit peoples claim Labradorite fell from the frozen fire of the Aurora Borealis, an ordinary stone that transforms to the extraordinary, shimmering in a mystical light that separates the waking world from unseen realms. It is, in every sense, a Stone of Magic, a crystal of shamans, diviners, healers, and all who travel and embrace the universe seeking knowledge and guidance. For self-discovery, it is excellent for awakening one’s own awareness of inner spirit, intuition and psychic abilities.

Lapis lazuli or lapis for short, is a deep blue semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense colour. Lapis is the Latin word for “stone” and lazuli is the genitive form of the Medieval Latin lazulum.

The name of the stone came to be associated with its colour. The English word ‘azure’ comes from the name and colour of lapis lazuli.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the most sought after stones in use since man’s history began. Its deep, celestial blue remains the symbol of royalty and honor, gods and power, spirit and vision. It is a universal symbol of wisdom and truth.

Malachite is a very popular gemstone with an intense green colour and beautiful banded masses. The stone’s name derives from the Latin ‘molochītis’. The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the Mallow plant.

Malachite is said to be a powerful emotional cleanser helping to remove past traumas, and negative emotions, to bring harmony into your life.

Malachite is a powerful amplifying stone that amplifies both positive and negative energies. For this reason it is a stone to use only when you are feeling positive as it can increase negative feelings. Because Malachite absorbs negativity it should be cleansed after each healing session. A good way to do this is to place it on clear quartz in the sun; cleansing Malachite with water can wear away its surface.

Moonstone has been used in jewellery for centuries, including ancient civilizations. The Romans admired moonstone, as they believed it was born from solidified rays of the moon.

Both the Romans and Greeks associated Moonstone with their lunar deities. In more recent history, the moonstone became popular during the Art Nouveau period; French goldsmith René Lalique and many others created a large quantity of jewellery using this stone.

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer; it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.

Mother of pearl was traditionally thought to be useful when handling and calming emotional situations, and be very soothing to the emotions. Wearing Mother of Pearl when working through an emotional situation with someone is said to be beneficial and promotes cooperation. It is said to assist with the easy flow of feelings and sensitivities to others. Mother of pearl is also thought to be connected with family, in particular motherhood, which gives it the name “the mothering stone.”

Onyx is formed of bands of chalcedony in alternating colours. It is cryptocrystalline, consisting of fine intergrowths of the silica minerals quartz and moganite. Its bands are parallel to one another, as opposed to the more chaotic banding that often occurs in agates. Black onyx is perhaps the most famous variety.

A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a clam, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers.

The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes (baroque pearls) occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable.

Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one colour, an olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green, however, depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure.

Peridot is August’s birthstone, and is traditionally though to symbolize strength. It is sometimes called the evening emerald for its light green colour. It was once believed that the green peridot crystals found in volcanic ashes were the tears of the volcano goddess, Pele.

Rock Crystal is known as the “master healer”; said to amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals.

Rock Crystal has traditionally been known to draw off negative energy of all kinds, neutralise background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations. It is thought to balance and revitalise the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes. Rock Crystal is very popular among spiritual communities as it is thought to harmonise all the chakras.

A ruby is a pink to blood-red coloured gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The red colour is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red.

Ruby is the birthstone of July, and is considered to be the king of gems. Rubies are traditionally believed to represent love, health and wisdom. It was believed by ancient civilisations that wearing a fine red Ruby bestowed good fortune on its owner. A Ruby is the most valuable gemstone and its value increases based on its colour and quality.

Sapphire, derived from the ancient Greek for ‘blue stone’, is a typically blue gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide. Sapphire is the birthstone for September.

This striking gemstone has been believed to protect the wearer from envy and harm and attracts blessings from heaven. Sapphire, with its stunning blue shades, is a symbol heaven and considered to indicate the purity of the soul.

This gem signifies truth, faithfulness and sincerity, and was worn by priests during the Middle Ages as a talisman against impure thoughts and temptation. Sapphire is thought to boost intuition and clairvoyance and promote good health. Incorporated in royal ornaments, it symbolized a pure and wise reign. This gem gives a sense of inner peace and develops a positive attitude in the wearer.

Tourmalines are closely related gemstones which have been created by Nature in many different colours.

Tourmaline is traditionally believed to help one retain their calm when under pressure, battle negative emotions like anger, jealousy and promote peace and tranquillity.

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.

While December’s birthstone is commonly Blue Topaz, Turquoise is an accepted alternative. Turquoise is regarded as a love charm. It is also a symbol of good fortune and success, and it is believed to relax the mind and to protect its wearer from harm. Turquoise has also been traditionally used to keep away evil spirits.

Zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide. The synthesized material is hard, optically flawless and usually colourless, but may be made in a variety of different colours. It should not be confused with zircon, which is a zirconium silicate.

Zirconia is a high-quality synthetic gemstone which imitates the appearance and beauty of real diamonds.