Stones have fascinated mankind ever since the beginning of time. Archaeological discoveries have always unearthed different stones in di...
Stones have
fascinated mankind ever since the beginning of time. Archaeological discoveries
have always unearthed different stones in different parts of the world. These
stones tell us of the history of the place and act as indicators of the
practices the civilizations of those times. Some of these discoveries are
unknown to us, some very popular. With each stone are attached some facts and
some stories. Here are some fascinating ones that will have you looking at
gemstones with a whole new perspective.
Amber: Amber is not a stone, but actually a tree resin, and a
genuine one is extremely rare. It’s a very brittle and weak stone and can
damage easily. Most of the ones that you find at cheap prices are synthetics.
In old times, the stone was supposed to have protected against secret poisons
and promoted healing & soothing
Emerald: Most emeralds have oil drilled in them
to make the color brighter. This is an accepted practice. Most emeralds are not
very clean inside. The cleaner it is the rarer and costlier it will be. It does
not scratch easily but can break easily. The emerald is supposed to enhance
love, bring eloquence, gaiety and popularity. It is believed to make one
courageous during trying times. It is a cool stone and the emperor Nero was
believed to have worn emerald glasses. This gemstone is correctly known as the
Queen of Gems and the Gem of Queens.
Cat’s Eye: Genuine clear cat’s eyes are rare. The
feature of these stones is that they have light color band running through
their centre especially if light is shown on them. They are tough stones and
don’t break easily. They are supposed to have protected against witchcraft in
early times.
Coral: Corals are organic in nature and can be red, orange, pink
or even white. Some of them maybe dyed. This is an accepted practice. It can
however scratch and break easily. They are believed to be symbols of wealth,
health and happiness.
Diamond: Contrary to the popular belief that they
are mostly white, yellow or brown, diamonds can come in any colour. The completely red ones are the costliest.
Diamonds are the toughest stones but can scratch or break if kept together with
another stone. The diamond has always been linked to love, fidelity, and
faithfulness.
Garnet: Garnets can be orange, red, purple or even green. The green
ones are the rarest. Garnets may scratch if not kept correctly. They are mostly
not clean within. They are known to be symbols of friendship, sincerity and
charity.
Jade: Mostly green, they don’t break easily but can get
scratched. They can even be brown or light purple. Belief has it that jade not
only brings prosperity but also allowed us to hold onto our money. In fact,
jade is believed to produce longevity, fertility, serenity, wisdom, balance,
moderation, perspective and stability.
Quartz: Quartzes can come in any color and any quality. They are
abundant in nature and are often used in low cost jewelry. The most popular
ones are amethyst, citrine and rose. They are believed to have kept off evil
eyes and protected against ill health and unhappiness.
Ruby: Rubies belong to the same family as sapphires and hence are
mostly resistant to scratching and breaking. The redder and cleaner they are,
the costlier they are. Rubies denote courage, loyalty and charity. The
extremely red ones show anger, cruelty and aggressiveness. They are supposed to
be protectors of health.
Sapphire: Sapphires can actually come in any color
and not just blue, contrary to popular belief. They do not scratch or break
easily. Sapphires are supposed to radiate peace and tranquillity.
Topaz: Topazes are not only blue in color but can be yellow,
orange, pink or even green. They are mostly clean stones and are expensive due
to this characteristic. However they can break easily. They are known to
protect against injury & attacks. The topaz signifies sobriety, forgiveness
and perfect love.
Tourmaline: Found in all colors, they are mostly
unclean, specially the red ones. The tourmaline is supposed to have protective
characteristics.
Turquoise: Known as the gem of the centuries,
turquoise is one of the oldest stones known to man. Genuine turquoises are
extremely rare and expensive. The ones that we usually see are generally
imitations. It is considered to be a stone of blessings, good fortune, protection,
good health and long life.
Today gemstones
are worn for astrological purposes also. Whatever be the reason, gemstones have
adorned both men and women ever since our existence and will continue to do so
till the end of time!
