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Gemstone List - Gemstone Lore and History

The story of gemstones is as old as the hills in which they formed, millions of years ago. Ancient burial sites show that gems were used for weapons as well as for adornment for 20,000 years. Folklore and legends about gemstones have been handed down throughout the centuries, and the beauty of gemstones have been revered for thousands of years.

The power of gemstones: the history, healing properties and lore of gemstones are fascinating. Gemstones have long been thought to have medicinal properties. Chinese, asian and the ancient Ayurvedic ('knowledge of life') medicine still involves therapies of healing with gemstones. (Also see List of Birthstones)

Amber

Amber is an organic gemstone and a natural wonder. Ancient conifers produced resin... and amber gemstones are from fossilized resin. Amber Jewelry

Amethyst

The royal purple amethyst gem is February's Birthstone. Amethyst is also the gem for the 4th (alt.), 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries as well as the zodiac sign of Aquarius. Amethyst is Wednesday's Day-Of-Birth gemstone.

The color purple is traditionally the color of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs and rulers. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. And, because amethyst was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, the amethyst gemstone was very important in the ornamentation in the churches in the Middle Ages.

In the past, great importance was attached to protection against passion: people hoped that by wearing amethyst they could cool their passion.

Amethyst was considered to be the stone of bishops and they still often wear amethyst jewelry.

The amethyst gemstone is said to bring serenity and calm, to enhance one's ability to assimilate new ideas, and to assist during meditation. Amethyst Jewelry

Black Onyx

Black onyx is the alternate birthstone for February, the mystical birthstone for December and a lucky charm for the astrological sign of Leo. It is also the gemstone for the 10th wedding anniversary.

Black onyx has been used in jewelry for many years and it was extremely popular with jewelry designers in the Victorian and Art Deco periods where it was set in slabs in geometric jewelry designs.

We've updated black onyx jewelry to modern-day in our unique custom designs. We have also paired onyx with pearls for a sophisticated style in black and white.

Black onyx great with everything you'll wear from casual to dressy. Black Onyx Jewelry

Blue Topaz

Blue Topaz is the birthstone of December and the Zodiac gemstone for Scorpio

Blue topaz is said to enhance one's communicative abilities, helping to more easily and clearly express oneself. And it is believed that topaz will enhance one's spiritual potential, to increase intelligence and creativity, and to impart wisdom and wealth! View Blue Topaz Jewelry

Citrine

Citrine is a beautiful soft gold-colored gemstone, and especially gorgeous when combined with sterling silver! The name citrine comes from the old French word citrin for this golden yellow gemstone and is said to be especially useful in stimulating one's mental capacities, enhancing creativity & intuition and bolstering one's self-confidence. View our Citrine Jewelry

Coral Jewelry

Wear this beautiful Red Coral Jewelry all year long! From summer whites to sophisticated blacks to tropical prints your red coral jewelry looks stunning with all fashions.

Garnet

Garnet is the modern January birthstone and the gem for the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversary - view all our Garnet Jewelry

Beautiful, red garnets have been revered throughout history. The name Garnet originates with the Latin granatum malum which means pomegranate - a red fruit with beautiful red seeds. The inside of the pomegranate looks as if it is studded with small garnet gemstones. Garnet jewelry has been found in burial sites as early as 3000 BC and was thought bring protection in the after-life. Garnets are said to enhance creativity and understanding, and bring success in business.

Green Quartz

Beautiful deep green quartz is believed to stimulate mental clarity, joy, positive attitude. We believe that wearing green quartz jewelry makes one feel beautiful! View our Green Quartz Jewelry

Iolite

Iolite is a lovely blue to violet blue gemstone, resembling Tanzanite. Iolite is also known as Vikings' Compass and is often called Water Sapphire. It's healing properties are said to bring harmony and well-being to personal relationships. Iolite is also said to help bring on visions. Iolite Jewelry

Jade

Jade has long been considered a very lucky gemstone and has been worn for luck. We have learned that in the Stone Age jade was used as a tool and as a weapon. Later in history, jade was considered an esteemed royal gem and it represents wisdom and courage. In China the chinese word for jade means "most beautiful stone" and we heartily agree! Jade Necklace

Kyanite Jewelry

Green Kyanite is an exquisite, translucent green color and our kyanite jewelry has natural crystal patterns throughout the gemstone.

Kyanite is a popular metaphysical gemstone and is used to enhance channeling, altered states, dreams, recall of dreams, visualizations and is said to have a powerful energy.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli has been highly valued for many thousands of years. The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is the same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afghanistan where it was originally mined at least 6000 years ago.

It was said to impart ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it and to enhance one's awareness, insight and intellect.

The name is a combination of the Latin word for stone lapis and the Arabian word azul, meaning blue.

The value of this blue stone for the world of art was huge: in fact the ultramarine blue paint used by the Grand Old Masters was nothing else but pulverized Lapis lazuli - suitable for watercolors, tempera and oil paintings. Many portraits of the Virgin Mary would have been impossible to create without Lapis lazuli blue.

View our Lapis Lazuli Jewelry

Malachite

Malachite is a beautiful deep green carbonate mineral gemstone. It often has veins of lighter color green running through it which adds to its beauty. Early artists, until about 1800, used powdered malachite mixed with oils for the green in their paintings. The word malachite is derived from the Greek word mallow (green herb). Malachite and sterling silver jewelry is popular around the world.

View our Malachite Pendant Necklace

Moonstone

Also known as Rainbow Moonstone.

Iridescent rainbow moonstone: radiant with the light of the moon, this lovely feldspar is white with flashes of blue and rainbow light and derives it's moon name from its blue-white sheen.

It was once thought that the gem's luster waxed and waned just like the moon itself, and moonstones have always been used in jewelry by moon worshipers. Moonstones are generally set in silver, which brings out their characteristic bluish-silvery sheen.

In India, the moonstone is believed to bring good luck and is considered sacred.

The Romans thought that the wearers of moonstone would receive wisdom, wealth and success in battle.

Said to be a stone for lovers, rainbow moonstone enhances our ability for empathy and understanding.

Moonstone symbolizes passion: this stone was believed to bestow the power of clairvoyancy.

Moonstone is the modern June birthstone and the gemstone for Aquarius. Moonstone Jewelry

Pearl

Pearls represent innocence and a pure heart, and help us get in touch with the simple honest things of life and all the best within us: spiritual transformation, purity, charity, honesty, wisdom and integrity.

Pearls also symbolizes love, success, and happiness - and a happy marriage. Pearl is the Modern June birthstone. View our Pearl Jewelry

Peridot

Peridot is an ancient and yet currently very popular gemstone. It is so old that it can be found in Egyptian jewellery from the early second millennium BC. The early Egyptians claimed that peridot glowed by night but was invisible by day.

In the Middle ages, peridot was believed to dispel the darkness and terrors of the night. King Edward VII wore a peridot for good luck.

For centuries, peridot was found on the island of Zabargad, known as the "serpent isle" in the Red Sea. According to Greek legend vicious snakes lived on the island, guarding the precious stone and killing anyone who dared approach it. Today, peridot is found in the USA, Norway, Ethiopia, Pakistan and even in the Antarctic.

The peridot gemstone is of a green color that is special among all gemstones and it has been said that it "shimmers like damp moss in the fall sunshine". Peridot was once known as the “Evening Emerald” and the beautiful green color of peridot gemstones made them the favorite gem of the Baroque period. Peridot is said to bring healing and vitality to the whole body.

Peridot is the modern August birthstone. Peridot Jewelry

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is the pretty pink gemstone known as the love stone!

It adds positive energy to relationships and represents compassion, forgiveness and harmony.

Rose quartz gems are said to be calming and to help clear stored anger, resentment, jealousy, fears.

View our Rose Quartz Jewelry

Which Gemstone should I choose?

Birthstone? Zodiac Gemstone? Day-of-Birth stone? Anniversary gemstone?

The age-old question of which gems suit which people, or which gemstone above all others corresponds to a particular character has lost none of its importance of the last seven thousand years.

Although magic has lost its power for many people, the increasing individuality has rediscovered and reevaluated the special nature of the treasures of gemstones.

Random gemstone categorization of this type have always made it difficult for jewelers to provide their customers with ornamental gems which suited them. The result was a wealth and confusion of equally valid birthstone charts that a specially convened world conference of jewelers was called upon to decide which gem should be assigned to which month. However, the 1913 jewelers' convention was unable to reach a decision. They allowed the different rulings to remain in place.

The ancient order of the Babylonians (this was when the signs of the zodiac and birthstones first emerged - see zodiac gemstones) was only retained for a few gemstones. Nevertheless some jewels had already been assigned to specific signs of the zodiac with a certain amount of regularity for centuries.

All in all, we think that the best gemstone for you is the color you love to wear.

How To Choose A Thoughtful Gift

If you're giving a gift of gemstone jewelry - you can certainly choose their birthstone, but don't forget their personality, their color likes and dislikes, and what they enjoy wearing. Choosing jewelry for them using that criteria will make their gift uniquely perfect - just for them. And they'll appreciate the thought behind the gift.

Gemstones as Birthstones:

Birthstone gem stones have been associated with different months of the year since the 1st century. The wearing of birthstones was, and still is, deemed lucky.

Read about birthstone gemstones at our List of Birthstones