Agate
Said by the ancients to render the wearer invisible, Agate has been admired by humanity for thousands of years. Its beauty and durability have prompted man to use it in both practical and ornamental forms. Agate is believed to cure insomnia, ensure pleasant dreams, protect from danger, promote strength, healing and a bold heart. As there are so many varieties of agate, it is largely up to the buyer to determine its value.

Agate is a fine-grained fibrous variety of Chalcedony Quartz and comes in many different forms ranging from transparent to opaque. Varieties include Blue, Blue Lace, Crazy Lace, Green, Indian, Moss, Tree, and Wood. The main conditions necessary for agate formation are the presence of silica from devitrified volcanic ash, water from rainfall or ground sources, manganese, iron and other mineral oxides that form the bands and inclusions. 

Amethyst
Purple is the color of healing, meditation and peace. Amethyst has been popular as a gem since Pre-Roman times. Ancients believed that amethyst increased personal courage and offered protection against thieves. Medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle. For Christians, the amethyst symbolizes humility. Most of the high-grade amethyst mined today comes from Uruguay, southern Brazil and Africa.

Apatite
The name Apatite comes from a Greek word meaning "to deceive," as Apatite has often been confused with more valuable gems such as Paraiba Tourmaline, Peridot & Beryl. The mineral Apatite is quite common but gem quality specimens are rare. The more intense the color, the higher the cost of the Apatite. The best stones will be almost a neon greenish blue with a clean clarity.

Aquamarine
For centuries, many believed that oceanic energy was captured within the delicate semblance of aquamarines. When amulets made of this precious gem were worn, sailors believed that unmatched bravery would be instilled in their souls. Made of beryl, aquamarine is a hard gem variety, making it a good choice for frequently worn jewelry, especially in earrings and pendants where its delicate color and clarity can be predominately displayed.

Carnelian

Traditionally very highly regarded reddish-orange or brown translucent gemstone. The national gemstone of Norway, Sweden. Native Americans believed the carnelian created balance and harmony in your life. Known in the New Age movement for its ability to soothe and calm.

Chalcedony
(Pronounced Cal-Sidney) Having good healing and mystic powers, the gemstone is believed to banish fear, depression, reduce fever and is believed to be excellent for eyes. Chalcedony is found in many parts of the world, but the most prized Chalcedony are from India, Madagascar, Burma, Brazil, Mexico & USA.   The better known varieties of Chalcedony are: carnelian, chrysoprase, bloodstone, onyx, and sardonyx.  The colors of Chalcedony vary and can be pale blue, yellow, brown or gray with nearly wax like luster.

 Chrysocolla

The gemstone Chrysocolla is often confused with turquoise. It is a copper bearing mineral found wherever copper deposits occur especially in areas of the southwestern USA, Chili, Zaire, Australia, France and England.  Chrysocolla is associated with tranquility and peace, intuition, patience, and unconditional love. It is thought to offer gentle and soothing qualities.

Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase is an apple-green chalcedony used as a gemstone. Chrysoprase is well suited to those born under the zodiac signs of Aquarius, Gemini and Cancer. Chrysoprase is a form of quartz found in Australia.  It derives its name from Greek words "chryso" for golden and "prason" for leek. With a hardness of 6 1/2 to 7, the gemstone is known for its specific metaphysical characteristics.

Chrysoprase is useful in soothing heartache and loneliness, promoting emotional balance, and granting inner strength and peace. Its calming and shielding energies promote the calm state of mind useful in examining the problems offering realistic solutions. The stone can lead to greater confidence and is said to help relieve gout, eye problems and mental illness. Chrysoprase was said to be a "Victory Stone." In the 1800's, Chrysoprase was said to help thieves become invisible.

Citrine
Citrine is a golden yellow form of quartz which takes its name from "citron", the French word for lemon. In former times Citrine was used as a protective talisman against the plague, bad skin and evil thoughts, and as a charm against snake bites and other venomous reptiles. It is also believed to symbolize happiness. Citrine is one of the accepted birthstones for November. It is found mainly in Brazil.

Diamond
Diamonds, while usually colorless or clear, can be found in a wide range of colors, like this Blue Diamond.  "Diamonds are Forever," sang Shirley Bassey, while Marilyn Monroe insisted they were "A Girl's Best Friend". Celebrated in song, diamonds have long reigned as the ultimate statement of ardor and affection. The hardest, rarest and densest natural substance known to man, diamonds have been a source of fascination (and misinformation) since around 800 BC when they were first presented to royalty in India. The only diamond producer for an astounding 2,500 years, Indians once believed that diamonds were created when lightning struck rock.

 

Drusy
Drusy, druse, druzy, drusies - different spellings, but they all mean tiny quartz crystals that form within or on the surface of other stones.  For folklore see
specific base stones: chrysocolla, malachite, etc.

 

Emerald
Emeralds were first mined more than 3,000 years ago, during the time of the Ancient Egyptian Empire. Emeralds are said to have a powerful effect on the conscious and unconscious mind, strengthening memory and increasing psychic awareness. Emeralds are actually a green form of beryl and range in color from light lime green to deep forest green.

Fluorite

Known as the "Most Colorful Mineral in the World" Fluorite is a veritable chameleon of a gemstone. Common Fluorite colors include: Purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, brown, pink, black, reddish orange and more. The word "fluorescent" comes from the mineral Fluorite which commonly fluoresces blue and has been known to glow yellow, green, red, white or purple.

Garnet
The history of Garnet dates back to the Bronze Age (more than 5,000 years ago), when it was a very popular gemstone. According to Christian and Jewish mythologies, during the Great Flood a radiant red Garnet guided the way for Noah, ultimately leading his ark to salvation. Garnets are available in a wide range of "warm" tones such as reds, oranges, yellows and burgundies, as well as greens and some rare color-change varieties.

Iolite
Iolite, known as the Vikings' compass, due to it's ability to determine the direction of the sun on overcast days. When the legendary Viking mariners sailed the wide ocean, they used thin pieces of iolite as the world's first polarizing filter. Looking through an iolite lens, they could determine the exact position of the sun, and navigate safely.
Synthetic magnesium iolite has a low thermal expansion and is used as a semi-refractory material because of its resistance to thermal shock. Iolite is artistically used in making necklaces, pendants, rings, bracelets etc. Iolite is commonly cut into traditional shapes, and its most desirable color is a rich violet-blue.

Jasper
This gemstone is silicified (transformed into silica) rhyolite flow from the northwest coast of Madagascar. It is reminiscent of foam as it recedes back into the ocean, with its wavy patterns of green-gray, white, cream, beige and brown. It sometimes even flaunts the iridescent white circles so intrinsic to sea spray. Ocean jasper is believed to teach responsibility and patience.  This spotted variety of the stone is called Leopard Jasper.

Lapis lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is said to cleanse the mental body while releasing old karmic patterns. Being a spiritual stone, it allows spiritual energy to be absorbed in the aura.   Lapis lazuli is an opaque to translucent blue, violet-blue, or greenish-blue semi precious gemstone composed mainly of lazurite and calcite.  The rich blue color is due to the sulfur inherent in the structure of lazurite.

Opal
With "the fire of the carbuncle, the brilliant purple of the amethyst and the sea green color of the emerald, all shining together in incredible union" opal clearly impressed Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD), Roman historian and author of the world's first encyclopedia. The Romans had been wearing opals for centuries and considered them a symbol of hope or purity, while for the early Greeks they embodied the powers of foresight or prophecy. The more fancifully minded Arabs thought that opals must have fallen from heaven in flashes of lightning thus achieving their unique play of color or "opalescence".  Opal aids inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight and helps recall past lives.

Pearl
Long known as the "Queen of Gems," pearls possess a history and allure far beyond what today's wearer may recognize.
In China, pearls were thought to be raindrops swallowed by oysters. The Chinese associated dragons and pearls together, since they believed dragons fighting in the clouds caused pearls to drop from the sky in the form of rain.

Aphrodite's tears of joy, dew drops filled with moonlight, Krishna's wedding gift to his daughter and Cleopatra's love potion, the legends abound but one fact is undeniable, pearls are the oldest known gem and for centuries were considered the most valuable. So valuable that the Roman General Vitellius allegedly financed an entire military campaign with just one of his mother's pearl earrings. Believed to symbolize the moon, the oldest known pearl jewelry is a necklace found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died in 520 BC.

Peridot
Common in early Greek and Roman jewelry, Peridot has been popular since about 1500 BC when the Egyptians started mining it on Zebirget (St. John's Island), a Red Sea island about 50 miles off the Egyptian coast. Known by the ancient Egyptians as the "gem of the sun", Peridot was believed to possess the power to break evil spells. During the Middle Ages, people wore Peridot to gain foresight and divine inspiration.

Quartz
Quartz has been long associated with mysticism - the crystal balls used by fortune tellers are balls of clear quartz. Quartz is also a luck stone, and it is said to hold healing powers for its wearer. Clear quartz, or rock crystal, is also a charm employed to bring strength and long life when worn on a bracelet.  It comes in many colors, this specimen is Rose Quartz.

Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite occurs in ranges of color from very pale pink, pale to deep red, orange red, brownish red, orange-brown, pale to dark brown and black The name is derived from the Greek 'Rhodon' meaning 'Rose' and 'Chroma' meaning 'Color', alluding to its famous rose-color.

Ruby
Rubies were first mined more than 2,500 years ago in Sri Lanka. Historically, many believed that mystical powers lie within this intensely colored red gemstone. The ancient Burmese believed that when inserted beneath the skin, rubies generate a mystical force that protects the wearer from accidents and attack. Rubies were also once believed to contain prophetic powers, enabling wearers to predict the future based on changes in their ruby's color intensity.

Tanzanite
Legend says that it was Masai cattle herders that first noticed this stone some 30 years ago after a fire caused by lightening burned areas in Tanzania. The herders noticed that brown zoiscite crystals had turned a deep blue-purple due to the heat from the fire.  It is said that Tanzanite helps with change. It uplifts and opens the heart.

Tiger's Eye
Resembling the eye of a tiger, this semi precious stone thus, received its name. It is the anniversary gemstone for the 9th year of marriage. Tiger-Eye is widely used in making jewelry and beads with its peculiarity showing out best. It is found in the regions of South Africa. The best stones come from Griqualand West.   As per the legend, Roman soldiers wore tiger's-eye for protection in battle and was thought to be all seeing due to its appearance. It can be worn to strengthen convictions and acquire courage and confidence. Relieving high blood pressure, the gemstone is used for focusing the mind. This very warm stone is beneficial for the weak and sick.

Topaz
Topaz stimulates endocrine system and is valuable in the treatment of hemorrhages. It balances emotions and gives feelings of joy and is referred to as the spiritual rejuvenation gemstone. The deposits of topaz are found in the regions of Russia, Siberia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Africa and China, Japan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Australia, Mexico, and in the United States.

Tourmaline
According to legend, all colors of tourmaline protect the wearer against many dangers and misfortune.  Tourmaline is both pyroelectric and piezoelectric. If a specimen is put under a pressure or temperature change, it will generate an electrical charge. (Dust particles will become attached to crystal ends in such cases). Tourmaline was used in the 1700's and 1800's to clean out ash and dust from smoking pipes. 

Pink Tourmaline promotes female balance and protection. Green Tourmaline promotes male balance.  Tourmaline is said to be excellent for balancing left and right brain, as well as all of the chakras. Gives the user discernment and "sight" into a given situation.

Turquoise
Legend has it that some Native Americans believed that if Turquoise was affixed to a bow, the arrows shot from it would always hit their mark. It is also believed to bring happiness and good fortune to all. The blue of Turquoise was thought to have powerful metaphysical properties by many ancient cultures. In ancient Mexico, Turquoise was reserved for the gods, and it would not be worn by mere mortals.

Zircon
The name "zircon" is believed to have derived from the Arabic words, "zar", meaning gold, and "gun", meaning color. For many centuries, the brilliance of zircon has captured the hearts of those who gazed upon this magnificent gemstone. Zircon's popularity began to grow in the sixth century when Italian artisans featured the stone in jewelry designs. During the Middle Ages, zircon was believed to contain curative powers, protecting the wearer from diseases and banishing insomnia.