Colored gemstones are endlessly fascinating. For centuries, nearly every culture has held the belief that colored stones possess magical powers or the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. Due to the magical powers associated with colored gems, they were used extensively as amulets and talismans, portals to the future; and as important components to many spiritual practices.

Traditional Significance of Colored Gemstones

Yellow stones when worn by a woman were a sign of generosity. Worn by a man, a yellow stone signaled secrecy (as with a secret lover).

A violet gemstone worn by a woman indicated lofty thoughts and love of a spiritual nature. For a man, sober judgment, steadfastness, and ambition.

Black gemstones revealed foolishness and capriciousness in young women, while in married women it showed fidelity, constant love and perseverance. A man wearing a black stone exhibited gravity, common sense, constancy, and inner strength.

Red stones when worn by a women indicated pride, haughtiness, and obstinacy. On a man red stones meant nobility, command, leadership and vengeance.

Blue gemstones on a woman exposed jealousy in love, vigilance and social correctness. A man wearing blue stones meant wisdom, lofty thoughts and generosity.

Green gems for a woman meant unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change. Green gems for a man meant joy, lost friendship, and transitory hope.

In our modern world, colored gemstones are worn primarily for their inherent beauty. An almost endless choice of colors are available:

Red: rubies, garnets, red tourmalines, red diamonds and spinels.

Blue: topaz, blue tourmaline, blue spinel, tanzanite, iolite and even blue diamond.

Green: emerald, green garnet (tsavorite), green tourmaline, peridot, green zirconia and diamond.

Black: onxy, black tourmaline

Violet: tanzanite, amethyst, rainbow flourite, purple diamond

Yellow: yellow sapphire, citrine, yellow diamond.

Today the possibilities for self-expression with colored gemstones are seemingly endless with choices in every price range and every taste. Whether for fashion, fun or to express your inner feelings, everyone should enjoy the bounty of colorful stones that nature has provided.

Healing Properties of Gemstones

Agate, (brown): Said to harden gums and protect vision.
Amber, (yellow; orange): Improves poor eyesight, deafness, dysentery, throat afflictions, hay fever, and asthma.
Amethyst, (purple to blue-violet): Antidote for drunkenness, gives piece of mind.
Beryl, (green; yellow; blue; white): For liver complaints, diaphragm.
Bloodstone, (green and red): For hemorrhages, nose bleeds.
Carnelian, (red): For hemorrhages, nose bleeds, purifies the blood.
Chrysolite, (olive green; brown; yellow; red): For fevers, nightmares.
Coral, (red; white):Stops bleeding; helps indigestion disorders, epilepsy in children, ulcers, scars, sore eyes.
Diamond, (white; blue; yellow): For coughs, mucus, lymph system disorders, toothaches, insomnia, convulsions.
Emerald, (green): For eye diseases, (an eye wash can be made by simply steeping an emerald in water), and general healing.
Garnet, (red): For asthma and blood diseases.
Jade, (green): For kidney diseases, stomach pains, blood purifier, muscle strengthener., urinary problems, eye diseases (an eye wash can be made same way as with emerald).
Jasper, (yellow; green): For stomach pains, nervousness.
Lapis, (deep blue to azure; violet-blue; green-blue): Lapis lazuli, Lapis linguis: For eye problems, helps attune higher spiritual vibrations, vitality, strength. Lapis linguis: Cholera, rheumatism.
Moonstone, (light blue; resembles opal): For "watery" disturbances, dropsy, gives strength.
Opal, (red to yellow; black; dark green): For heart, eyes, bubonic plague, gives protection and harmony.
Pearl, (white): Soothing, dissipates anger.
Ruby, (red): For pains, tuberculosis, colic, boils, ulcers, poison, eye troubles, constipation.
Sardonyx, (red; brownish red; black): For mental and emotional effects, banishes grief, brings happiness.
Sapphire, (blue; violet): For eyes, boils, rheumatism, colic.
Topaz, (green to white; green; blue, red): For vision, hemorrhages, bleeding.
Turquoise, (blue; blue-green; green): For vision, and promotes youth.