Eyewitness Handbook of Gemstones by Cally Hall.
NOTE: We have 75,000 books in our library, almost 10,000 different titles. Odds are we have other copies of this same title in varying conditions, some less expensive, some better condition. We might also have different editions as well (some paperback, some hardcover, oftentimes international editions). If you don’t see what you want, please contact us and ask. We’re happy to send you a summary of the differing conditions and prices we may have for the same title.
DESCRIPTION: Paperback. Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing (1994). Pages: 160. Dimensions: 8¼ x 5¾ inches. 1 pound.
CONDITION: NEW. New oversized softcover ("flexibind" - stiff but flexible covers) with dustjacket. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (1994) 160 pages. Unblemished except for very mild edge and corner shelfwear to dustjacket and covers. Pages are pristine; clean, crisp, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound, unambiguously unread. Shelfwear to dustjacket and covers is confined to mild "crinkling" at the spine head and the upper open corners ("tips"). Condition is entirely consistent with new stock from a bookstore environment wherein new books might show minor signs of shelfwear, consequence of simply being shelved and re-shelved. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! Meticulous and accurate descriptions! Selling rare and out-of-print ancient history books on-line since 1997. We accept returns for any reason within 30 days! #7570.1f.
PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES BELOW FOR DETAILED REVIEWS AND FOR PAGES OF PICTURES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK.
PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW.
PUBLISHER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: The Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Gemstones is packed with more than 800 vivid full-color photographs of more than 130 varieties of cut and uncut stones, organic gemstones, and precious metals. With authoritative text, clear photography, and a systematic approach, this concise guide to identification enables you to recognize each gemstone instantly.
Photo-Encyclopedic Approach: Each expertly written entry combines a precise description with annotated photographs to highlight the gemstone's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. Additional color illustrations and photographs show uncut stones, color variations, and a wide range of popular cuts. Easy-to-use, color-coded bands provide at-a-glance facts for quick reference. Also included is a concise glossary.
Identification Made Easy: For beginners and established enthusiasts alike, the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Gemstones explains what a gemstone is, how and where gemstones occur, what natural properties they possess, and how they have been fashioned and imitated through the ages. to help you in the initial stages of identification, a color key illustrates the variety of colors found within natural and synthetic gemstones. A concise glossary explains relevant scientific and technical terms.
REVIEW: Designed for beginners and experienced collectors alike, this field guide makes identification of individual specimens sure, simple and straightforward. Each entry has a full color illustration as well as color-coded bands that provide at-a-glance facts for quick reference. Easy to use and beautiful to look at, this series is an invaluable resource for every collector.
REVIEW: Cally Hall is a fellow of the Gemological Association and Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain. She has contributed to several books on gemology, mineralogy, geology, and earth science and is the author of “Identifying Gems & Precious Stones” A member of the curatorial team at London’s Natural History Museum, she spends her days identifying minerals and gemstones and lecturing. She specializes in the study of colored gemstones.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
REVIEW: Packed with detailed information on gemstone properties, varieties, and more, DK’s “Smithsonian Handbook of Gemstones” is the clearest identification guide to natural and synthetic gemstones for beginners and established enthusiasts alike.
READER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: I fear that I am a bit of a magpie. I like shiny sparkly things, and the usual response is Ooooh! Shiny! And as a young one, when taken on various trips, I started to take an interest in rockhounding and geology. It was finding gemstones that were the real fun, seeing these little bits of glittery rock that turned out to be sapphires or amethysts or garnets. Life would take me in different directions, but the interest in pretty, glittery rocks has remained.
Smithsonian Handbooks: Gemstones is one of those lovely little books that is crammed full of information and pictures, along some folklore and bits of trivia that add to the mystique of gemstones. Compiled by Cally Hall, it's a very readable book, filled with more than 800 photographs, with a text that while it is slanted towards scientific terms, is very readable and accessible.
The first section of the book is an extended introduction to what makes a gemstone different than say, a mineral, although they might be composed of the same chemicals. A brief history of how gemstones and precious metals (silver, gold and platinum) have been shaped, worn and coveted. One section that I found very interesting was the explanation of the Mohs scale used to determined hardness -- it ranges from 1 to 10, with talc at the bottom, and diamond at the top, and how a stone is determined to fit in along the scale. Another fascinating section is how light and crystallization help to determine gemstones, and what part they play in how a stone is shaped and graded.
There is also a section on synthetic gemstones and how they have been created over the centuries, and how the color of stones can be changed by irradiation, heating and staining the stones. Finally, the section closes with a color key, ranging various stones by their hues, with plenty of vivid pictures and the name of each stone underneath along with the page that goes into more detail about it.
The next section deals with the gemstones and precious metals in particular. Each item is classified into Precious Metals, Cut Stones, and Organics -- and each item is given a page or two that goes into further detail. Stones are given their chemical composition, rating on the Mohs scale, crystal structure, some folklore and history, what sort of cuts that the stones are usually shaped into, and lots of photographs.
It here in the photographs that the book sells itself. They are unusually clear, and crisply printed, with each gemstone being shown in a variety of ways. There is jewelry, different colors that the stone can occur in, and a few shown in their 'matrix' or the surrounding stone and minerals that the gemstones are usually found in their natural state. One of the more intriguing sections is on what are known as Organic Gemstones -- stones that are created by natural, not chemical, occurrences, such as pearls, jet, coral, ivory, shell and amber.
The final sections include a table of properties, glossary, index, and some useful addresses to contact if you find that you want to find out more. The binding is very sturdy, the printing very clean and crisp with the design well-thought out that flows easily from page to page. It is designed to stand up to quite a bit of use, with a spine that will not crack, and heavier than usual paper stock, and the quality is top notch.
Packed into less than a 160 pages, this is a wonderfully priced little book that gives a quick, informative and lively look at gemstones. While it's certainly not a perfect book, and is mostly designed to help the reader figure out what a stone may or may not be -- only a trained gemologist can tell you what it really is -- it's a fun way to start learning. The price was extremely reasonable, less than 10$US, although the cover price is listed as 20$US. It would make a perfect book for adding to a home library, or as a gift to the budding
REVIEW: The Smithsonian Handbook on Gemstones is a great little reference book. It is in depth but also a compact sturdy semi-hardback that is easy to take anywhere. I like the fact that I can easily refer to it when my customers ask me questions about the jewelry I sell. Now I can find the answers to almost any question regarding gemstones. The many colorful pictures are beautiful and the interesting descriptions are easy to read and understand. I would recommend this handbook to anyone wanting to broaden their knowledge of gemstones as I am.
I am buying a lot of gemstone jewelry on eBay and this book really helps me to identify and know the value of a lot of gemstones I previously did not know about. It is really helping to simplify and make the most of my eBay bids. I can now make more educated decisions and have more insight into the information jewelers and gemologists know. I know I will be using this book a lot so it was a great purchase. I highly recommend this book, because it is what you would expect from the Smithsonian; like an enjoyable walk through the museum.
As a matter of fact, when I recently visited the Museum of Natural Science in Houston and the natural gemstones exhibit (which in the past I might not have had much interest in) I was very pleased at my ability to recognize, know something about, and appreciate the vast array of incredible gemstones, because of how it raised my interest in the subject to a new level, with the information and knowledge I gained from reading the Smithsonian Gemstone Handbook.
REVIEW: While written with a simplicity suitable for a novice gem-lover or enthusiastic youngster, the information assembled in this unassuming little paperback is incredibly detailed, cross-referenced and beautifully organized enough to please a seasoned professional. The photographs of materials described are excellent. I bought this book as it was recommended as a text for a gemology course, and am now motivated to give close scrutiny to anything published by Dorling Kindersley. Thanks for the opportunity to say something nice about this wonderful book.........and although you didn't ask, the book which was described as "used" arrived in almost 'new' condition....and at a price well appreciated!
REVIEW: This is basically the best gem handbook that I've found for anyone who doesn't have a professional certification. It gives all of the necessary information on a variety of stones, and some very interesting and useful history and information about other aspects of gemology.
REVIEW: I bought this book to learn more about all the different gems. I am just starting to make jewelry and thought this would be good for me. This book is an excellent book. It shows all the gems and tells the hardness of them. I found some gems that I never heard of in this book. It showed very good pictures of them so I was able to look them up on E-Bay and get them. I would advise anyone wanting to learn about gems for any reason to get this book.
REVIEW: I bought this book for my 2nd grader who loves rock collecting. The pictures are brightly colored and the book contains a lot of information. He can not read the book on his own yet, but he spends hours paging through the book looking at pictures and descriptions of rocks. This book has so much information on gemstones that I have been able to answer all of his questions.
REVIEW: Guess I'm part Crow; shiny, sparkle things definitely attract my attention, while the human side of me wants to know what they are, where they come from, and how they are formed. This book actually appeals to both sides. The color plates are very eye appealing, so my crow self is happy and my human self has plenty of tables, charts, and descriptions to satisfy it's inquisitive nature. While this will not be the only Gem Reference book in my library, it is very much worth reading over and over again. Highly Recommend
REVIEW: This is an exceptional, concise and thorough handbook. It is informative as to the classification according to structures, methods of mining, identification of stones and minerals and uses. The illustrations are excellent, the index and table of contents are easily accessible, and even have photos, also.. There are stones in their natural, unfinished state, polished and faceted, and lush examples of jewelry made using gems. It is one of my favorite books on gemstones
REVIEW: For a general-interest guide to gemstones, this spectacular little book is remarkably thorough, authoritative, and comprehensive. Minerals are classified by color, crystal structure, composition, and hardness. History and geology are prominent subjects as well. The information throughout is well-organized, clearly-presented, and easy to reference. Best of all, the full-color visuals are absolutely stunning. The book--like its subject matter--is a spectacular marriage of science & art. A big thumbs-up!
REVIEW: A great book for beginners and experienced gemstone enthusiasts alike. Information ranges from simple descriptions for identification purposes (especially inclusions), to detailed terminology for the experienced rock hound. I have purchased so called beginners books in the past (for identification purposes) and they require expert gemologists to understand.
REVIEW: Never thought there were so many crystals that can be cut into gemstones. Never saw so many beautiful pictures of cut loose gemstones in one place. Well explained, from formation, physical and optical properties, imitation and enhancement. Especially appreciate the color key section, with gemstones grouped according to color in which it is always, usually and sometimes available. Probably the best books on properties and identification of gemstones. I am positively THRILLED to own it, and I am only a gemstone lover and admirer.
REVIEW: This is a clear, concise, easy to read guide to gems. Well photographed. A great primer for those unfamiliar with all the different types of stones, and a good reference for those who are more knowledgeable. Excellent for jewelers and designers to use with customers. Highly recommended.
REVIEW: Very happy with this book. Offers full color pictures, RI's, and such for stone identification and/or verification. Interesting and essential for anyone in Lapidary jewelry making work. Well organized and easy to use for reference and finding what you need to find. Definitely a bench handbook for stone identification, Well worth the money.
REVIEW: If you really want to know about gems... buy this book! The information and the Illustrations it contains is remarkable. Absolutely Recommend this to anyone interested in gemstones.
REVIEW: This books is so complete. The introduction takes you through what makes a gem, what gives it value, and then the whole rest of the books is about each gemstone and it's hardness, typical cuts, colors, where found, what to look for. This book is a MUST!!!!!
REVIEW: I ordered this book as a gift for my grandmother. She recently went to New Mexico and fell in love with all the shiny rocks and gemstones she found there. So I came home, I did my research, and searched for an inexpensive gemstone book with excellent reviews. This book seemed highly recommended from fellow lovers of shiny things, and I am really glad I went with it. It is filled with tons of pictures, and the text, while very informative, is simple enough for anyone to understand.
REVIEW: This is a great little book. I bought a copy for my rock and gem club's library, and we liked it so well that we bought another copy and donated it to our local public library. I especially like the way it shows the gems and minerals in their natural state, then cut cabochon, cut and faceted also.
REVIEW: I bought this for my 7-yr. old daughter - budding rock hound and naturalist! Like other DK books, the photography is luscious and the layout is casual and very inviting - full of beautiful images. It provides a great overview and history of gemstones and their appeal, where specific stones can be found and appealing photographs of the different cuts of stones. It also provides detailed "specifics" such as structure, composition and hardness. This is a thoroughly engaging book for all ages and it is highly recommended.
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
GEMSTONES IN ANCIENT HISTORY: Throughout history, gemstones were believed capable of curing illness to providing protection. Found in Egypt dated 1500 B. C., the "Papyrus Ebers" offered one of most complete therapeutic manuscripts containing prescriptions using gemstones and minerals. In the eastern civilizations of China, India, and Tibet, gemstones were not only valued for their medicinal and protective properties, but also for educational and spiritual enhancement. Hereinbelow are a few examples of the uses for and beliefs concerning specific gemstone varieties in the ancient world.
Quartz: Quartz (“rock crystal") caught the eye of various ancient cultures with its brilliant transparency and gorgeous tones. To the ancient Greeks it was "krystallos", from which the name "crystal" is derived. To the ancient Slavic cultures it was, "kwardy", from which eventually the name “quartz” was derived. The clearest form of quartz is rock crystal, used since ancient times to manufacture “crystal balls”. Colorless quartz crystals have always been popular in jewelry since even ancient pre-recorded history due to mystical legends concerning the "power" of quartz crystals. In the ancient world quartz was used as an ornamental stone, to fashion gemstones for jewelry, and as well for making tools and weapons. Quartz was also ground by ancient cultures to produce primitive forms of glass and ceramics. Faience jewelry and amulets were mass produced in ancient Egypt fashioned from ground quartz and various minerals added to produce color (such as copper ore for blue-green; iron ore for red and orange, etc.). Similar ceramic jewelry and amulets were also produced by the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian cultures.
According to one ancient legend, the sun and universe were contained within an enormous crystal. Quartz was also long thought by ancients to be petrified ice. Five thousand years ago the Sumerians cut and engraved various quartz stones as cylinder seals and used them later as ring seals. As the Sumerians invented writing, quartz is probably one of the first gem stone materials to be written on, and also to be used as a stamp to make a written impression in clay. Ancient Persians believed that quartz amulets placed on a baby ensured the infant’s proper nutrition. There are many examples in various museums throughout the world of carved quartz stones that were popular in Greece and Rome as intaglios for signet rings. One particularly popular style showed the upper half of the body of a man with a hand upraised, pronouncing judgment. These pieces are said to have been especially effective as a talisman during a lawsuit. The ancient Celts used rock crystal amulets to give the water of healing wells a magical potency. Running brooks produced healing water as well. Quartz “star stones” were collected from a running brook, placed in boiling water from the same brook, and then the water, imbued with the curative power of the crystals, was then given to the patient. It was also believed that quartz crystals could cure infertility.
Quartz crystal has also been used in religious and shamanistic ceremonies for thousands of years. In the ancient Greek world quartz was utilized in the Eleusinian mysteries, initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece, to produce the sacred fire by concentrating the heat of the sun to ignite wood chips. Native American shamans are said to have used quartz crystals as divining and hunting charms, believing they were inhabited by spirits who had to be fed periodically by rubbing the quartz crystals with deer's blood. The Cherokee were known to use quartz crystals for divining stones. Australian aborigines Aboriginal tribes regard quartz crystal as a rain-stone, and use it in ceremonies meant to bring rain. And of course through the ancient world, for thousands of years, large pieces of quartz crystal were cut and polished into spheres, a scrying tool which enabled practitioners to foretell the future by peering into their crystal balls.
In the 14th century Medieval World of Europe, it was common for the quartz crystal to be engraved with the image of a man in armor holding a bow and arrow. The resulting talisman then would guard both the wearer and the place where it was situated. Quartz is very popular in the production of jewelry due to the fact it is very hard and durable. Some of the most popular varieties of quartz include amethyst (purple quartz), citrine (yellow quartz), and aventurine (green quartz). Other popular varieties include “tigerseye”, the relatively rare rose quartz, onyx, and various forms of agate (such as jasper). "Rose quartz" is the rarest of these various quartz varieties. The ancient Assyrians and Romans were among the first to use rose quartz, carved and faceted to provide gemstones, the Romans also using them to carve intaglios for signet rings. Rose quartz was regarding a token of love amongst both the ancient Romans and Assyrians.
Smoky quartz is brown, transparent quartz that is popular for large and unusual faceted crystals. Smoky quartz from Mount Cairngorm, Scotland, is known as "cairngorm", and since ancient times has been a favorite ornamental gemstone with Scots and Celts. Even today smoky quartz is worn in brooches with traditional Highland costumes. Tiger's Eye quartz contains brown iron which produces its golden-yellow color. Cabochon cut stones of this variety show the chatoyancy (small ray of light on the surface) that resembles the feline eye of a tiger, and have been enormously popular in various Asian cultures for thousands of years. It was a very important trade good in ancient India. And of course, the transparent colorless variety of quartz is still known as rock crystal. Although colorless quartz is relatively common, large flawless specimens are not. In the ancient world rock crystal was often been used in jewelry, particularly carved pieces.
Quartz crystals produce an electric voltage, a property known as piezoelectric. Unable to understand the characteristic, ancient cultures attributed many mystical properties to quartz crystals. For thousands of years various European cultures believed that the mind of a medium became receptive to the spirit world via the influence of quartz when it was fashioned into a sphere or crystal ball. Quartz was also believed to act as a psychic purifier, tuning one into their inner "vibrations”. It was believed that clear crystals possessed the ability to amplify emotions, enhance concentration and intuition, and neutralize "negative energies". Even today many people believe that wearing quartz crystals benefits a person's health and spiritual well being.
In the ancient world it was believed that quartz also possessed "medicinal" value as when applied to an inflamed area, it would act as an "ice pack". It was also used It also aid in curing mental disorders, problems with the lungs (including emphysema), sore throats, skin problems, circulatory system troubles (including varicose veins and hemorrhages) and respiratory system disorders. It was also used to provide relief from pain (particularly from headaches), to cure vision problems, and strengthen the immune system. Rose quartz was utilized as a cure for stress, heart, and circulatory related health problems. On the metaphysical plane quartz was believed to enhance intuition, mental clarity and concentration, emotional stability, confidence, creativity, love, and romance; and was also believed to increase fertility. Believed to be a spiritual awakener, quartz was believed to aid in balancing and amplifying body energy, emotions, and thoughts, producing a naturally balanced, solid-state energy field as it activated all levels of consciousness. And as nature's energy-generator, it was believed to draw white light into the physical body, helping to diagnose disease, stimulate brain functions and activate the pineal and pituitary glands [AncientGifts].
Smoky Quartz: Smoky quartz from Mount Cairngorm, Scotland, known as "cairngorm", has since ancient times has been a favorite ornamental gemstone. It is the national gemstone of Scotland and has been considered a sacred stone there for millennia, a belief dating back to the Druids. The Celtic population of the British called smoky quartz they mined in the Cairngorm Mountains of the Scottish highlands “morion”, and the yellow-brown to gray-brown crystals mined there “cairngorm” Beginning in the seventeenth century, craftsmen of Scottish weapons began to incorporate smoky quartz or citrines from the Cairngorm Mountains into shoulder brooches, kilt pins and dirk pommels.
Smoky quartz was and is a favorite ornamental stone set into the pommel of the Scottish dirk, or “black dagger”, a long dagger with a straight blade that is a prerequisite of Highland costume, having first appeared in the eighteenth century as a military accoutrement. A man’s “sgian dubh” (literally “black dagger” but also known as a “sock knife”) was invariably carried in a place of concealment, very often under his armpit. However when calling on another household Highland protocol called for men to deposit their weapons (claymore or broadsword, dirk, pistols, etc.) at the front door. Nonetheless even when visiting friends it was not safe to be entirely unarmed, and so Highlanders kept their dirk close at hand.
But out of courtesy to his host the proper Highland gentleman would remove it from under his armpit and put it somewhere where his host could see it, usually in his stocking, which incidentally also made it even quicker to access if needed. Even the Scottish royal scepter features a cairngorm stone. It is made of silver gilt and topped by a 2½ inch sphere of Scottish smoky quartz and a Scottish pearl. It was a gift in 1494 A.D. from Pope Alexander VI to King James IV, as a symbol of papal support for Scotland, a “special daughter” of the Holy See.
Together with a royal crown and sword, the three items form the Scottish “honors”, first used together at the coronation Mary, Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle in 1543. They were last used at the coronation of King Charles II at Scone Palace, the ancient crowning place of the kings of Scotland, on January 1, 1651, the last coronation to ever take place in Scotland. Other ancient cultures have used smoky quartz, and the Cairngorm Mountains were not the only source of smoky quartz in the ancient world. Much of the smoky quartz in the classical Mediterranean World came from the Swiss Alps. Fragments of smoky quartz vases have been uncovered in the excavations of ancient Babylonian Ur.
Smoky quartz was popular in ancient times with the Romans, who used the stone for carving intaglio seals. In the Middle Ages the most important deposit of smoky quartz was in Upper Silesia (now Poland). According to legend, a crystal ball of smoky quartz was the scrying or diving tool used by the renowned Dr. John Dee (1527-1608), alchemist, mathematician, astrologer, magician, and court diviner to Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603). In Medieval Europe smoky quartz gemstones were often engraved with the image of a man in armor holding a bow and arrow. The stone supposedly guarded the wearer and the place where it was situated.
According to some historical references, smoky quartz was made into “sunglasses” in 12th century Medieval China, so that judges could use the smoky quartz glasses to hide their facial expressions when they interrogated witnesses. Later smoky quartz gained popularity as a material from whence snuff bottles were carved. Historically smoky quartz was often used shamanistic rituals, particularly in North American Indian ceremonies where smoky quartz was often found at the top of ritual wands used by some Indian cultures. It was particularly prized by the Cherokees. In the ancient world smoky quartz was recognized as a gemstone which possessed healing properties, and was also used by shamans to bring rain. Smoky quartz when worn as a talisman was also believed to protect the wearer from negative forces, surrounding the wearer with a barrier of protective energy. In the ancient world smoky quartz was often associated with the Greco-Roman Goddess Hecate, the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and necromancy (the summoning of the spirit of a deceased person).
Modern practitioners sometimes refer to smoky quartz as "the dream stone," as it is thought to enhance dreams, meditation, and channeling abilities. Smoky quartz is regarded as calming, soothing, comforting and stabilizing, with the power to restore balance and harmony, transform negative emotions to more positive energies, and to improve clarity of thought. Modern practitioners use smoky quartz to treat stress, depression, nightmares, fear, panic, depression, and pessimism. It is believed to help dispose of “psychic waste”, and to foster the courage to make changes and break bad habits, especially old beliefs and emotions that prevent one from experiencing life fully.
On the physical side, smoky quartz is regarded as a powerful healer, used to help remove toxins from the body and aid the proper functioning of the kidneys (relieving fluid retention), adrenals, and pancreas. It is also used to help balance sexual energies, as well as help increase fertility. Worn as an amulet, smoky quartz is said to keep the mind clear, banish confusion, clear ambivalence, fortify resolve, help the wearer consciously focus on spiritual growth, and heighten the wearer’s understanding of nature and the environment. Contemporary spiritualists claim that smoky quartz Smokey Quartz is a very powerful scrying stone, revealing visions of dragons, strange astral realms and ancient secrets [AncientGifts].
Rose Quartz: Aside from pearls, which were "discovered" as gemstones by prehistoric man, various forms of quartz (such as carnelian, amethyst, and rose quartz), turquoise, and lapis lazuli are the oldest gemstones utilized in the manufacture of jewelry. "Rose quartz" is the rarest of these various quartz varieties. Transparent, gemstone-quality rose quartz is very rare and is usually so pale that it does not show very much color except in large sizes. The pink shades of rose quartz are due to the presence of titanium. The ancient sources for rose quartz were mines in Namibia. Rose quartz beads have been found in Mesopotamian burials that date back to at least 7000 B.C. Jewelry produced by the ancient Assyrians around 800 B.C. featured rose quartz.
The Romans also used rose quartz to carve intaglios for signet rings, as well as cut ands faceted to provide gemstones for jewelry. Both the ancient Assyrians and Romans regarded rose quartz as a traditional gift expressing love or affection. In ancient Egypt masks cut from rose quartz were used to beautify the skin. The ancient Greeks associated the gemstone with the God Eros, who according to legend felt pity for humans when he saw the pain and loneliness caused by anger, so he created rose quartz in the hope that its beautiful color and gentle energy would arouse love and desire among people. In antiquity and through into the Middle Ages it was believed that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Rose quartz was associated with Venus, probably arising from the classical association of rose quartz with the Roman Goddess of Love, Venus.
A large deposit from rose quartz was discovered in 1756 A.D. in southern Bavaria near Germany's border with the Czech Republic, an area called the Bavarian Woods. The material was so intensely colored that it was said to resemble spinel. Between its discovery in 1756 and 1880, 16,000 tons of rose quartz was quarried and used to produce crystal tableware such as plates, bowls, glasses, etc., for Victorian Europe. Today tableware made from the material is avidly sought by collectors and fetch very handsome prices. Due to its soft color, rose quartz was long been regarded in the ancient world as a soothing, calming crystal that promoted love and healing. It was also associated with femininity.
Placing a rose quartz under one’s pillow at night was believed to promote peaceful sleep and creative inspiration. Its medical uses included its use as a cure for skin disorders (including healing scar tissue, burns, and blisters), stress, heart and circulatory related health problems, including its perceived value in releasing excess fluids and impurities in the cells of the body. Rose quartz was also used to prevent wrinkles, to treat asthma, eyesight problems, migraines, fever, bruises and aching in bones, fatigue, menstrual pains and tenderness.
On the metaphysical plane, rose quartz was believed to help clear negative emotions such as jealousy, anger and fear, and also to ease heartache and psychic traumas. It was also believed to enhance intuition, confidence, creativity, love, and romance; and was also believed to increase fertility. It was also believed to enhance the wearer’s awareness of the beauty and magic in the world, and to aid the wearer in maintaining a peaceful, harmonious environment. Wearing rose quartz was also believed to be therapeutic for those individuals who suffered from depression, low self esteem or self-hatred. Rose quartz was perceived as being associated with the healing power of forgiveness, and thus was helpful in opening the heart, healing the pain of past upsets, and releasing guilt and old grudges. It was also believed effective as an aid to balancing the masculine and feminine aspects within both men and women [AncientGifts].
Rutilated Quartz: Rutilated quartz features golden colored rutile inclusions (appearing as golden needles) which are actually titanium dioxide crystals. Titanium of course is a high-tech metal known for its resistance to wear and high temperatures. However to the ancients, these brilliant golden metallic-appearing inclusions were obviously captured rays of sun, frozen in quartz during the Ice Age. This was commonly believed all the way through the Medieval Age, when early alchemists still believed that quartz was water that encroaching glaciers had frozen and petrified. [AncientGifts].
Agate: Agate is named after its ancient source, the Achates River in Sicily, now known as the Drillo River, which remains a major source of this gemstone. The gemstone was so named by the 4th century B.C. ancient Greek Philosopher/Naturalist Theophrastus, who “discovered” the stone along the shore line of the river (there’s a dissenting opinion that the word agate is derived from the Greek word "agateес" – meaning happy). The Greeks used agate for making jewelry and beads. Ancient Greek mariners wore amulets of agate to protect against the perils of the sea. The Ancient Greeks also used agate to relieve stomach pains and diarrhea.
However agate had already been used for by man for decorative and amuletic purposes for thousands of years prior to the ancient Greeks, first by Stone Age man in France around 25,000 B.C. Archaeological discoveries demonstrate that the ancient Egyptians used agate well prior to 3,000 B.C. for talismans, amulets, seals, rings and vessels. In the Ptolemaic Period (fourth century B.C. to first century A.D.) the ancient Egyptians carved agate carved into scarabs. The ancient Egyptians believed that gray agate when worn around the neck would protect against and heal stiffness of the neck.
Agate was also extremely popular for use in jewelry in ancient Sumer, and agate was amongst the archaeological artifacts excavated at the Knossos site on Crete evidencing its use by the Bronze Age Minoan culture (about 1,800 B.C.). Persian magicians were believed to possess the power to divert storms through the use of agate talismans. Ancient Persians also believed that agate would confer eloquence upon the wearer. The ancient Persians (as well as other ancient Near Eastern cultures) also used agate as an antidote to fevers by placing the agate in the mouth. It was said to relieve thirst and reduce body temperature.
The ancient Babylonians used red agate to treat insect bites and stings, green agate to treat eye infections, and black agate (onyx) to protect women from disease. Agate talismans were worn in the Ancient Middle East to keep the blood healthy. In ancient Asia, agates were used by seers and magicians to see into the future. Agate was highly valued as a talisman or amulet in many other ancient cultures. It was said to quench thirst and protect from fevers. Another widespread belief in the ancient world was that wearing agate as a talisman would render the wearer invisible, thereby protecting the wearer from danger. Athletes throughout the ancient world wore agate amulets with the belief that agate would give them extra energy during competition and help them recover their strength afterwards.
Agate was also worn by various ancient cultures as protection against drowning, falling, mischievous fairies and poison, and was also believed an effective talisman to protect young children from harm. Farmers in many ancient civilizations (including the Romans) wore agate talismans to ensure a good harvest. The Romans, as well as the ancient Greeks, made extensive use of agate in their production of cameos and intaglio seals (as in signet rings). Moss agate, according to the Romans, had a divine power and an agate stone was used to grind ingredients for lotions and other ointments on, believing it would improve one's eyesight and/or disposition.
A famous collection of four thousand agate bowls that was accumulated by Mithradates, king of Pontus (Hellenic Turkey)Hellenic Turkey) is illustrative of the high value the ancient world had for agate. Agate bowls were also popular in the Byzantine Empire. Collecting agate bowls became common among European royalty during the Renaissance and many museums in Europe, including the Louvre, have spectacular examples. Early Celts in Britain used the gem to prevent skin disease, and in Celtic mythology orange agate was believed to be a powerful protection against Dragons. The Vikings and Saxons used agate to find lost items by ax and stone, a method of divination known as “axinomancy”.
In that ceremony a double-headed ax would be made red-hot and then the shaft pushed into a hole. A round agate pebble would then be placed on the upright ax head. If the pebble stayed on top of the ax, the questioner had to look elsewhere for the lost item. If the pebble fell to the ground, the questioner had to follow the direction of the rolling stone to find the missing item. During the Roman wars with the Gauls (in the first century B.C.), agate deposits were discovered along the Nahe river (a tributary to the Rhine) in Germany. The gem-cutting facilities set up there by the Romans survived until present day and, although the deposits are now depleted, the city of Idar-Oberstein on the Nahe river is still the major lapidary center of Europe.
Particularly from the 16th century onwards, huge quantities of cameos were cut from agate where layers of different colors occurred within the stone. The background material was cut away, leaving the cameo design in relief. In the Middle Ages and through to the Renaissance agate was worn as a talisman in the belief it could prevent harm from thunder and lightening, sorcery, poison, drunkenness and demonic possession. Medieval shamans and sorcerers believed that agate allow them to divine the truth. Agate was also believed to remove curses and spells, and to help eliminate bad luck. In Renaissance Europe, agate was believed to have a calming effect during times of stress and to give the wearer strength and courage. Renaissance-era artists and writers wore agate in the belief it would enhance creativity.
Wearing agate was also believed to improve vitality and physical strength, relieve headache pain, ensure marital and romantic fidelity, stimulate the intellect, and suppress anger. Agate was prized in Czarist Russia as a stone of long life, good health and prosperity. Agate is a variety of chalcedony quartz composed of colorful microscopic crystals of quartz occurring in bands of varying color and transparency. Most agates start as gas bubble cavities in eruptive rocks or ancient lava. Silica laden water seeps into the bubbles and coagulates to a silica gel, eventually crystallizing as quartz.
Agate is found in a wide variety of patterns and beautiful colors, and can be transparent to opaque. Many fossils (such as petrified wood, petrified coral, and even dinosaur bones) are agatized material where the original organic substance has been replaced by agate while retaining the original structure. The primary sources of agate today are Brazil, Uruguay, China, India, Madagascar, Mexico, the Ural Mountains of Russia, and the USA. In the ancient world it was believed that wearing agate made a person agreeable, happy, and cautious yet brave. Ancient cultures used it as a talisman as it was believed to bestow on the wearer protection against all dangers.
White agate was used as a cure for insomnia and guaranteed pleasant dreams. Agate was also believed to improve memory and concentration, increase stamina and encourage honesty, as well as aiding wearers to remain calm and focused. Contemporary practitioners attribute agate with fostering the ability to discover one's natural talents, enhancing analytical ability, and improving perceptiveness. It is believed to create a healthy balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual state of the wearer. Agate is reported to be an aid in overcoming fears and loneliness.
It is reputed to help the wearer view themselves with more clarity and view the world with a broader perspective. It is claimed to eliminate and cleanse “negative energies” from the body, and is thought to stimulate fertility and to be effective in treating bone marrow ailments and allergies. Due to the association with precision, agates are touted as useful talismans for accountants and bankers. And as in the distant past, agate is still considered an effective talisman which will increase wealth, good luck, long life, courage and strength; and to help protect and heal the wearer [AncientGifts].
Aventurine: Aventurine is a variety of chalcedony quartz characterized by its translucency and sparkly metallic inclusions which usually result in medium to dark green stones with a silvery green or blue sheen. The metallic inclusions give aventurine a unique sparkling iridescent effect, known as aventurescence. In addition to muscovite mica, hematite, goethite or boron may also be present and also produce iridescent properties. Aventurine is found in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Chile, China, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Tibet, and the USA.
Though green is the most common color of aventurine, it may also be found in blue, brown, white, peach, yellow, or orange, as well as shades in between (such as blue-green). The color of the stone depends on the mineral impurities contained within. Green aventurine contains a chrome-bearing mineral known as fuchsite mica, which imparts not only the classic green color, but the silvery sheen as well. Blue aventurine gains its color from the mineral dumortierite or from other aluminous sediments containing boron. Orange and brown aventurine gains its color from either hematite or goethite.
Green aventurine has been mined in India for millennia (particularly in the vicinities of Mysore and Madras), where it is sometimes referred to as “Indian Jade”. It has been mined in China for millennia as well, and is known as the "imperial stone”. In Russia golden-colored "goldstone" is produced from deposits in the Ural Mountains, and green adventurine is produced from deposits in the area of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. Throughout Asia and Europe aventurine has been used for thousands of years in jewelry, as well as for ornamental objects such as vases, bowls, and figurines.
Some of mankind’s earliest known primitive tools were composed of aventurine quartz, discovered in Ethiopia's Omo Valley. Many of the tools date back more than two and a half million years. Aventurine is a superior material for tool-making because of its excellent hardness, and a brittleness that allows it to be flaked into blades relatively easily. Aventurine has had a complicated relationship with mankind in millennia past. Ancient Hindus believed that a talisman of aventurine calmed the wearer’s emotions and enhanced creativity. Elsewhere in the East mystics associated aventurine with moon magick. A legend from ancient Tibet says that aventurine was used to improve nearsightedness and to increase the wearer's creativity.
As well (and more recently), aventurine has been a popular fertility charm for hundreds of years, the belief being that a piece of aventurine in the bedroom or under the pillow enhanced fertility. Sources recommend a rounded stone for women and an oval or long stone for men, mirroring the sexual symbolism found in many ancient fertility rituals and sacred sites. Green aventurine has also been worn in Asia for many centuries for good luck, and a talisman of green aventurine was and remains very popular with gamblers. In Europe’s recent past large aventurine rings were very popular in Victorian England. Legends also record the use of aventurine as an all-purpose healer, used to reduce stress, develop confidence, imagination and improve prosperity.
The medicinal uses of aventurine included, as mentioned above, use as an all-purpose health tonic and as a stress-reducer. In centuries past aventurine was used in China and elsewhere in Asia to treat cardiovascular and circulatory diseases including high blood pressure, as well as to treat bronchitis and colds, dermatitis, and hair loss. In the twenty-first century Asia aventurine is still worn as a lucky talisman and is a popular stone for gamblers. Contemporary practitioners associate aventurine as the astrological birthstone for Taurus, and hold that it is useful for soothing the eyes and reliving migraine headaches, and recommend the gemstone for its “soothing” properties, suggesting that the gemstone can produce a better night's sleep. Medicinally contemporary practitioners use aventurine to treat disorders of the lungs and heart, believing that it can reduce cholesterol levels and prevent arteriosclerosis. It has also been used to sooth and heal urinary tract infections.
Aventurine is also recommended by many contemporary practitioners to help increase muscle flexibility and as a remedy for lower back ailments such as sciatica. It is also widely employed as an aid to draw out the heat of fevers and reduce inflammation in wounds and joints. Contemporary practitioners posit that green aventurine has the strongest healing energy, symbolizing tranquility, patience and creativity. It is also believed to be powerfully effective when combined with psychotherapy. Green aventurine is also believed to be the most effective color for treating heart and respiratory disorders, as well as to improve eyesight and vision.
And as a “lucky talisman”, it is green aventurine which is still believed to be the most potent compared to other colors available. Green aventurine is thought to stimulate dreams and have a positive effect on psychic ability. It is suggested by many that green aventurine is an effective aid in strengthening the wearer’s sense of self-esteem, and has the power to give its wearer a positive outlook towards life, allowing the wearer to recognize and appreciate their right to happiness, health and prosperity, and enabling the wearer to shed feelings of fear or unworthiness, depression or lethargy which may be preventing the wearer from achieving their full potential.
In short a talisman of green aventurine is believed to instill in the wearer optimism and perseverance, giving them the focus and determination needed to keep advancing on their goals, no matter how distant or unachievable they may appear. Green aventurine is also believed to be useful in easing anxiety and calming excess emotion, and to aid the wearer in making decisions from the heart, stimulating creative inspiration and giving the courage to live honestly and forthrightly around others. Green aventurine is also believed to be comforting, soothing, and supportive to the agitated mind, as well as to provide a sense of balance and inner equilibrium. Many practitioners maintain that green aventurine has the capability to calm a troubled spirit and bring about inner peace, and is useful for healing old traumas and emotional wounds, and enhancing the wearer’s cheerfulness and sense of humor.
Red aventurine on the other hand is said to boost vitality, creativity and mental alertness. It is thought to aid “romantic creativity”, making it a good gemstone for date night. It is also believed to be helpful in healing reproductive system, and sometimes to reverse diseases. In contrast a talisman of blue aventurine is thought to be helpful if the wearer is seeking inner strength or self-discipline, and is believed to enhance creativity and develop both confidence and leadership qualities, enabling the wearer to act decisively and enhance their intuition. The wearing of a blue aventurine amulet is also believed to enable the wearer to overcome bad habits. As is the case with green aventurine, blue aventurine is also said to provide patience, eliminate stubbornness, and control excitability. Medicinally blue aventurine physically is said to help the body release toxins [AncientGifts].
SHIPPING & RETURNS/REFUNDS: We always ship books domestically (within the USA) via USPS INSURED media mail (“book rate”). Most international orders cost an additional $17.99 to $48.99 for an insured shipment in a heavily padded mailer. There is also a discount program which can cut postage costs by 50% to 75% if you’re buying about half-a-dozen books or more (5 kilos+). Our postage charges are as reasonable as USPS rates allow. ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per book (for each additional book after the first) so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs.
Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. All of our shipments are fully insured against loss, and our shipping rates include the cost of this coverage (through stamps.com, Shipsaver.com, the USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex). International tracking is provided free by the USPS for certain countries, other countries are at additional cost.
We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. Please note for international purchasers we will do everything we can to minimize your liability for VAT and/or duties. But we cannot assume any responsibility or liability for whatever taxes or duties may be levied on your purchase by the country of your residence. If you don’t like the tax and duty schemes your government imposes, please complain to them. We have no ability to influence or moderate your country’s tax/duty schemes.
If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price; 1) less our original shipping/insurance costs, 2) less any non-refundable fees imposed by eBay. Please note that eBay may not refund payment processing fees on returns beyond a 30-day purchase window. So except for shipping costs, we will refund all proceeds from the sale of a return item. Though they generally do, eBay may not always follow suit. Obviously we have no ability to influence, modify or waive eBay policies.
ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Eastern Europe and Central Asia several times a year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient/antique jewelry and gemstones, a reflection of our academic backgrounds.
Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia antique gemstones are commonly dismounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them originally crafted a century or more ago. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.
