"Gemstones of the World" by Walter Schumann.
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DESCRIPTION: Hardcover with dustjacket. Publisher: Sterling (2013). Pages: 320. Size: 8 x 5¼ x 1 inches; 1½ pounds. “Gemstones of the World” is truly the single volume that every hobbyist, jeweler, jewelry maker, and rockhound needs: it’s the cornerstone of the field. And this updated edition contains a host of new findings on “Gemstones for Collectors,” additional gems in the “Table of Constants,” and the “double fraction” figures that experts have long wanted—a very special new feature.
All the gemstones are treated in their many variations: more than 1,500 full-color photos showcase each precious and semiprecious stone in both its rough, natural, and its polished and cut renditions. Each entry offers complete information on the gemstone’s formation, structure, physical properties, and characteristics, along with the best methods of working, cutting, and polishing it. There are even full treatments of lesser-known gems, from andalusite to vesuvian, and a special section is devoted to rocks as precious stones, including alabaster, onyx, obsidian, and fossils. Organic gem materials are also covered, such as coral, ivory, amber, and pearl. Charts and tables help collectors identify unknown gemstones and check for genuineness.
CONDITION: NEW. New hardcover w/dustjacket. Sterling (2013) 320 pages. Unblemished and pristine in every respect. Pages are clean, crisp, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound, unambiguously unread. Satisfaction unconditionally guaranteed. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! #8363.1b.
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: Gemstones of the World is truly the single volume that every hobbyist, jeweler, jewelry maker, and rockhound needs: its the cornerstone of the field. And this updated edition contains a host of new findings on Gemstones for Collectors, additional gems in the Table of Constants, and the double fraction figures that experts have long wanted – a very special new feature.
REVIEW: "Gemstones of the World" is truly the single volume that every hobbyist, jeweler, jewelry maker and rockhound needs: it's the cornerstone of the field. And this updated edition contains a host of new findings on "Gemstones for Collectors," additional gems in the "Table of Constants" and the "double fraction" figures that experts have long wanted - a very special new feature. Over 1,500 full-color photographs showcase stones in their rough, natural, and polished & cut renditions. Charts and tables help collectors identify unknown gemstones and check for genuineness
REVIEW: This is the standard reference for over twenty years, now completely revised and updated with many new illustrations. "Gemstones of the World" is the most comprehensive and informative color manual of the world's gemstones and includes more than 1,400 examples. Opposite each illustration the text provides an exact description of the particular stone, including details of the properties and chemical composition which makes the stone unique. Information on location of major deposits, alternative names, stones most easily identified incorrectly, and diagrams of their crystal habits are also given. The tables on gemstones' properties and constants provide a basic system of elimination for all unidentified stones. There are also eleven tables listing commercial and mineral names, refractive indices, dispersion, pleochroism, fluorescence, absorption spectra and specific gravities of gems. From the historical to the scientific, this extraordinary reference source is filled with fascinating facts about gemstones, both precious and semi-precious. It's also a worldwide scientific survey, with stunning color photographs of each gem and its varieties.
REVIEW: More than 1,500 full-color illustrations of all types of gemstones and hundreds of semi-precious stones accompany guidelines for identification and classification and articles on mining, cutting, and the properties and characteristics of each, in this newly updated edition.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
REVIEW: This definitive guide takes the mystery out of appreciating, buying and selling gemstones. It covers everything from the romance and history of gemstones to their geographic locations; scientific, physical and color properties; and the way they are formed, structured and mined. The book also fully covers the optical features of gems--light and color, luminescence, refraction and inclusions--and key information about the densities and chemical elements of each stone, with fascinating details on different cuts, polishing, gems, hardness, cleavage, classification, trade names, rarity and more. There are also many charts and diagrams as well as magnificent color photographs of the stones with data about them on the facing page. If you want only one book on gemstones in your library, this would be the one!
REVIEW: First published in English in 1976, Walter Schumann’s Gemstones of the World has served as a handy reference guide to gemologists of any level. The text begins with a brief mineralogical and gemological study, focusing on such topics as basic crystallography and crystal systems, hardness, refractive index, and other pertinent features of gem materials. Schumann largely focuses on minerals but does give proper descriptions of organic and synthetic materials as well. These first few sections serve as an excellent introduction to, or refresher on, many of the basic concepts that help make identification easier. The text is easily comprehensible to those at least somewhat familiar with the science of gemology, and it does a reasonably good job explaining the concepts for a novice. For someone completely new to the science, the jargon may be difficult, although Schumann attempts to bypass this issue by providing a brief list at the beginning of the book of terminology that may be unfamiliar.
Schumann devotes the most space, logically, to the most well-known and economically significant gemstones, such as diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald. Lesser-known and rare gems are not neglected, however, and he has compiled a fairly exhaustive list of gemstones, complete with color, hardness, density, refractive index, crystal system, and chemical composition. "Gemstones of the World" is a conveniently sized and organized reference book for both the casual and serious gemologist. Because it is fairly compact, it would be easy to take on field trips for use as a handy guide. The comprehensive listing of gem materials that includes many of the most important identifying features makes it useful for identifying both common and unusual gemstones. For a first-time buyer in particular, it would be a wise investment.
REVIEW: As with the companion book, "Minerals of the World", this book is superb. It is fully illustrated with splendid photographs of the various types of mineral.0 The front section of the book has a fairly comprehensive and explicit treatise on the technical and scientific aspects to minerals . Thus the book can be a companion to the professional, or to the collector, or to the amateur gemstone enthusiast. The quality of presentation is superb and I highly recommend this book . The price of the publication is misleadingly low.
REVIEW: A great asset to any jeweler or layman who works with gems. This is an excellent reference book. ARBA. One of the 100 outstanding Sci-Tech books of the Year. Invaluable to rock hounds of all ages. Beautiful illustrations, excellent quality. 143 photographs and 1,423 specimens in color plus 166 line drawings, bibliography and index.
REVIEW: I have been a gemologist for 20 years. I run an Independent Lab in Manhasset NY. I have used this book for years as an accurate reference guide. Put it on your book shelf if you are into the mineralogy world. [Deborah Villepigue GG, RMV, NAJA, AGA].
REVIEW: Every bead worker should have this book. It offers 1,500 full-color photos of precious and semiprecious stones, and gem cutting and mining processes; also provides chemical origin, nomenclature, and property information. [Beadwork Magazine].
REVIEW: I perform jewelry appraisals and gem identifications and this book has helped me more than any other. It is a MUST for buying and selling (does not list prices). I have worn mine out and have just ordered a new one. I have had it for approximately ten or more years. You will be fascinated even if you are not buying or selling. Peruse it and enjoy!!!
REVIEW: The newly expanded, revised third edition of a classic gemstone reference is a top pick for jewelry makers, rockhounds, and any fascinated by gems. It offers up new insights on collectibility, provides new 'double fraction' figures that experts have wanted, and provides over a thousand color photos profiling each precious and semiprecious stone in its rough, natural and polished versions. Chapters cover geology and working with gemstones alike, making it an excellent all-around reference and a top pick for both geology and crafts libraries.
REVIEW: More than 1,400 specimens. Discover what gems are, how they are classified and named, their physical properties, and how they are cut and polished. "Invaluable to rockhounds of all ages. [Science Teacher].
REVIEW: "One of the 100 outstanding Science-Technology books of the year. [Library Journal].
REVIEW: Anyone interested in minerals and gems will want a copy of this beautifully-illustrated book. [Science Books & Films].
REVIEW: The excellent index takes you right to any stone. [Bead & Button].
REVIEW: THE reference book on everything to do with gemstones. Handy size, packed full of photos and locations of precious Gems, stones and other related minerals. Everything about gemstones and the normal precious stones but also includes fossilized wood, amber, coral, Mother-of-Pearl, Operculum, Jet and Ivory.
REVIEW: Authoritative reference work, with color photographs of more than 1400 specimens, many shown before and after cutting. Special sections on fabricated and synthetic gems, recognizing gems by color, birthstones and organic gems such as coral and pearl. Includes technical data on gemstone properties, formation and structure of gems and cutting.
READER REVIEWS:
REVIEW: It’s unusual to find a gemstone reference that can be used by scientists, jewelers, collectors, and laypeople, but such is this book, complete with color photos of over 2500 gemstones, both finished and in natural state. The volume is heavy for its size because it’s published on high quality glossy paper. As the author warns us, the text is small and in some cases abbreviated and condensed. This is to cram the maximum amount of information into a guidebook that’s quite portable. One interesting note about the photos is that often average specimens, rather than be-all, end-all quality gems are depicted. No space is wasted; even the inside covers show different gemstone cuts and a world map of gemstones respectively. Yet because of clever use of headers, shaded sections, illustrations, and white space, the text never seems cramped.
The book begins with descriptions of gemstone identification properties. Moh’s scale of hardness, basic mineral chemistry, specific gravity, cleavage and fracture, refraction and absorption, pleochroism, and fluorescence are described in sections followed by charts of these properties for selected gemstones. Later, these concepts are referenced and quantified in specific descriptions for each gemstone. Short, useful sections on mining, polishing, and faceting follow.
The listings of common gemstones follow in logical order, starting at the top of the Moh’s scale with diamond and working down to sodalite and malachite. Physical and chemical properties of each gem or gem group is identified in a header on the top of the left page, followed by notes of interest and specific varieties. On the right page are the photos of the gems described on the left. It is easy to see which gemstones are most closely related chemically and it is particularly interesting to see the large number and variety of colors and forms that quartz (silicon dioxide) exhibits in different gemstones. The volume is well-referenced, in that if another gem or mineral is referenced the author includes a page number for ease of comparison. This formatting continues throughout the next section, the lesser-known gemstones which are becoming more popular, such as fluorite, apatite, and chrysocolla.
The section called Gemstones for Collectors contains quite a few pages of gemstones that are either too soft, too brittle, endangered, or too rare to be of interest to anyone other than collectors. This section is not very well edited and appears to be a listing of such stones in no particular order. I would like to know, for example, which stones are too soft or brittle, and which are rare or endangered. Chemical information is not always consistent either. Still, it is rather fascinating to view the radioactive gems such as Ekanite, and to read about how Sulfur is so sensitive to heat that it bursts when warmed in one’s hand (how did they facet it for the photo without generating heat?).
These arcane stones are followed by sections called “Rock as Gemstones” (obsidian, moldavite, fossils, etc.) and “Organic Gemstones” (coral, jet, ivory, etc.). Quite a large section on cultured pearls is included. Next is a section about the art and craft of imitation and synthetic gemstones, followed by a section on heating, irradiating, coloring, and otherwise enhancing gemstones—including what must be disclosed to the buyer, legally speaking. Next is a section of “new on the market” gemstones such as sugilite, unakite, and petrified wood; an odd assortment of new and not-so-new offerings.
The book concludes with charts of traditional astrological stones, the more recent birthstone-by-month designations, and some remarks on medicinal uses of stones (clearly not recommended by the author, but added for the curious). The book ends with a chart of gemstone listings by color.
Anyone who is interested in gemstones, for whatever reason, will enjoy this book. Whether the reader wants to look at the chemistry behind the stones, find out where various gemstones come from, learn about diamonds, rubies, emeralds, jaspers, or other specific stones, or simply look at pretty photographs, this is the book to use.
REVIEW: I love gems. I have a Graduate Gemologist degree (in addition to a physics degree). I do some high-end faceting and purchase gems and rough for faceting, jewelry making and simply for fun. My lab capability is better than that of most jewelry stores. Schumann's “Gemstones of the World” has been a mainstay of my reference library. This has been a valuable and well-organized reference book complementing other materials for gemstone identification. It often has more information than other texts about the stones themselves. It has a lot of good information about the various properties of gems, a small amount on mining and a good overview of production methods. The entries for common gemstones are quite complete, but it also covers a very wide range of less common stones and materials that are more recently commercialized. This work should be in the library of any gemologist. It's also simply a good reading book, with interesting information throughout the entire work.
REVIEW: I got this book for my fiancé who is an avid gem collector and aspires to become a gemologist. He absolutely loved the book, read it in one night! The pictures are out of this world, it almost looks like you're looking at real gems. Very informational! I would suggest that anyone interested in gems get this book. You start learning once you open the front cover.
REVIEW: I bought this book many years ago and have used it so often it is untrue. The lay out is easy to understand and the stones are grouped logically, with everything from crystal formation to MOH hardness to chemical formula. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in gemology, as it contains the detailed information for professionals, as well as plenty of information for the enthusiastic amateur. In short it's a comprehensive reference book that I keep turning to again and again, and though I have other gem books, this one is all you need. If you're going to buy a gem reference book, buy this one.
REVIEW: This is probably the best gemstone reference book that I've seen. If you are someone interested in gems, looking to buy gems online, or even a jeweler you'll find this book indispensable. The book teaches you the basic properties of gemstones, hardness, cleavage/fracture, color, refraction, dispersion, etc. It gives you an overview of cutting and polishing gemstones with a chart of the different types of cuts available.
But the best part of the book is the description of gemstones. This book covers virtually all known gemstones! Not just the big 4(diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire) but over 100 different gems, many that you've probably never even heard of! The gems are broken down into groups, the beryl group, corundum group, etc. Each group then gives the different gems from that group and gives the physical characteristics of that gem. It lists the different sources and colors of each gem and tells you which gems you might confuse the stone with.
And finally each gemstone comes with a full page picture of different cuts, colors and rough of that gem. All in all this is a MUST HAVE BOOK for anyone interested in gems.
REVIEW: This book is a wonderful reference for anyone that has in interest in gemstones or geology. The book has three main parts. The first is an introduction into the terminology that is used in the gemology industry. I found this section to be very inclusive and easy to understand. This section covers everything from the types of crystal structures to cutting techniques and density. This is a great section for those that are new in the world of gemology and would like a more in depth explanation of gemstones.
The next major section deals with well known gemstones. Every stone you can think of from diamond to emerald is covered in this section. The section is reserved for stones that most everyone has heard of and are readily available at any store. This section is laid out in a field guide type format as opposed to an in depth paragraph discussion. Each stone has a description of its characteristics and colored photos of multiple examples. The photos are beautifully done with several different examples of each stone shown.
The final section is reserved for more uncommon gemstones. This section will be sure to surprise you. For example petrified wood is shown as a more uncommon gemstone. Even the most experienced gemologist will learn something new in this section. The pictures and layout of this section are the same as in the previous section. I highly recommend this book to people with an interest in geology or gemology. This book is not a book that is best read cover to cover. It is better used as a reference because of its layout and abundance of information. No matter what you use it for you will be fascinated with the information and captivated by the photography. A wonderful book that will keep you entertained for hours.
REVIEW: Even as a jeweler I can't remember everything, so when I go to gem shows to buy my stones this book is my pocket bible which keeps me from getting cheated! Even if you aren't a jewelry professional, if you are buying stones online, at gem shows, or from your local jeweler, you can learn more about the stones you want, and learn more about the stones that are available (don't you get tired of always seeing ruby-sapphire-emerald?). I advise all my clients who are serious stone shoppers to buy this book, to become familiar with stones and minerals in general, and to start asking questions about the durability, hardness and practicality of the stones they buy for their custom jewelry. It has beautiful photos too!
REVIEW: This is THE gemstone resource book that everyone needs...I passed my older version on to a friend before noticing that the publish date for this one had been extended and I have never been so lost! This book's small format lends itself to tucking in a briefcase, purse, backpack, whatever...it is indispensable at Gem or Jewelry Shows! I have yet to look up a stone that is too obscure to be included and the revised version has even more in depth listings of Rare/Collector stones. The photos are a true representation and usually include rough, cab and facet examples. Along with the basics: Structure, Refractive Index, Color, etc...Schumann includes a brief history and lore of the gem as well as locations of current mines. This is as accurate a resource as you will find for an industry that is literally changing as I write this.
REVIEW: I'd waited years for a recent edition of this book, even used, at a reasonable price. Now it's finally affordable as a new hardback. I was kinda hoping for a book that would let me compare my gemstones to pictures and identify them. This book helped me understand why that kind of book is NOT possible. The best part, for people like me, is the way the many testing techniques and tools are explained, logically and in layman's terms. The book helped me see that learning to use techniques and tools to identify gemstones on my own is possible, and it will undoubtedly help me figure out which tools to invest in first.
REVIEW: This book should be in everyone's library. There is something here for everyone--from kids who collect rocks (because that's what kids do), to the serious gemstone collector. In fact, any nature lover would thoroughly enjoy this book for its stunning color photos. From Diamonds to Pearls and everything in between, Schumann's revised and updated reference provides a wealth of information for every level of interest.
REVIEW: A gemologist friend of mine introduced me to this book, and I had to have one. It is the best Gemstone reference book, especially at its price. It includes color pictures and shows the gem in both the rough and finished state, and includes information on synthetic gemstones. Get this book for a REAL education on Gemstones.
REVIEW: Upon viewing the pages contained within this hardback, I immediately smiled. A great purchase. The information given on each family of gemstones was incredible. Not only was in depth information given on the standard stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, opal, garnet and etc.), but also rarely seen varieties were also shown, giving the "collector" a unique perspective. Before reading this publication, I never knew there were green, yellow, orange or colorless garnets, I never heard of "heliodor" or Uvarovite, Andradite garnets, Dravite Tourmaline, etc and etc. What a wealth of information. Gemology, folklore, scientific and geographic information on each and every variety listed within!!! WOW. What an exhaustive reference! GOOD SHOW!
REVIEW: For decades I wore only white diamonds (nothing colored of any kind) simply because they went with everything and to me they were the easiest gems for the layperson buyer to become 'intelligent' about. Having recently found an excellent jeweler who's also a goldsmith and graduate gemologist, I'm now venturing into the world of colored gems, including colored diamonds. Very confusing! This book has helped enormously, though. For each gem there's all the usual basic info such as Moh’s scale hardness, along with other stuff that'll make your jeweler sit up and take proper notice of ya! Chemical composition, refractive index, density, fluorescence, double refraction and pleiochroism (if any), and so on and so forth. Not to worry, those are all explained in separate sections. There's also information on all the colors each particular stone comes in, plus useful pictures, a section for each stone on which others look similar enough to be confused with it, a sections on various treatments (usually for color enhancement) and on created and artificial stones, and much, much more. Simply packed with useful, well-organized information, very well laid out and easy on the eyes despite being fairly small for a hardbound book.
REVIEW: I bought the 2001 edition several years ago and found it indispensable at the jewelry store where I worked. Now that I'm getting into the nitty-gritty of the Graduate Gemologist program at the GIA, I'm quite pleased to find an updated version available. I expect I'll be taking this to school with me to replace several large, ungainly lab manuals that haunt my desk. This book makes a great cornerstone for any gem library. I own many gem guides and encyclopedias twice the size and weight of this while containing considerably less information. This one has the most complete collection of information and pictures I've seen anywhere at an astonishingly diminutive size. If you plan to buy only one gem book in your lifetime, I highly recommend this one.
REVIEW: This is one of the best documents on gemstones available today. It covers virtually every major gemstone as well as a great number of the "new" gemstones just coming into popularity. The descriptions and photographs are excellent. The locals where found and the appearance and availability of the rough material make this a genuine gem of its own. Anyone interested in lapidary, jewelry, or gemstones in general will find this book to be an outstanding value. This is enhanced by its relatively low price.
REVIEW: I ordered this book for a gift to give to my wife’s co-worker who is into stones. I have went through three copies over the years from 1997 using it to show my customers what the stones they buy from me should look like. I have been making stones into jewelry for over 43 years and this book is the best one I have come across. What this gemstone book has that no other like it has is its fine color plates of each stone. This makes it a great way to show the public what they are buying such as Lapis Lazuli with its iron pyrite that is found in real Lapis Lazuli and with each color listed and with a color plate to use to show and compare. This book should be owned by anyone who sells stones and anyone who buys stones as it is used worldwide as one of the top trade books of its types.
REVIEW: I have been searching for a book to help me navigate through the maze of common names for different kinds of stones used to make beads. This book has photos of the stones in their natural state, as well as their polished state. It has lists of names attributed to certain stones. As a beader, I have found it very helpful in identifying stone beads and understanding what the different stones are.
REVIEW: If you’ve always wanted to learn more about gems--including more obscure ones--then this is the book to buy. The photos are fantastic, the information very detailed, but easy to understand, and very self-explanatory. All-in-all, definitely a book worth reading. I can't stress enough that this is an excellent informational book. It's compact--can fit in a woman's purse!--and even includes details on how to determine if various gems are real or fake. Excellent source of information, easy to use for referral, even for the newest of interests in basic gems.
REVIEW: My travels around Asia sparked my interest in buying gems, jade and pearls. After a few false starts, I knew I needed a resource I could carry with me and consult on the spot. Not only do I feel more confident in my purchases, I know see items that are of value that I passed by because I didn't understand what they were. The book covers a great deal of information despite its small format. At first I wasn't interested in the beginning chapters. I thought they were for jewelers or more serious collectors. Now I'm reading them to gain additional insight into this world. The photos are fabulous. Some of the stones in their original forms are more beautiful than the jewelry versions.
REVIEW: As a professor of gemology, I can assure you that this book is excellent for everyone. Perfect combination of words and pictures. The things I found to be useful are the descriptions for each gemstone and they have a list of what each gemstone may possibly be confused with. They also give you alternative names for gemstones and the history of the name with its meaning. If you are interested in gemstones this is the book for you.
REVIEW: This book on precious stones is brilliant. I liked the quality and structure of the book. It's not a cheap paperback. Color photos and an abundant supply of them. Scientific data and historical background presented. It's ideal for those of us ,who are Reiki practitioners .This gem book is not Wicca related, yet it is quite facilitative for Wiccans who use the healing stones and perform healing exercises. The depth of gemstone information is a farraginous mixture from almagest times until today.
REVIEW: This small book has very nice pictures and good information about each stone, including where it is found, the relative hardness, availability, and value. I enjoy wearing jewelry, but am not in the jewelry business. This book was recommended by a terrific jewelry artist and it is well worth the price I paid.
REVIEW: Best book I've bought on gems. Tons of great color pictures of rough and faceted stones. This should be the first book you buy on gems (I have about 6 of the top gem books and this one bests them all).
REVIEW: I recommend this book for any gemologist in training. Contains most of the relevant information needed for quick reference.
REVIEW: This is also a great book for identification of most and close to all precious gemstones. This is the first book you should purchase as beginners. This book goes into explicit details of each gemstones and also has a colored picture for each. This is an excellent book for reference. It is written in very easy English.
REVIEW: This is a fantastic book. I learned a great deal reading this resource. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about gemstone origins, types of cut, crystal formation, or if you just want to look at the pretty pictures of all of the most beautiful stones in the world yet discovered.
REVIEW: This clearly the best gemstone book ever. It features every gemstone imaginable with some I've never heard of. It not only gives a picture of the rough and faceted cut in full color photos but also gives the chemical breakdown, hardness and location found. Truly worth the money!
REVIEW: If you want to learn about gemstones, this is a wonderful book to have. It's been like a gemstone "bible" to me. Vibrant colorful photos, very informative on everything from stone hardness to where it can be found in the world. Cannot say enough on how terrific and helpful it has been!!! A must have for the "gem enthusiast"!!!
REVIEW: This is a great gem book for the amateur rock hound/lapidary. A great reference for the more experienced. Lots of information on physical characteristics, history, mining, and geographic distribution of stones. The best part is the pictures, every stone is in color in both the raw and processed states. I highly recommend.
REVIEW: I dabble in gemstones - buying and selling from Brazil, Colombia and other countries. Schumann's book is a bible - an essential reference with a very accessible layout, excellent and concise information. Rarely do I need to seek other sources when researching stones.
REVIEW: I have learned a lot from this book and find it very beneficial as someone who is new to gemstones. It has great pictures, hardness scales and a lot of valuable information. I would recommend it.
REVIEW: This book helped me pass the GIA Graduate Gemologist Exam. It is a very nice supplemental book to the course materials. Very portable as well. Highly recommended!
REVIEW: I really like this book and have placed it in my mobile library. I am a rock hound and spend most of the summer months in the field collecting different types of rocks and fossils. good reference book.
REVIEW: Excellent resource book. Not only lists gemstones, but histories, tools (how to use them), and gemstone measurements of all kinds. If you get only one reference guide, this is it.
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.
Danburite: Danburite is a fairly uncommon and rare gemstone. Though danburite itself is a common mineral, transparent gemstone quality specimens are rare. It’s likely that it was known in antiquity, but probably confused with another gemstone such as white topaz, quartz crystal, or even white beryl (“goshenite”) or in the case of pastel yellow danburite, quite possibly confused with citrine. Danburite is usually colorless, like quartz crystal or white topaz, but some deposits have produced specimens in shades of pink, yellow, orange, and brown. Danburite is well known in the jewelry trade known for its excellent transparency and clarity. Since it has a reasonably high refractive index (6.30 to 6.36), in the same range as topaz or tourmaline, the material produces facetable gemstones of excellent quality and sparkle. Danburite generally phosphoresces, showing a light blue to blue-green color under ultraviolet light. However since danburite is fairly rare and availability limited and sourcing difficult, it has never become a mainstream gemstone such as topaz, amethyst, emerald, sapphire, ruby, etc. Though it is well known to most jewelers, few stock it as it is quite difficult to source.
When you consider the number of countries which were part of the Classical Mediterranean, in which danburite has been discovered, it seems inevitable that it was used at some point in antiquity. Deposits of danburite (albeit many of them small) have been discovered in England, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Romania, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Burma, Ceylon, China, Nepal, and Vietnam. Outside of those regions within the classical world (Europe, the Near and Far East), danburite has also been discovered in Mexico, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania, Japan, Australia, Bolivia,Canada, and the USA. In fact danburite is named for Danbury, Connecticut (in the United States) where it was first “discovered” in 1839 by Charles Shephard. The Danbury Museum & Historical Society explains that danburite was, “common all over the world, but it hadn't been classified or named until Charles Shepard found it”. Shepard was an eminent American mineralogist who was for many years professor of natural history at Amherst College.
Under what name danburite crystals may have been known in the ancient world is indeterminable. Danburite was likely misidentified as quartz crystal, or colorless topaz or beryl, so history is silent as to the uses of danburite crystals. However it is possible that the beliefs which modern practitioners hold pertaining to danburite crystals may reflect ancient beliefs. It is common for such beliefs to be carried forward in folklore. In Western Europe and America present-day healers use danburite to treat diseases of certain organs like the liver and gall bladder. It is also believed to be useful in treating allergies, infertility, muscular and skeletal disorders, and tumors; to aid in tissue regeneration and ease pregnancies; and lastly to detoxify the body.
On the metaphysical plane, wearing danburite is said to strengthen the wearer’s “life force”, filling the wearer’s body, mind, and spirit (and relationships) with “white light”, cleansing and purifying the wearer, bringing about truth, honesty, happiness, and open receptivity to mind and spirit. It is believed to quicken the intellect, strengthen the nervous system, and enhance awareness, allowing thoughts and energy to flow more freely. Danburite is also believed to encourage a friendly social atmosphere, to ease the difficulties of times of extreme personal changes and/or stress. It is also believed to heal old emotional wounds, clear past karma, and for the terminally ill, to “ease the transition of leaving the physical human form”. Used in meditation and trances, danburite is believed to channel information from spiritual worlds during meditation, increase the wearer’s psychic abilities, and to bring visitations by “angels and other-worldly beings”, especially during dreams [AncientGifts].
Kunzite: Kunzite is an unusual and rare gemstone. It is the pink or violet-colored variety of the spodumene family, cousin to hiddenite (green spodumene) and triphane (yellow or colorless spodumene). It was known in Central Asia and in Eastern Europe as early as the sixteenth century from sources in Afghanistan and Russia. It was believed by Russian jewelers to be a variety of pink amethyst. There are also references to it in ancient Hindu texts, where it was referenced as having been produced in what is present-day Pakistan. Kunzite was first “discovered” (officially at least, as reported in Western sources) in America at the Pala Chief Mine near San Diego, California.
The “newly discovered” gemstone was named after Tiffany’s chief gemologist George Frederick Kunz, who was the first to give a comprehensive (and published) description of the gemstone shortly after the turn of the twentieth century. Another spodumene variety “discovered” in America few decades prior to kunzite was named “hiddenite”, after A. E. Hidden, who was one of the original mine owners wherein this spodumene variety was found (in North Carolina). By whatever name, kunzite, hiddenite, and triphane are all still best known to geologists as “spodumene” (first described in literature in 1800 A.D.). The name spodumene is derived from the Greek spodumenos, which meant “burnt to ashes”, in reference to spodumene's commonly occurring light gray color.
Spodumene is a major source of lithium, trace amounts of which is what gives it its pink color; violet undertones are created by traces of manganese. Lithium has a great variety of uses including in the manufacture of lubricants, ceramics, batteries, welding supplies, experimental fuels and in anti-depressant drugs. Kunzite displays two unusual characteristics; “phosphorescence” whereby kunzite, in this respect similar to diamond, is observed to glow in a darkened room after it has been exposed to the sun’s ultra-violet rays; and “pleochroism”, showing two different colors when viewed from different directions. Kunzite is actually trichroic, meaning it can appear up to three different colors, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. It can appear very strongly violet from one angle, light purple/violet/pink from another, and pale green or colorless from a third angle of view.
Kunzite commonly shows violet, pink, yellow or green hues depending upon the orientation of the cut gemstone. Transparent spodumenes of pink to violet color (kunzite) and yellowish-green to medium deep green (hiddenite) are used as gemstones. Kunzite is particularly noteworthy for its feminine and alluring hues which range between pastel pinks and violets to intense, almost “neon” hues. Depending on the cut, it can also possess incredible sparkle and brilliance. Kunzite is presently mined in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Australia, Mozambique, Nigeria and Madagascar. It is often found in association with other two semi-precious pink gemstones; morganite and pink tourmaline.
The largest known faceted kunzite gemstones include a 614 carat pear at the University of Delaware's mineral museum, and an 880 carat gemstone on display in the Smithsonian Institution's collection in Washington D.C. Kunzite was virtually unknown to the American public until the Sotheby's auction of a very special kunzite ring in 1996. Among the jewelry from the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a ring with a 47 carat cushion cut kunzite stone surrounded by 20 round diamonds set in 18k gold. The ring was originally purchased by President John F. Kennedy as a Christmas gift for his wife in 1963. The ring was never “presented” by the President to his wife, as he was assassinated the month prior to Christmas (in November 1963).
In the ancient world kunzite was traditionally worn as a talisman which was believed to bring good luck to the wearer. Its soft pastel colors also came to symbolize purity. New age shamans and metaphysical practitioners regard it as a symbol of new life, specifically pregnancy, and believe that it also opens the path to spirituality for new wearers, revealing the inner soul and the “purpose” of their incarnation. It is also believed to help the wearer understand and interact better with others, to help heal "broken hearts" (and is considered especially beneficial for those who have experienced a failed relationship or marriage), to relieve stress and anger, dissolve negativity, and to bring love, peace and harmony.
Kunzite is also said to be useful for increasing the wearer’s inner strength and sense of self worth, for removing emotional blockages originating in past (i.e., childhood) experiences. It is also said to stimulate sensitivity and sensuality. It is sometimes referred to as a “stone of balance”, offering its wearer emotional calmness, security, and maturity. Kunzite is believed to help strengthen the circulatory system, and to be helpful in the treatment of lung disorders, psychiatric disorders, chemical dependencies and addictions, and depression [AncientGifts].
Prehnite: The minerals that form prehnite were deposited in pockets in hydrothermal veins that formed within an enclosing mass of basalt (lava) as it cooled 210+ million years ago. The gemstone was first “discovered” in South Africa by Colonel Hendrik Von Prehn, an early Dutch governor of the Cape of Good Hope colony. Prehnite was the first mineral to be named after a person. However prehnite originating in the Murmansk Region of Russia (near Finland and Sweden) was cut into gemstones in Russia as early as the 16th century. Prehnite imported from Renfrewshire and Dumbartonshire, Scotland was very popular in 18th and 19th century Victorian Russia. There was also a major source in Bohemia (Germany). Prehnite occurs in various shades of yellow, gray, blue, and pink, and is commonly white.
However Prehnite is best known in shades of green that vary from pale to very dark. However, With its bright, almost luminescent green coloring prehnite is an attractive mineral that can have a very good luster. Early traders nicknamed the gemstone Cape Emerald in hopes of exploiting its green color. In Victorian Europe Russia it was believed that prehnite could enhance one's protective field, dreaming and remembrance; bring peace and calm; and help build the immune system. It was used for treating anemia, blood disorders, and hypertension. Its color and unusual touch was believed to generate serenity and tranquility, ideal for stress release. Prehnite was much in demand amongst shamans and Bohemian Gypsies who knew it as the Prediction Stone [AncientGifts].
Feldspar: From the perspective of the gemstone world, it would seem like quartz (amethyst, citrine, quartz crystal, aventurine, etc.) is the most abundant mineral in the world. But from the point of view of mineralogy, it is feldspar that is the most common mineral. In fact feldspar makes up nearly 60% of the earth's crust. Despite being so common it is rare for feldspars to occur as gemstone. The most common use of feldspar however is not for gemstones. Feldspar is most commonly used in glassmaking and ceramics. In glassmaking, alumina from feldspar improves product hardness, durability, and resistance to chemical corrosion. The alkali content in feldspar acts as a flux lowering the glass batch melting temperature and reducing production costs. In ceramics, the alkali in feldspar also acts as a flux, lowering the melting temperature of a mixture. Fluxes melt at an early stage in the firing process, forming a glassy matrix that bonds the other components of the system together. Feldspar is often used as an anti-caking agent in powdered forms of non-dairy creamer. Granite, an important building material, contains up to 50% to 70% of alkaline feldspar (giving granite its characteristic pink undertones). In earth sciences and archaeology, feldspars are used for argon, optical, and thermoluminescence dating.
The name “feldspar” is derived from the German terms “feld” (field), referring to the mineral's abundance and the fact that as it breaks up it becomes a major component of soil, and “'spar” (a term for a rock that splits easily). Gemstones of the feldspar family include include orthoclase feldspar, amazonite, moonstone, labradorite, sunstone and andesine. Feldspars which are crystalline in form and transparent are generally orthoclase feldspar or andesine (a type of labradorite). Feldspar is also one of the minerals found in unakite. The most common transparent feldspar gemstone is orthoclase, and though most often occurs in yellow or pink, is also found colorless, as well as light green, greenish blue, green, white, black, and brown. Orthoclase as a mineral is a very common feldspar, but when described as a gemstone it usually refers to a rare transparent yellow or pink form of the mineral orthoclase. Orthoclase feldspar gemstones were certainly used in the ancient world (such as in the mask of Tutankhamun), however few records exist as feldspar was not identified as such, and was likely confused with other gemstones such as citrine.
Under what name orthoclase feldspar was known in the ancient world is indeterminable. Orthoclase feldspar was likely misidentified as citrine, pink tourmaline, etc. Though some types of feldspar were well known in the ancient world, such as moonstone, sunstone, labradorite, etc., transparent feldspar was not identified in ancient literature as feldspar. It was used in the ancient world. Many examples of feldspar have been found in archaeological remains, the most prominent example of which is Tutankhamun’s mask. However outside of other feldspar varieties such as moonstone, history is silent as to how transparent orthoclase feldspar crystals may have been used for healing or for mystic or shamanic purposes.
However it is possible that the beliefs which modern practitioners hold pertaining to orthoclase feldspar crystals may reflect ancient beliefs. It is common for such beliefs to be carried forward in folklore. Orthoclase is used for crystal healing purposes. Orthoclase is said to be of help at heart ailments, to strengthen bones, improving the wearer’s concentration, lowering blood pressure and strengthening the body's natural defenses against stress. On the metaphysical plane, orthoclase feldspar is considered by most to be a “lunar stone” that encourages the development of clairvoyance and clairaudience (the ability to see and hear spirits).
It is believed that wearing an orthoclase feldspar helps to boost the wearer’s energy levels, and to enhance adaptability and the ability to cope with change. It is considered helpful to hose feeling stressed by the pace of life, dealing with loss, grief or changes that are disrupting emotionally or causing one to feel that their foundations are no longer stable. Feldspar is believed to help the wearer cope with the minor, everyday pressures of life as well as the major traumas. Another of orthoclase use is to use it during meditation due to its calming and soothing properties [AncientGifts].
Labradorite: Labradorite is a variety of feldspar closely related to “moonstone”, typically found in colors of gray, brown, green, blue, yellow, or colorless. The most common variety of labradorite is best known for its play of colors called labradorescence. The labradorescence, or “schiller” effect (similar to the iridescence of pearl or opal), is most commonly blue in tone, however sometimes green, purple, gold and yellow, red, or bronze-toned flashes can be seen. The bright metallic looking colors created on the surface of the labradorite are seen as the stone is moved at different angles to a light source. The iridescent shimmer of color has been compared with the wings of tropical butterflies, peacock feathers, black opal, black abalone mother-of-pearl, and the sheen of gasoline floating atop a puddle of water.
Labradorite is also known as "black rainbow" in India for its astonishing rainbow colored reflection. The variety of labradorite exhibiting the highest degree of labradorescence (typically in a black body) is called “spectrolite”, and is found only in (and is the national gemstone of) Finland. Labradorite is also sometimes found as large transparent red, yellow, champagne, or colorless crystals which may be cut into faceted gemstones. Labradorite was “officially discovered” on St. Paul Island in Labrador, Canada, in 1770. However, pieces of the gemstone also have been found among artifacts of the Native Americans in Maine. Archaeologists have also found reference to it by the ancient Indian tribes of Canada.
Calling it “firestone” because of its captivating play of color, the Native Indians of Labrador attributed mystical qualities to labradorite, using the powdered gem as a magical potion to cure their ailments. According to an Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador, and then a wandering Eskimo warrior found them and freed most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped within the stone however, and thus the shimmer of color which may be found within labradorite.
It turns out that despite the fact that the official “discovery” of labradorite is attributed to 1770, labradorite has actually been found in a number of countries, most European, many of which have produced the gemstone for centuries, if not millennia, including Russia, Finland, Norway, England, Scotland, Bavaria, Austria, and India (it is also been discovered in Australia and Madagascar in the past few centuries). In fact, labradorite was accurately described by the first century Roman naturalist and historian “Pliny the Edler”. There’s archaeological evidence that labradorite was used in Roman jewelry produced in England, and that it was also used by the “barbarian” Germanic tribes during the Roman era.
Labradorite has been used in Russian jewelry since the Medieval era. Labradorite was immensely popular in eighteenth century France and England set into pins, bracelets, and brooches. In ancient mythology, the radiance of labradorite was considered to have originated from the time when the earth was united with the sun. According to legends attributed to Atlantis, it was believed to awaken the sleeping powers of insight, clairvoyance, creativity and knowledge. Mystics and shamans valued labradorite very highly, employing it in magic, ritual and ceremonies. Labradorite was also frequently associated in the ancient world with myths and deities that pertain to rainbows.
For example it was associated with Iris, the ancient Greek Goddess of rainbows; and in Norse Mythology with the “Bifrost Bridge”, a burning rainbow bridge which reached between “Midgard” (the profane world) and “Asgard” (the realm of the gods). There are also references to labradorite being used in the Middle Ages to treat eye and brain disorders, and to help regulate metabolic and digestive processes. An amulet of labradorite was also believed to protect the home from intruders. In the ancient world it was believed that labradorite brought good luck, and provided relief from anxiety, hopelessness and depression; replacing them with enthusiasm, self-confidence and inspiration. Modern practitioners believed that labradorite enhances inner knowledge of “the mysteries”, intuition, psychic perception; elevating consciousness and amplifying psychic abilities such as psycho-navigation, shape shifting and in communication with spirits.
Labradorite is also said to energize the body and enhance productivity, aiding one to work productively for long periods without tiring, stimulating exercise, and to re-energize those who have been overworking. It is also believed to be a powerful sleep aid, to enhance the ability of the wearer’s ability to relate to others, and positively reinforce the wearer’s originality, creativity, and confidence. It is also believed to be useful in combating jealousy, and allegedly will cause negativity to “bounce off” the wearer. Medicinally labradorite is contemporaneously used by healers to help relieve the effects of stress and tension, especially after long and arduous troubles. It is also believed to be an effective aid in losing weight since the gemstone is thought to help balance the metabolism, and is also believed to be useful for the treatment of infertility, disgestive disorders, eye and brain disorders, diseases of the joints and prostate gland.
Psychics and spiritualists claims that labradorite can be used to open channels of communication with spiritual beings, especially animal spirits, making the stone useful for anyone seeking a spiritual ally, totem or familiar. They claim it encourages self reliance, independence and magical revelations, and can reveal the wearer’s spiritual destiny. It is believed to strength the wearer’s abilities in astral projection, dream recall, and to form a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind. The yellow form of labradorite is believed to alleviate oppression and protect spiritual seekers who face discrimination or abuse because of their belief in “crystal power” [AncientGifts].
Sunstone: Sunstone was known in the ancient world as is also known as “heliolite”, “Helio” of course Greek for “Sun”. Ancient Greeks used it in goblets to prevent poisoning. Sunstone is a member of the feldspar group of minerals and is closely related to moonstone. It is formed and crystalized in a lava flow. The color is caused by tiny crystals of copper within the stones which often results in "schiller" or shimmer that is usually a peach color. Sunstone was well known in the ancient world, and have been discovered in Viking burial mounds. Among the Vikings it was thought to be an aid to navigation. The original source of the stone for the Vikings was probably a deposit in Norway at Tvedestrand, rediscovered in the 1950’s.
Ancient American sources of sunstone were also eventually rediscovered in Oregon and Canada, where the discovery was made that sunstone was used by ancient North American natives for barter. Sunstone has also been well known in Russia for many centuries. Russian sunstone varies from golden to orange to red-brown, and can be transparent or translucent. Sunstone has a distinctly metallic look, due to sparkling mineral inclusions (usually hematite or goethite crystals) of red, orange or green. Many sunstones also contain copper or pyrite inclusions, giving an extra flash of light. Until the early 1800’s, sunstone was very rare and quite expensive. Then in 1831 a massive deposit was discovered along the Selenga River in Siberia, near Lake Baikal, Russia.
Before the Russian discovery near Lake Baikal, sunstone was found in only one location, on Sattel Island in Russia’s White Sea. Since sunstone had been so rare in the ancient world, its use as a jewelry stone in our ancient past was limited. However, sunstone has a long history of association with the sun’s powers. Magicians would set the stone in gold to attract the sun’s influence. An ancient healing tradition used a circle of sunstones set out under the sun. Individuals with rheumatism could then sit in the middle of the circle and be relieved of their symptoms. Native American tribes from Canada often used sunstone in Medicine Wheel ceremonies to help establish a connection with the healing light of the sun. In the ancient past sunstone, in addition to it’s connection with the power of the sun, was also believed to strengthen the life force, bring luck, instill optimism and increase strength and vitality, assist in contemplative processes, and bolster the energy level. It was also believed to bring luck and romance to the wearer [AncientGifts].
Moonstone: Moonstone is a form of feldspar. Moonstone is a fairly rare (though not expensive) gemstone. The most significant deposits of the gemstone are found in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United States, Norway, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, Australia, and China. Moonstone is usually colorless but also is found with a silvery or blue sheen, and also in background colors ranging from white or gray, to sky blue, green, peach, yellow, pink and orange. Generally moonstones are transparent, but sometimes the milk-white variety comes with blue or white schiller (luminescence) which give the stone an effect similar to moonshine. Rainbow moonstone is milky white with a rainbow colored sheen.
The gemstone was named “moonstone” because to ancient populations, its blue-white sheen resembles that of the moon, and the translucency which so much resembles the beautiful quality of light from a full moon. Moonstone from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), the classical world’s source of moonstone, shimmers pale blue on an almost transparent background. Specimens from India show cloudlike plays of light and shades of beige, brown, green, or orange; or as well in blue and peach, smoke and champagne, or in black and reddish. Ceylon is especially famous for its "blue flash" moonstone, translucent white with brilliant flashes of a metallic shimmering bright blue, and for its cat’s-eye and “star” moonstone.
Moonstone was also once known as "adularia," a name taken from the town of Mt. Adularia, in the Adula Mountains of Switzerland, one of the ancient world’s first moonstone sources. This is also the origin of the word "adularescence," which describes the shimmering play of light that moves across the surface of a moonstone when it is turned. Another name used in the ancient past for moonstone was “selenite”, derived from the Greek name for the moon, “selene”. In fact, in ancient Greece moonstone was called “aphroselene”, in honor of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and Selene, Goddess of the Moon.
Moonstone has been known to man for thousands of years. It was first found and worn as ornamental jewelry in Ceylon and India, and was exported and distributed throughout the ancient Mediterranean world. Since the most ancient of times, moonstone has been associated with the moon goddesses of various ancient cultures, including the goddesses Isis (Egyptian), Diana (Roman) and Aphrodite and Selene (Greek). The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that moonstones were actually formed out of moonlight. Amulets of moonstone were frequently hung in fruit trees to ensure fruitful and abundant crops.
Moonstone was also used in ancient times to cure insomnia; and due to its association with water, moonstone was worn as a protective amulet by mariners, fishermen, and naval personnel at sea. Ancient populations also thought moonstone provided protection against wandering of the mind, insanity (“lunacy”) and epilepsy; and was attributed with improving physical strength and reconciling lovers. If held in the mouth, a moonstone was even thought to help one make the right decision, and was used by mystics who believed that placing a moonstone in their mouth during a full moon enabled them to foretell the future, and would also reveal hidden or secret enemies.
Because of the symbolic connection of moon's journey through the night’s sky, moonstone was also worn in the ancient world as a protective talisman by those who had to travel at night. Once known as the "traveler's stone," it was used for protection against all the perils of travel, but it was believed particularly effective against the perils that travel at night brought. It was also worn by children to protect them against nightmares, and also worn as a protective talisman by nursing mothers, its protection conferred upon both infant and mother.
Moonstone was also believed in the ancient world to arouse passion and magnetism among lovers and it was a very popular gift between couples. In ancient China moonstone was believed to balance the yin yang, or in contemporary terms, balance the positive and negative energies in a person, leading them toward a more peaceful and fruitful life. In Tibetan traditional medicine, moonstone was used as a cure for epilepsy and mental illness, and in ancient Christianity moonstone was linked to the archangel Gabriel.
According to the Hindu legends of ancient India, moonstone was formed from moonbeams. Moonstone from Ceylon and India found its way to ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt was used in jewelry by the Romans who believed that the stone was formed from frozen moonlight. Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.), Roman historian, naturalist and author of the world's first encyclopedia, referred to stones called astrions; meaning "star-stones" (also called “asteria” or “orastriotes”). He described them as having come from India, "a colorless stone having within it the appearance of a star shining brightly like the full moon."
The bright white spot that appears to move as a moonstone is rotated was believed by the ancients to be a reflection of the moon that waxed and waned in harmony with lunar movement. According to Pliny, when moonstone was held up to the stars, the stones collected and reflected their glitter. Pliny actually chronicled an account of a Sri Lankan embassy bearing moonstones to Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius Caesar (10 - 54 B.C.).
In Ceylon, where moonstone was (and still is) mined, it was believed that that since moonstones deliver a brightness comparable to moonlight, wearers of the stone would experience a magical brightness in their lives. Moonstones were believed to counteract any evil effects the moon might have had on the wearer’s life. According to Sri Lankan tradition, the Moonstone Temple in Anuradhapura, ancient capital of Sinhalese kings of Ceylon that flourished for 1,300 years; abandoned after the Tamil Chola kings of southern India invaded in 993 A.D., had moonstone steps faced with mosaics of moonstone. The ruins of this temple, built about 100 B.C., can still be seen today; but the moonstones are no longer there, undoubtedly looted in one of the many invasions suffered by Cetlon throughout the centuries.
As in the ancient past, medieval cultures used moonstone during the waxing of the moon for love charms (it was believed that between two lovers, or spouses, love grew as the moon grew), and during the waning of the moon to foretell the future. During the Italian Renaissance a court physician, Camillus Leonardus, author of “Speculum Lapidum” ("Mirror of Stones"), wrote in 1502 A.D. that moonstone enabled a person to foretell future events. George Frederick Kunz, in his famous book “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones” written in 1913, tells the story of a famous moonstone that allegedly displayed a white point that changed shape and size in accordance with the waxing and waning of the moon.
Very popular in the early twentieth century, moonstone was used extensively in Art Nouveau jewelry (1890-1915), and experienced another great wave of popularity in the 1960's. Moonstone was also used to decorate a striking amount of pieces of jewelry created by the famous French master-goldsmith René Lalique and his contemporaries. Today moonstone is still worn for its mystical and magical qualities.
For many East (Asian) Indians moonstone is still regarded as being holy and religious in nature, and is used as a talisman to protect against evil and ill happenings. Indians believe that a spirit resides within moonstone, and brings good fortune to its wearer. Moonstone is displayed only on a yellow cloth, yellow being considered a most holy color. East Indian tradition holds that moonstone is a symbol of the Third Eye and clarifies spiritual understanding. It is believed to bring wonderful dreams to the one that possesses it.
In fact beyond India, throughout all of Asia, moonstone is considered to be a very lucky stone, of immense value when gambling. It is widely believed in Asia that the best, bluish toned moonstone is washed ashore by tidal waters only once in every twenty-one years, during a special convergence of the moon and sun. Moonstone’s magic is regarded as particularly potent in connection with fertility and femininity. In India, women wear moonstone amulets to enhance fertility and to provide protection during pregnancy. In Arab countries women often sew moonstone into their garments (where it is unseen), because it's considered a potent aid to fertility.
Contemporary practitioners of alternative medicine believe moonstone to be an effective remedy for many gynecological complications relating to obesity, pituitary gland, hormonal misbalance or menstrual problems, and employ it to relieve the discomfort of cramps, PMS and the birthing process. Moonstone's healing properties are also said to promote digestion, to protect against epilepsy, to calm emotions, cure headaches and nose bleeds, and protect against sun stroke. A moonstone is also believed to assist in regenerating the tissues and organs of the reproductive system, and to increase the wearer’s tolerance level and help to absorb pain and illness.
Moonstone is also believed to help “unblock” the lymphatic system, helping to head and balance the stomach, pancreas, and pituitary gland. It is also believed to help reduce swelling and excess body fluid. It is also regarded as beneficial in alleviating many degenerative conditions with respect to the skin, hair, eyes and fleshy organs of the body such as the liver and pancreas. It is also believed to enhance the assimilation of nutrients to assist in the elimination of toxins and to treat disorders of the digestive and elimination systems.
Metaphysically, according to Ayurvedic medicine, moonstone calms fear and anxiety, and changes these emotions into peaceful understanding and self-confidence enabling the wearer to face situations without becoming emotionally overwrought. It is also believed to cleanse the wearer’s soul, flooding the wearer with positive energy. Like the rainbow it is believed to harmonize such human qualities as endurance and compassion to make the character emotionally balanced, enhancing the wearer’s self-confidence and creativity.
One of the most acknowledged fertility crystals, moonstones are believed to play a special role in the lives of the women. A traditional symbol of the moon goddess, it imbibes all the gentle attributes of a caring and sharing mother and it is believed that wearing moonstone helps to enhance these feminine qualities. Moonstone is associated with women's monthly cycles and is believed to be particularly beneficial for post-menopause women. As in the ancient past, moonstone is still believed to protect the women during pregnancy and child birth, and I also regarded as helpful in the process of spiritual rebirth. Moonstone is also regarded as helpful in enhancing feminine energy and intuitive abilities.
Moonstone is also associated with the strengthening of mental faculties and maintaining emotional balance. It is believed to maintain the tranquility of the wearer’s inner self and to enhance self control. For the calculative men of the world, moonstones can help the wearer strike a balance between their heart and the brain, aiding emotional expressions and enhancing creativity. Wearing a moonstone is also believed to enable men to develop intuitive visions.
Moonstone has always been revered as a stone for rendering clairvoyance and it has also been regarded as a great love booster. Lovers who possess a moonstone are said to be able to foretell their future life together. One legend is that two people wearing moonstone will fall passionately in love when the moon is high. A symbol of fertility, moonstone has been recommended (as it was in the ancient past) for those associated with the planting and cultivation of food crops. Moonstone is also believed to aid the wearer in recalling past life spiritual experiences. A moonstone under the pillow while sleeping is believed to put one in touch with one’s spiritual teachers, sometimes resulting in one’s awakening tired, as the night was spent “learning”.
Many mystics and magic practitioners believe that the power of moonstone changes with the moon's phases and that broadly speaking, it should be used for physical matters during a waxing moon and psychic matters under a waning moon. They believe the stone a powerful aid to enhancing the wearer’s intuition, enabling the development of telepathy, clairvoyance, and other psychic skills. It is also believed by many mystics what common white moonstone can cause delusions (“lunacy”), but wearing blue moonstone transforms the delusions into revelations and visions and spiritual insights.
Keeping moonstone under one’s tongue is also said to enable one to keep focused on their goals, clear away confusion and distractions, enable one to find the truth in complicated situations (especially if emotions are running high), and to enable the wearer to discern what is really important and focus energy on those issues. Moonstone is also believed beneficial in dieting, gardening, and meditation. It is also said to promote the wearer’s intuitive and empathic nature, and to encourage lucid dreaming, especially at the time of the full moon [AncientGifts].
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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.
