Diamond: The Unconquerable Force

raw uncut diamonds (WikiMedia) Deriving its name from the Greek word adamas meaning “unconquerable,” diamond is 140 times more durable than ruby and sapphire. In ancient times, diamond was not valued as a decorative stone but as a stone used for cutting and shaping other stones. Ancient Greek philosopher and author of the first encyclopedia of natural history, Pliny the Elder, wrote of…

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April Birthstones and Symbols

daisy ( SafarFiertze) Birthstones   Modern (post 1900) diamond    Traditional (1800-1900) diamond or sapphire    Historic (pre 1800)       Italian sapphire       Roman sapphire       Spanish sapphire       Arabic sapphire       Jewish sapphire       Polish diamond       Russian sapphire Guardian Angel Ashmodel Men’s Power Gem topaz Apostle Philip Zodiac Taurus Flower daisy

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Bloodstone: magical and historic birthstone for March

a variety of quartz called bloodstone with a green base and bright red spots (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) Historic birthstone for MarchBloodstone is a kind of deep green jasper that is speckled with bright red spots of iron oxide. Before 1800 bloodstone was the birthstone of choice for March. A magical gemstoneBloodstone was considered very magical. It caused thunder and lightning…

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Aquamarine: A charm for travellers and sailors

In ancient times aquamarine was thought of as a powerful protective talisman for sailors and those travelling by sea. Aquamarine, the blue-green variety of beryl, is aptly named for the Latin phrase “water of the sea.” Gold, beryl, and garnet earring with head of a dolphin (metmuseum) Some mermaid’s treasure house Pliny, a Roman scholar of the 1st century, who penned the first encyclopedia of…

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Beryl: a powerful oracle

beryl sphere During Medieval times, aquamarine and other kinds of beryl were a popular tools for divination. One man who provided a great deal of information on the practices of divination and the rituals of witchcraft was Englishman Reginald Scot, esquire, who lived from 1538 to 1599. The discovery of witchcraft Scot was a country gentleman, a justice of the peace, and the author of the…

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March birthstones and symbols

Jasper is an alternative birthstone for March! In fact, before 1900 jasper was the gemstone of choice for those born in the month of March. This buddha is made of yellow jasper, but jasper is formed naturally in every color of the rainbow. Birthstones Modern (post-1900) aquamarine or bloodstoneTraditional (1800-1900) jasper, amethyst, or hyacinth (zircon)Historic (pre-1800)Italian jasperRoman…

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A charm of sobriety, prophecy, and clarity: The Amethyst

amethyst (source) Let her an amethyst but cherish well,And strife and care can never with her dwell. Amethyst is the translucent lavender to royal purple variety of quartz. Today amethyst is mainly mined in Brazil, Uruguay and Madagascar. On the Canadian side of Lake Superior, there is a place named Amethyst Harbor where the gemstone is found, though rarely of gemstone quality. Caring for…

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Free from passion, care and strife, if an amethyst she cherish all her life: February gemstones and symbols

amethyst panda (source) The February born shall findSincerity and peace of mind,Freedom from passion and from care,If she an amethyst will wear.(Tiffany & Co., 1892, 1909) Free from passionCare and strife,If an amethyst she cherishall her life.(Tiffany & Co., 1892) Let her an amethyst but cherish well,And strife and care can never with her dwell.(Tiffany & Co., 1909) Birthstones:Modern,…

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December Birthstones and Symbols

Friends and lovers for December, Fortune, fame,If an amulet of turquoise bear her name.(Tiffany & Co., 1892, 1909) If cold December gave you birth—The month of snow and ice and mirth—Place on your hand a turquoise blue:Success will bless whate’er you do.(Tiffany & Co., 1892, 1909) tanzanite ring (source) Birthstones Modern, post-1900: turquoise, tanzanite or zirconTraditional, 1800-1900: ruby…

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Astrological sign for December: Saturn

Angera (Varese) castle. Hall of Justice, fresco showing astrological signs of winter. (source) Saturday’s bornIn sweat shall be striving,For Saturn has doomed himTo work for a living.

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Friends and lovers for December, Fortune, fame, If an amulet of turquoise bear her name.

No other gem than turquoise on her breastCan to the loving, doubting heart bring rest. (Tiffany & Co., 1909) turquoise beads, close up (source) An opaque gemstone, the color of turquoise ranges from pale yellow to robin’s egg blue to deep greenish-blue to true green. Copper brings out the blue hues, and iron brings out the greenish or yellowish hues. A lot of turquoise is found with a…

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Angel of Sagittarius and November: Adnachiel

Woodcut illustration of the zodiac sign Sagittarius (Provenance Online Project) Adnachiel, also known as Advachiel or Adernahael, the angel of the month of November, also rules over the sign of Sagittarius, and was given by God a magical formula for the cure of colic and stomach trouble. In ancient Persian lore, the angel of November was Azar, who was also the angel of the 9th day of the month.

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Stone of friendship: The Topaz

topaz gemstones in mixed colors (Michelle Jo) Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F,OH)2. Topaz in its natural state is colorless, though trace elements can make it pale blue, golden brown, yellow, or orange. Topaz is often treated with heat or radiation to make it a deep blue, reddish-orange, pale green, pink, or purple. Imperial topaz is…

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November Birthstones and Symbols

Who first comes to this world belowWith drear November’s fog and snow,Should prize the topaz’s amber hue—Emblem of friends and lovers true.(Tiffany & Co., 1892, 1909) Firm in friendship is November, and she bearsLoyal love beneath the topaz that she wears.(Tiffany & Co., 1892, 1909) classic, orange-colored, double-terminated imperial topaz from the Ouro Preto region in Brazil (Robert M.…

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A possession to be cherished by anyone who can find it, buy it, or steal it: Jade

Jade is a possession to beCherished by anyone who canFind it, buy it or steal it.—Pearl S. Buck Nephrite jade hippopotamus with diamond eyes by Carl Faberge (Walters Art Museum) The terms jade and nephrite came to be used interchangeably until, in 1863, a French chemist discovered that jade was actually made of two distinct minerals. With this discovery, the terms jadeite and nephrite were…

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Apatite and the Goddess of Deceit

raw apatite crystals from Paraiba, Brazil (Robert M. Lavinsky) Apatite is the beautiful imposter of the gemstone world. Transparent to opaque, apatite ranges in color from yellow to green, blue, or violet, with its transparent blue-green variety being the most valuable. History Apatite’s existence has been known since ancient times, but it was not formally named until 1786, and only recently…

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Tourmaline History and Folklore

Tourmaline is actually a complex crystalline silicate mineral group in which the element boron is compounded with a number of different elements, including aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Different elements cause different colors. tourmaline necklace in many colors (Judy Gallagher) Tourmaline comes in every color of the rainbow, from black to bluish-black to deep…

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