A gemstone or gem (also called a precious or semi-precious stone, or jewel) is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However certain rocks, (such as lapis lazuli) and organic materials (such as amber or jet)
are not minerals, but are still used for jewelry, and are therefore
often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but
some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their lustre
or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is
another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone. Apart from
jewelry, from earliest antiquity until the 19th century engraved gems and hardstone carvings such as cups were major luxury art forms; the carvings of Carl Fabergé were the last significant works in this tradition. *Content credit: Wikipedia
Gemstone Healing Reference:
Agate - balance, love and inspiration Amazonite - brings harmony. balance, joy and success Amethyst - bestows stability, strength and peace Aventurine - confidence and tranquility Azurite - insight, vision, enhances dreams and for concentration Bloodstone - courage, healing and strength Carnelian - protects from negative emotions Coral - a symbol of youth, health and hope Emerald - sensitivity, harmony and focus, eliminates negatvity Garnet - stone of vitality and passion, heath, awareness and committment Hematite - helps to keep inward peace Iolite - intuition and spiritual growth Jade - brings balance and healing, relieves anxiety Jasper - brings joy into life Labradorite - stimulates the imagination, good for patience and self-esteem Lapis Lazuli - wisdom, intuition, awareness and courage Malachite - a stone of positive vibrations and balance, aids in releasing negative experiences Moonstone - reflection, insight, harmony, peace Moss Agate - brings balance by letting go of anger and bitterness Mother of Pearl - clarity, intuition, sensitivity Onyx - self-control, intuition, a symbol of eloquence Pearl - symbolizes love, success, happiness and wisdom Peridot - brings understanding of purpose Pyrite - protection from negativity, physical wholeness, memory Quartz - clarity, power and healing Rhodonite - peace, generosity, attention to details. Rose Quartz - love Tiger Eye - offers courage, energy and luck Tourmalated Quartz - aids detoxification, soothes nerves and dissolves fears Tourmaline - brings tranquility and serenity into your life Turquoise - strengthens and calms the body and mind
A birthstone is the "gemstone associated with the date of one's birth" and wearing it is thought to bring good luck or health. There are numerous birthstone charts and many different factors that
people use to determine their actual birthstone such as religion, zodiac
sign, mystical, ancient, modern and traditional. You will find the most
commonly used birthstones listed here.
January: Garnet or Rose Quartz February: Amethyst or Onyx March: Aquamarine or Bloodstone April: Diamond or Rock Crystal May: Emerald or Chrysoprase June: Alexandrite, Moonstone or Pearl July: Ruby or Carnelian August: Peridot or Sardonyx September: Sapphire or Lapis October: Opal or Pink Tourmaline November: Citrine or Yellow Topaz December: Blue Topaz or Turquoise
Aquarius ~ January 21 -February 19 Pisces ~ February 20 - March 20 Aries ~ March 21 - April 20 Taurus ~ April 21 - May 21 Gemini ~ May 22 - June 21 Cancer ~ June 22 - July 22 Leo ~ July 23 - August 22 Virgo ~ August 23 - September 21 Libra ~ September 22 - October 22 Scorpio ~ October 23 - November 21 Sagittarius ~ November 22 - December 21 Capricorn ~ December 22 - January 20
Caring For Your Jewelry:
To ensure that you will receive years of pleasure from your jewelry, it is important to take the necessary steps to care for it properly. Clean jewelry using warm water, mild soap and a soft bristle
toothbrush. Use a non-abrasive silver cloth or soft lint free cloth to
polish jewelry and remove tarnishing. Never use chemical cleaners or abrasive polish on pearls, gemstones, or plated jewelry. Remove your jewelry before swimming, bathing and going to bed. Body lotion, perfume, hairspray, salt water and chemically treated water can ruin your jewelry permanently. It is recommended to store your jewelry separately in a jewelry box or pouch. To help avoid silver jewelry from tarnishing, it can be store in a sealed plastic bag with a piece of chalk.
