Gemstone Jewellery
From the beginning of the human race gems have fascinated us. They have often been used therapeutically; This practise goes back many thousands of years. The earliest reports of gems healing properties goes back to the fourth millenium before Christ. They can be found in Sumerian writings and the transcriptions from Indian Verdic texts. In the first Chinese medical book, written 5000 years ago, can be found detailed desriptions of gemstones and their influence on the human body.
Every advanced, ancient civilization knew of the healing properties of crystals and gemstones. Whether in leather pouches (as carried by the Sumerians), or worn as talismans and amulets, or distilled into powders or elixers, gemstones were known by natural healers to strengthen those who wore them and protected them from evil spirits, sickness and disaster. The Greek philosopher Aristotle spoke of the power of healing stones. The Romans carried cut stones with them to ward off sickness and bad luck. The Egyptians wore amulets made of amethyst, jasper, carnelian, or lapis lazuli. Ofter the stones were polished or hammered into scarabs, symbols of creation, and accompanied the dead to protect them in their next life.
In the middle ages the art of healing with stones was revived. Marbod, Bishop of Rennes wrote a little handbook "Liber Lapidum Seu De Gemmis", which provided an account of sixty gems and their therapeutic properties. The book was a bestseller in its time, was translated into four languages and went through fourteen editions from 1511 to 1799.
A work of the twelth century by Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179), the Physika, dealt with gemstones in a comprehensive fashion. Both an abbess and a mystic, Hildegard developed entirely new ways of healing with gems, which were one of the pillars of the medical system. She realized that medicine needed a holistic orientation and that physical and spiritual disorders could not be isolated from enviromental influences. She used gemstones as part of the treatment. They were placed on parts of the body and charged with energy. Consumption of drinks and concoctions made with powdered minerals and the essences of gemstones were prescribed for specific illnesses.
Precious gemstones have not always brought their owners health and happiness. Diamonds have had an especially checkered history, and there are stories about the grief that they have brought to their owners. The hope diamond has many dark tales associated with it. Legend has it that the 112 karat sapphire blue diamond originally served as the eye of a statue of the Hindu goddess Sita. It was stolen by a high Brahmin. His crime so angered the goddess that she laid a curse upon the diamond - unhappiness would follow all who dared to possess the stone.
The stone was owned by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1642. He brought it from India to Europe, where it was made into a heart shape. Tavernier sold the diamond and returned to India where he was eaten by wildlife. The man that Tavernier sold the diamond to died in the Bastille. King Louis the XIV next owned the stone and he and Marie Antionette were both excecuted at the guillotine. The next family to own the stone escaped rather lightly, although the wife of the second lord hope ran off with another man. Even though he sold the stone he died in poverty. The list of people cursed by owning the stone goes on and on. It now resides in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
Indian gemstone jewellery is beautiful and has colourful histories; Every gemstone has myths, legends and properties attached to them. At Jacaranda Jewellery we use many different gemstones - here are just a few
Garnet
This stone gets its name from the Latin pomegranate due to the colour of the seeds. However garnets can come in different colours. Garnets are though to protect you from nightmares and to save travellers from danger.
Amethyst
Amethyst is made from quartz, which is the second most abundant mineral. It has many degrees of purple, from pale to dark. In mythology, Diana who was the hunting goddess, turned a woman who was called Amethyst into quartz, to save her from Dionysus who was the God of wine. His tears turned her purple. The stone actually represents sobriety.
Turquoise
Turquoise is a stone mined in hot conditions, and is blue to green in colour. Turquoise was once thought to stop someone from falling off a horse and to Native Americans it represents heaven and earth
Rainbow Moonstone
The Romans thought that moonstone was made of moonlight. Moonstone is feldspar and comes in a variety of shades the best being blue. Moonstone is meant to give the wearer insight and enhance creativity, inner confidence and compassion.
Carnelian
Carnelian is a type of chalcedony with many shades of red. It brings good luck and is said to drive away evil. Carnelian gives a voice to the timid as it can give them courage
The greatest myths about Carnelian come from the Egyptians. The Egyptian goddess Isis protected the dead with an amulet made of carnelian called Thet. The stone also appears in Hebrew mythology; There was a carnelian stone in Aarons breastplate. Mohammed wore a carnelian ring and this is a popular stone in the Islamic world.
Chaorite
A beautiful purple stone, chaorite gives the wearer courage to start afresh. In addition, it strengthens his self-confidence and thirst for action while encouraging orderly habits. This stone became known to the west only recently. It was named after the place it was found - the chaoriteriver in Siberia.
Rose Quartz
According to legend, Eros brought rose quartz to the earth in the hope that its beautiful colour would arouse love and desire among people. It has been perceived as a fertility stone for many centuries. Rose quartz is found naturally as a piece of quartz the size of a fist. It is an effective stone against radiation and if placed next to a computer can guard against headaches and eye fatigue.