What does gemstone mean

These crystals are used to represent courage, strength, security, and safety. Agates are also thought to enhance mental concentration and give the user a centered and calm mind. Alexandrite is one of the birthstones for June and has a unique color changing ability. The stone was first discovered in Russia in the s by miners who mistook them for emeralds because of their deep blue-green hue. However, when they shined light on the stone and the colors changed to deep purples and reds, they knew they had discovered a new gemstone.

Because it is a relatively new stone compared to many of the others on this list, it is not steeped in as much history and lore. However, Alexandrite is considered by many to be a good omen.

Because of its color changing properties, for some it also represents the balance between the physical and spiritual. Because of its color, the ancient Greeks associated amethyst with the wine god Dionysus and believed that the gem could prevent drunkenness. Amethyst has also been thought to keep the wearer clear-headed and quick-witted. Famous artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci wrote that amethysts enhance intelligence and protect against evil thoughts. Buddhists have believed that amethyst enhances meditation, and the gem is often used for Tibetan prayer beads.

Various cultures have associated amethyst with peace, balance and courage, and ascribed to it the ability to cure insomnia and relieve pain. Ametrine is a naturally occurring variety of quartz that is a mixture of amethyst and citrine, with pops of purple, yellow, and orange.

Because of these combinations, ametrine is believed to be the perfect balance of the qualities of amethyst and citrine, making it a powerful healing energy stone.

Those who believe in the metaphysical claim ametrine has detoxifying properties. Aquamarine is believed to provide courage, mental clarity and good health.

Browse our collection of aquamarine engagement rings , loose gemstones , and fine jewelry. And according to the Chinese feng shui philosophy, citrine creates wealth and abundance. For hundreds of years, citrine has also thought to ground and remove negative energy— so this is the perfect gemstone for those seeking good vibes only! Browse our collection of citrine fine jewelry. During the Middle Ages diamonds were thought to have healing properties able to cure ailments ranging from fatigue to mental illness.

Ancient Hindus used diamonds in the eyes of devotional statues and believed that a diamond could protect its wearer from danger. Additionally, many ancient cultures believed that diamonds gave the wearer strength and courage during battle, and some kings wore diamonds on their armor as they rode into battle. Learn more about diamonds in our diamond education guide. Emeralds are the stone of intuition and foresight.

Legends have said that placing an emerald under your tongue gives you the ability to foresee the future but we do not recommend that! Emeralds have also been seen as symbols of truth and love throughout time. In ancient Greece and Rome, emeralds represented the goddess Venus who was the goddess for love and hope. Browse our collection of emerald engagement rings , loose gemstones , and fine jewelry.

Garnet has long been associated with clergy and nobility. In ancient Egypt the pharaohs wore red garnet necklaces, and in ancient Rome rings with carved garnets were used to stamp the wax on important documents. Garnets also have ties to Ancient Greece, as the pomegranates the goddess Persephone ate in the underworld are believed to be the source for beautiful deep red garnets.

Garnets are also one of the oldest stones to be used for spiritual protection throughout time. Glimmering red garnets are also thought to encourage passion and sensuality. Browse our collection of garnet fine jewelry. Lapis Lazuli is known as the wisdom stone because it is said to protect from psychic and mental attacks. This celestial blue gemstone is believed to bring peace, harmony, honesty, and self-awareness.

When it comes to healing properties, Lapis Lazuli is thought to help with various ailments including inflammation, insomnia, depression, and vertigo. Moissanite is a gemstone born from the stars. It was first discovered in by a French scientist named Henri Moissan, who later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

He discovered microscopic particles of the gem that would eventually bear his name in Arizona, in a crater created by a meteorite that fell to Earth.

He initially thought that he had discovered diamonds, but later determined that the crystals were composed of silicon carbide. Learn more about moissanite in our moissanite vs. This pink variety of beryl is believed to bring positive healing energy, inner peace joy, confidence, and unconditional love. It is also supposed to soothe anxiety and stress. Morganite was first discovered in the early s by gemologist George Kunz, who proposed that the stone should be named after American financier and gem enthusiast J.

Morgan was one of the most prominent gem collectors of the early 20 th century, so it makes sense he would eventually get a gem named after him! Browse our collection of morganite engagement rings and loose gemstones. Because opals can exhibit so many different colors within a single stone, it has long been thought to possess supernatural powers.

In ancient Rome, this gem symbolized love and hope. The ancient Greeks believed opals gave their owners the gift of prophecy and guarded them from disease. Europeans have considered the gem a symbol of hope, purity, and truth for centuries. Once, it was even thought to have the power to preserve the life and color of blond hair. Browse our collection of opal fine jewelry. The oldest precious gem, pearls are known for their beautiful shimmering color and delicate beauty.

In ancient China, pearls were believed to protect against fire, and in Europe they were associated with chastity and purity. Pearls retain that association with innocence today. Browse our collection of pearl fine jewelry. Peridots have long been associated with Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians thought that peridot protected against nightmares and brought the wearer confidence, good luck, and health. Browse our collection of peridot fine jewelry.

Rose quartz is a healing crystal that is believed to give off powerful vibrations of love. Rose quartz stones are often used to support emotional and relationship health.

They are primarily believed to make the user more open and available to receive love in their life. Ancient Hindus believed that those who offered rubies to the god Krishna would be emperors in a future life. People in India and Burma have also believed that rubies offered safety and peace, and medieval Europeans thought that these gems guaranteed health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love.

Browse our collection of ruby engagement rings and fine jewelry. Blue has long been considered the color of fidelity, and sapphires were once the preferred gem for engagement rings before diamonds claimed that honor in the early 20th century. Sapphires are also very closely associated with royalty, as they were one of the most popular stones used in royal jewels.

Sapphires are believed to attract abundance and blessings, invite spiritual clarity, promote health, and guard innocence. Browse our collection of sapphire engagement rings , loose gemstones , and fine jewelry. Spinel is a gemstone that is believed to bring hope, energy, and joy for life. It is considered a high energy and healing stone that is mean to heal energy blockages and bring more vigor and vitality.

For those who believe in the metaphysical, tanzanite is the ideal stone for opening your third eye and reaching a higher consciousness. Along these same lines, tanzanite is supposed to encourage perception and intuition. There are some who believe that tanzanite can also help detoxify the body and improve physical energy.

Although topaz comes in several colors, orange topaz has been associated with fire in many cultures and eras. Like other golden stones, topaz is thought to bring good fortune and confidence. Browse our collection of topaz fine jewelry. Tourmaline comes in a wide variety of colors and is considered a grounding and protective gemstone.

Tourmaline is also believed to be a stone of reconciliation and is said to help heal broken hearts and mend friendships and other relationships. In feng shui, tourmaline crystals are often used for protecting the energy of a room. From ancient times to today people have ascribed special powers to turquoise. Folk wisdom says that zircon has the power to relieve pain, protect travelers and prevent nightmares.

In the Middle Ages, this gem was thought to induce sound sleep, drive away evil spirits, and promote riches, honor, and wisdom. Do you buy into the idea that gemstones have special meanings or powers?

The Brahmin, for example, granted the advantage of perfect safety. The stone is also mentioned at least four times in the Bible, usually as a representative of beauty and wisdom. Among European royalty and the upper classes, rubies were thought to guarantee good health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love.

Lapis Lapis lazuli has always been associated with royalty and deities, and it may be where the idea of royal blue came from. Egyptians believed that it came from the heavens and provided protection in the afterlife, so they used it in their statues of the gods, in totemic objects, in jewelry, and in burial masks.

In the epic poem Gilgamesh , Sumerians spent years traveling from one end of Asia to the other in order to mine and obtain the stone. Lapis is included in numerous other myths but has served practical purposes as well: Ancient Egyptians used it to create blue cosmetics, and during the Renaissance, painters ground the stone to make ultramarine pigment, often used for skies and seas.

Lapis was often placed in tombs alongside the deceased in Asia, Africa, and Europe as well. Emerald According to legend, an emerald was one of the stones given by god to King Solomon—a gift that endowed the king with power over all creation. The Incas used them in both their jewelry and religious ceremonies, but the Spanish—who generally treasured gold and silver far more than they did gems—traded the stone for precious metals. Some even believed that placing an emerald under the tongue could help one see the future, reveal truths, and be protected from evil spells.

Green peridot is thought to strengthen life, bring about prosperity, growth and increase openness. Peridot is also believed to help one understand relationships, and to alleviate depression, anger, fear, jealousy and anxiety. Find detailed information on Peridot here. Green prehnite is a gem with a mystical aura. Prehnite is said to be the stone of remembered dreams, meditation and prophecy. Find detailed information on Prehnite here. Pink rose quartz is known as the stone of "gentle love", rose quartz brings peace and calm to relationships.

Excellent for healing emotional wounds, removing negativity and restoring harmony after conflict. Promotes appreciation of the arts. Find detailed information on Rose Quartz here. Red ruby is famous as a protector from misfortune and bad health, ruby is also used to open the heart and promote love. Given as a gift, ruby is a symbol of friendship and love.

The ruby is also a symbol of vitality and royalty. Find detailed information on Ruby here. Rutile quartz is said to intensify the power of quartz crystal, rutile quartz is thought to assist one in getting to the root of a problem. Find detailed information on Rutile Quartz here. Sapphire has long associations with peace and happiness, and is believed to help with communication, insight, intuition, inspiration and prayer.

The ancients felt that sapphires could help them to predict the future. Find detailed information on Sapphire here. Brown smoky quartz is believed to be nature's stone of endurance, fostering serenity, calmness and positive thoughts. Find detailed information on Smoky Quartz here. Since spinel was confused with ruby for centuries, it has not acquired the richness of meaning associated with other important gems. But it is said that spinel is helpful for relaxation and releasing worry.

Since spinel is one of the very few singly refractive gems, it has a purity of color that may be the basis for its symbolic meaning. Find detailed information on Spinel here. Violet-blue tanzanite is a recently discovered gemstone, said to be connected with the traditions of the Masai tribe, who believe that it has healing properties.

The Masai give tanzanite to newborn children, since it is thought to represent life. Find detailed information on Tanzanite here. Golden brown tiger's eye is said to help convert anxiety and fear into practical logic and action. It is also believed to promote balance and strength in difficult times, and to relieve doubt. Find detailed information on Tiger's Eye here. Topaz, is thought to calm a bad temper and give strength.

It is also said to improve mental clarity, focus and to increase confidence. Topaz gems are recommended for mood swings, insomnia, worry, fear, depression and exhaustion. Find detailed information on Topaz here. Tourmaline is said to strengthen both body and spirit. It is believed to attract inspiration, aid concentration, encourage balance and promote understanding.

It is also thought to calm nerves, sooth grief, promote balance and build self-confidence. Find detailed information on Tourmaline here. Blue and green turquoise is believed to attract money, success and love. Turquoise is a stone of friendship in many cultures.

Native Americans associated the colors of turquoise with the blue sky and the green earth. It is still seen by many today as being symbolic of our roots in nature.

Find detailed information on Turquoise here. Since the Middle Ages, zircon has been believed to encourage spiritual growth and the promotion of wisdom. It is said that those who wear zircon will find beauty and peace. Find detailed information on Zircon here.

Actinolite Cat's Eye. I purchased another kyanite'the intense color saturation of this stone is incredible. The quality was as described and pictured in the photos. Always happy with my purchases! Source: Bizrate. Well packed. It was dropped with rest of the mail. Luckily I got. But was delivered without signature. I am a first time buyer and the web page was very informative in helping me select a stone.

Dimensions are given as; length x width x depth , except for round stones which are; diameter x depth. Select gems by size, not by weight! Gem varieties vary in density, so carat weight is not a good indication of size. Sign In. We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

See gem , stone. Words related to gemstone bauble , bead , gem , ornament , stone , trinket , baguette , bijou , glass , hardware , rock , sparkler , birthstone , brilliant.

How to use gemstone in a sentence By using recycled metals and gemstone s, Madison is at the cutting edge of this sparkling revolution.