Gemstones - Background and Lore - Hessonite

Hessonite is a variety of garnet. It tends to be warm brownish yellows, brownish oranges, or brownish reds. Because of its color and historic connection with the spice producing country of Sri Lanka, the stone is also called the cinnamon stone. It is found in Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the US. It rates a 7-7.5 on the Moh's hardness scale, and its toughness is considered fair to good. It can fracture if exposed to extreme temperature changes, and it is attacked by hydrofluoric acid. Never steam clean this stone as it may fracture. It is usually safe to clean ultrasonically, but it is safest to use warm soapy water and a toothbrush. Some alternatives to hessonite include almandite, citrine, fire opal, sapphire, spessartite, topaz, and zircon.

The use of this stone increases creativity and good use of the imagination. It may also serve to increase the level of self-confidence and reduce the propensity to be fearful. It can also increase the awareness of a person's subtle senses and increase ambition, which may also be for spiritual advancement.

Physically, it is said to help nervous disorders and such degenerative diseases as cancer. It may improve immune functions and counteract the harmful effects of radiation. Hessonite is said to help avert disasters and to protect against evil spirits. Supposedly it can prevent or avert insanity and protect from sudden misfortunes. It also has a reputation for giving great abilities in the sciences.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Demantoid

Demantoid means "diamond like" in Dutch. It is called that because although it is softer than a diamond it has a higher dispersion, so it flashes a rainbow of color when light hits it. This green gem is a variety of andradite and a member of the garnet family. Demantoid ranges from intense green to yellow green. Under a microscope, demantoid has what are called horse tails - wisps of long, golden, fiber-like inclusions that radiate from a central point. Demantoid was discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia in 1868. Tiffany and Company bought up a bunch of it and marketed it as a cheaper alternative to emerald. It adorned much Victorian jewelry crafted between 1895 to 1915. The supply of demantoid has dwindled making it a prized collector's stone. Recently discovered in Namibia have slightly boosted the availability. Demantoid joins the garnet group in that it is a birthstone for January. It has a hardness of 6.5 - 7 on the Mohs Scale of hardness. It's toughness is considered fair to good. Extreme changes in temperature may cause this stone to fracture. Also, hydrofluoric acid will attack this gem. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe unless the stone contains liquid inclusions. Never steam clean this stone. The safest way to clean the stone is with warm and soapy water. Some alternatives include emerald, green sapphire, green zircon, peridot, tourmaline, and tsavorite garnet.

According to the ancient Jewish text the Talmud, a garnet provided the only source of light on Noah's Ark. Garnet jewelry has been found in Egyptian, Greek and Roman ruins. Some Asiatic tribes fashioned garnets into bullets believing that they would be more lethal than lead bullets. Garnet is also believed to protect its wearer from evil and disaster. The word garnet comes from a Latin word meaning pomegranate. Demantoid Garnet's are said to enhance creativity, understanding, and to help to bring success to business matters. Physically they are said to fight infectious diseases, blood poisonings, and heart and lung diseases.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Citrine

Citrine is one of the November birthstones. Topaz is the other. Citrine is a quartz variety. It gets it's name from the Latin word citrus, meaning "citron" (a fruit closely related to the lemon). Citrine comes in a wide range of sizes. Most citrine is found in traditional rounds and fancy shapes, but it is also available in more contemporary cuts and carvings. Before the development of modern gemology, citrine was often confused for topaz. Citrine is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Spain. It is a 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and has good toughness. High heat can cause color loss. Sudden or extreme temperature change can cause fracturing. Citrine is soluble in hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride. It is slightly soluble in alkalis. Citrine is routinely heated to produce the desired color. Often it is produced by heating amethyst. This treatment is undetectable and assumed. Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe. Steam cleaning is not recommended. The safest cleaning method is warm soapy water and a toothbrush. Alternatives include amber, carnelian, chrysoberyl, Malaya garnet, sapphire, smoky quartz, spessartite garnet, topaz, and tourmaline. Citrine is believed to help the heart, kidney, digestive tract, liver and muscles. It promotes creativity, helps personal clarity and eliminates self-destructive tendencies.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Chalcedony

Chalcedony is one of the oldest, most abundant, and most popular gemstones. The ancient Turkish seaport gave this gem it's name. This stone has been considered a powerful talisman and were thought to prevent drowning or drive away ghosts and bad spirits.

Chalcedony's affordability and range of colors and patterns make it a popular with gem collectors.

Chalcedony sources include Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Scotland, US, and Uruguay. It has a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Moh's Scale and a good toughness rating.

Some varieties of chalcedony include agate, amethystine chalcedony, bloodstone, carnelian, chrysocolla-in-chalcedony, chrysoprase, dendritic agate, fire agate, iris agate, jasper, milky chalcedony, onyx, sard, and sardonyx.

Chalcedony's color can change when exposed to heat, but light has no effect. hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid should not come in contact. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually safe, but warm soapy water is best. Some alternatives include amber, hematite, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, rose quartz, shell, tiger eye, and turquoise.

Chalcedony is said to prevent touchiness and melancholy. Worn by many to promote calm and peace. Chalcedony also stimulates creativity.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Carnelian

Carnelian is a variety of chalcedony. It ranges from translucent to semitransparent yellowish orange, orangy red, or brownish orange. It is often made into beads or cameos.

It was believed that carnelian could transform bashful speakers into eloquent ones.

Carnelian is found in Brazil, India, and Uruguay. It is a 6.5-7 on the Moh's Scale of Hardness, and it's toughness is good.

When exposed to heat, the carnelian's color may change, but it is stable when exposed to light. It doesn't tolerate exposure to hydrofluoric acid.

Carnelian is commonly heated to enhance it's color. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are usually safe,, but warm soapy water is best.

Some alternatives to carnelian are amber, fire opal, jade, and sard chalcedony.

Carnelian - general healing stone. Restores the natural energy flows of your body. Carnelian is the most powerful POWER stone for focusing, realization, and self actualization. It reminds us to be in the moment.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Amber

Amber is organic - it is a product of living organisms. Amber formed millions of years ago when sap from trees hardened and fossilized. Stone Age people found amber along the coast of the Baltic Sea. It was one of the earliest ornamental gems.

Amber on occasion has trapped once living things in it that provides a fascinating time capsule of sorts. The Baltic coast bordering Germany, Poland, and Russia is a source of Amber and is often called the "gold of the North."

Amber's color ranges from whites to yellows to oranges to reds to brown. Transparent stones are preferred in the US while cloudy pieces are preferred in Europe and North Africa. Heating the cloudy amber is oil clarifies it.

Some of the major sources of amber include Dominican Republic, Germany, Mexico, Poland, and Russia. Amber's hardness is rated as a 2-2.5 on the Moh's Scale, and it's toughness is considered poor. It burns at low temperatures, and it may darken with age. It is attacked by acids, caustics, alcohol, and gasoline.

Never steam clean or use an ultrasonic cleaner on amber. Warm soapy water is best, but do not use a hard brush as this may scratch the stone.

Amber promotes healing, protection from negativity, attractiveness and energy.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Bloodstone

The Bloodstone is an opaque to semi-translucent kind of chalcedony. It is dark green flecked with red. The Greeks called it heliotrope because it flashed red when dunked into water while faced sunward. Medieval Europe considered the bloodstone to be a talisman that stirred passion, stopped bleeding, and brought healing.

Rich men in the time of King Solomon held the stone in high regard and often used it in their seal rings. It is still set in men's jewelry today. Bloodstone is popular in Christian jewelry because of its distinctive pattern resembles the blood of Christ.

Bloodstone is the alternate birthstone for March. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on Moh's Scale, and a toughness that is said to be good. The color of the stone may change if exposed to high heat, but it is unaffected by light. It does not stand up to hydrofluoric acid.

Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are not recommended for this stone. It is best to use warm, soapy water.

Bloodstone is said to aid in healing, especially related to the blood. Increases courage and charitability.

Gemstones - Background and Lore - Alexandrite

Alexandrite - is a rare chrysoberyl variety with color change qualities. In daylight or fluorescent light, it is green in color, and in incandescent light, it is brownish or purplish red. It is sometimes referred to as "emerald by day, ruby by night."

Alexandrite deposits were first discovered in 1830 in the Ural Mountains of Russia. And so the gem was named after the young Czar Alexander II. The deposits in Russia eventually ran out and now alexandrite is found in Sri Lanka, East Africa, and Brazil. The newer deposits contain high quality stones, but many lack the intense color change of the Russian variety. They remain the quality standard for the stone.

Because Alexandrite is scarce, it is a relatively expensive stone in the chrysoberyl family.

Alexandrite is the birthstone for June. It is also the stone for the 45th and 55th anniversary. It's hardness rates an 8.5 on the Mohs Scale, and it's toughness is considered excellent. The Alexandrite stands up to heat, light, and chemicals. It is usually safe to clean alexandrite with an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaner, but warm soapy water is best.

There are less expensive alternatives for those of you that would like a color changing stone. Colro change garnets and color change sapphires are good options as well as synthetic color change spinels.

Alexandrite is considered the stone of good omen. Alexandrite can assist one in centering the self, reinforcing self-esteem, and increases ones ability to experience joy.

And for you astrology buffs, Alexandrite is associated with the planet Mercury -- the trickster. Alexandrite´s ability to change color and its obviously dual nature is further associated with the zodiac sign of Gemini, which is a sign ruled by Mercury. The association with the sign of Gemini means that Alexandrite has a connection with the month of June as this sign covering the period between 21st May and 21st June. In Russia, Alexandrite is associated with the month of August, and it´s zodiac sign Leo is related to royalty. As Mercury is associated with air, alexandrite is an air stone and so connected to the throat chakra. But, because of its duality in color, it has also been associated with the heart, the solar plexus, and the crown chakra.

Apart from astrology, green is the color of revival, hope, prosperity, rest, peace, calm, and fertility where as red is the color of blood, energy, activity, self-expression, power, aggression, and passion. This combination means that alexandrite is a symbol of love and jealousy at the same time. In its daytime appearance, it corresponds to luck and good fortune and at night, its appearance it is more closely associated with love. Some believe that an alexandrite in hand can help clarify doubts about love and marriage.

Alexandrite is the stone of duality. Green or red, good luck or misfortune, the significance is interpretive and related to the social and historical context of the time and the culture. Forever changing its colors, alexandrite is a magical gemstone with universal appeal that continues to fascinate and be admired by astrologers, scientists, and gem lovers throughout the world.

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