Abalone

The stone of healing energy Abalone is a mollusc whose shell is iridescent on the inside and is a source of mother of pearl.

Agate

Balances physical and emotional states, promotes wealth, good luck and prosperity. Agate was highly valued as a talisman in ancient times and has been used as a traveller’s amulet for centuries. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms and athletes to increase vitality. Some call its strange patterns 'cosmic caterpillar tracks'.

White Lace Agate is often called "the happy stone" It's reputed to bring optimism, elevate thoughts and guard against physical danger.

Dzi is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known today. These shiny Tibetan agate beads, patterned with mystical eyes are among the most treasured beads in the world. “Dzi” in Tibetan means: "shine, brightness, clearness, and splendour.

Amber

The stone of romantic love, purification, wisdom, energy and balance.

Amber is solidified and petrified sap from the pine tree.

Amethyst (February)

The stone of peace and sobriety

Amethyst belongs to the quartz family and the purple colour is due to traces of iron. Coloured purple-to-lilac, and ranging from opaque to transparent. Named from the Greek word "amethustos", meaning without wine. It protects, reduces negativity and brings spirituality - hence the name "Pope Stone".

The Christian crusaders attached it to their rosaries. A stone of divine love. In medieval Europe, an Amethyst amulet worn by soldiers was said to protect them in battle. Legend even says drinking from an amethyst chalice will prevent intoxication.

Aquamarine (March)

The stone of happiness and eternal youth Aquamarine amulets were thought to protect sailors from adversity at sea, rendering them fearless if engraved with Poseidon and worn as an amulet.

Carnelian (July)

Stone of protection and care, gives courage in battle, assists with fear and rage and influences the reproductive organs

A stone from the quartz family, usually bright orange to reddish orange, and is translucent to clear.

It was used by the Egyptians before 3000 BC and was a favourite on Roman gem engravers. Carnelian is best for people with the zodiac sign of Leo.

Citrine (November)

Stone of security and inner calm

Citrine comes from the French word for lemon, and is any quartz crystal or cluster that’s yellow to orange. The darker, orange colors were traditionally the best, but today people prefer bright lemony shades to mix with pastel colors. Citrine with man-made color tends to have more of an orange or reddish caste. Most natural citrine starts life as amethyst until heated in a molten state to change.

In ancient times it was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Known as a "merchants' stone”, placed in the cash register to not only acquire wealth but to maintain it as well.

Coral

The stone for wisdom, talisman against evil spirits and hurricanes

Coral is not a true gemstone, but a product of marine life, but has been used as a gem since prehistoric times.

Its colour ranges from white to red, but most red coral these days is dyed. It grows in branches that look like underwater trees

Emerald (May)

Improves memory, stops bleeding and averts panic.

Emeralds are members of the beryl clan and believed to inspire deep knowing from within.

The Egyptians mined Emeralds from 300 BC, but tools suggesting that they were also mined from the time of Rameses II (c1300 BC) were found in tunnels at Sakait and Zabara where the Emerald mines are located

Fluorite

The stone for memory, it dispels anxiety and tension, aids sleep and meditation, holding even a small piece in the hand brings a sense of inner peace.

The mineral fluorite is famous for its glassy lustre and wide range of colours - from purple, blue, green, yellow, colourless, brown, pink, black and reddish orange. It is named the Latin word "To flow".

Fluorite has been excavated from the ruins of Pompeii, but despite being a favourite with ancient civilisations, has been recently overlooked.

Freshwater Pearls – see pearl

Garnet (January)

Garnet is the stone of romance and passion.

When placed under a pillow or worn while sleeping, it wards off bad dreams and evil spirits of the night

The use of garnets as a gemstone can be traced to prehistoric times. The Talmud records that Noah used a single large garnet lantern to steer his Ark through the darkness of the night. Garnets are found in jewellery from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman eras. Travellers wore garnets as they were considered talismans and protective stones, because it was believed garnets illuminate the night and wore off evil.

Goldstone

A calming and refreshing stone.

The most common flaked stone is goldstone. A man-made stone, first created by alchemists trying to make gold. Other variations are bluestone, lemon stone, and peach stone. Each are a type of glass mixed with metals to form a glittery appearance.

Hematite

The stone for the mind, good for memory enhancement and original thinking

Hematite is one of the most common minerals, being the principle ore of iron. The colour of most red rock, like sandstone, is caused by small amounts of hematite. Although usually black in jewellery, it may also be responsible for the red colour of garnet and ruby. All non-crystalline forms of hematite are transformations of the mineral Limonite that lost water, possibly due to heat. Hence the recent excitement of the discovery of grey hematite on the planet Mars – suggesting there was once water present. Only well formed hematite crystals are cut and polished into cabochons for jewellery, beads, and ornaments.

Jade

Known as the dream stone and a stone of fidelity

For 5,000 years Imperial China used the word "jade" as something precious. Held in the hand it can improve judgment - ancient silk traders often held jade while bartering. Chinese jade first arrived in the West during the sixteenth century, brought from Canton by the Portuguese. Today jade continues to be a symbol of love, virtue, and status with Chinese carvings reaching the highest value. The best jade has a waxy, pearly appearance, feeling cool and so smooth, it seems soft to the touch. The most famous type of jade carved in China is from Burma, with shades of green, lavender, yellow, white and grey. These colours form over millions of years from minerals in the rock.

Jasper

The stone of positive outlook and understanding and known as the Patron stone of counsellors and healers

Kings and Priests used Jasper for spiritual and protective qualities. It is said to be one of the stones used in the breastplate of the High Priest Jasper is a crystalline variety of quartz that contains up to 20% foreign material. This is what determines the stone’s multicolor, striped, or spotted appearance. Jasper was highly valued in ancient times, not only for its beauty, but also for the reputed magical and medicinal properties. In France jasper ornaments date back two-millennia, Babylonians used in for seals twelve-hundred years ago, and in India it has been used for jewelry and building for centuries. Red jasper is said to assist astral travel during meditation. Poppy jasper is dark red with black flecks and thought to heal allergies to animals. Picture jasper is pale brown with darker patterns - named from pictures formed by patterns caused by trapped fossilizes algae. Picture jasper helps to evaluate life's issues and develop business pursuits leading to increase. Fancy jasper is creamy brown with lavender or green swirls. Believed to clear the mind, bring tranquility and eliminate worry and depression. Green jasper is thought to be lucky in monetary trades.

Jet

Many ancient cultures believed that jet provided protection against illness, the evil-eye and personal attacks. Jet was believed to absorb any illness or negative energies, thereby protecting its wearer. Medieval Healers believed burning Jet would cure fevers and all manners of illness.

Jet is not really a stone at all, but a form of coal created from forests of an ancient form of the Monkey Puzzle tree.

Lapis Lazuli (September)

Brings peace of mind, helps melancholy, dispels evil thoughts and enhances mental clarity.

It is dedicated to the goddesses Aphrodite, Venus, and Isis and named after “lapis“, the Latin word for stone, and the Arabian for blue. Thousands of years before Christ, Egyptian and Persian royalty wore lapis jewellery. Many believe that the Biblical sapphire was actually lapis lazuli. In the art world it is famous for the ultramarine blue paint used by the Grand Old Masters, including portraits of the Virgin Mary. While other compositions have long since paled, lapis has lost nothing of its brilliance. It is also thought to be used in the first ever eyeshadow!

Moonstone (June)

The stone of sensitivity, protection (especially in pregnancy, childbirth and sea travel) and love, reconciliation and drives away sleepiness.

Moonstone appeared in Roman jewellery about AD100, and even earlier in Oriental adornment. In India it was regarded as a sacred stone with special significance for lovers. Moonstone is translucent, and softens the light shining through it to give a pearly moon-like glow. Rainbow

moonstone is colourless with a blue sheen and a rainbow-like array of colours – a very attractive semi-precious stone.

Mother of Pearl

Soothes, reduces stress and worry

Obsidian

A very protective stone, removes negativity and protects the gentle from abuse

Obsidian is natural glass formed by rapid cooling of volcanic lava. Usually black, shiny, and hard – but also grey, brown, or with white flecks. When fractured it leaves sharp edges, hence its use since the stone-age as a cutting tool and for weapons.

Snowflake obsidian is caused by inclusions of small, white, crystals of silica in the black glass producing a blotchy snowflake pattern.

Sheen or Rainbow Obsidian is caused by small bubbles of air trapped in the molten rock just before being cooled. It is sometimes gazed into like a crystal ball, to obtain images and help find inner spiritual vision.

Onyx – black

The stone of strength and control

Although regarded as protective, onyx has a reputation as a stone of discord. Onyx was worn to cool the ardour of love, probably because it helps to balance the mind and emotions. Not only avoided by lovers, but also at night, as it provoked nightmares.

Opal

The stone of love and hope

Opal is ruled by the Moon, and is sacred to all lunar deities.

Australian legend tells that the stars are governed by a huge opal that also gives human love. Australian Aboriginees, however, believe that the opal is a devil, half serpent and half human, living in a hole in the ground ready to lure man to his destruction with wicked flashes of magic.

Peruvian opal has long been associated with helping people become less visible to others and also in improving eyesight. imbalances of which can cause problems with addictions. Some believe that opal can help moderate and harmonize sexual desires.

Pearl (June)

Pearls are good for wealth, honour and longevity, aid fertility and ease childbirth.

To reduce irritation when foreign material is present inside the shell of a freshwater mollusc, it coats the intruder with the same secretion it uses for shell-building, nacre. To cultivate a pearl, farmers slit the mussel and insert small pieces of live tissue from another mussel to create artificial irritation. The ancient Chinese practiced this technique, but the first real cultured freshwater pearls originated in Japan. In the 1930's, Japanese farmers by Lake Biwa achieved natural colours unseen in saltwater pearls. However, water pollution today has virtually destroyed pearl production there. China now has the resources that Japan lacks: many large lakes, rivers, and a low-cost work force. The first Chinese cultured pearls were basic, until the 1990's when China revolutionized pearling. Indian mythology says that pearls are heavenly dewdrops which fell into the sea and were swallowed by oysters under the first rays of the rising sun during a full moon. Hebrew legend says they are the tears of eve as she was banished from Eden.

Peridot (August)

Stone of joy and lightness, symbol of the sun, it will protect the wearer from evil spirits and strengthen the power of any medicine drunk from peridot goblets.

Peridot has been mined as a gemstone for thousands of years, said to be the favorite gem of Cleopatra, and mentioned in the Bible. Egyptians used Peridot as early as 1500 BC. In ancient Egypt it was mined at night because legend tells that peridot was hard to see during the day, yet easily visible by lamplight. Peridot is the gem variety of olivine, a mineral formed under intense heat. It was perhaps named from the French word “peritot” meaning unclear, due to its inclusions and cloudy nature.

Small crystals of peridot are often found in rocks by volcanoes and in meteors that fall to earth. Because the iron which creates the colour is an integral part of its structure, its colour is always green - ranging from transparent lime to olive green. Peridot was used to decorate medieval churches, carried back to Europe by the Crusaders, like the huge stones of more than 200 carats in size at Cologne Cathedral.

Quartz

The stone of power, balancing psychic awareness

Quartz is the most common mineral on the Earth’s crust and is a component of almost every rock type. Yet, quartz has more colours and forms than any other stone because of this very abundance. The powerful atomic structure of this pyramid-shaped crystal gives it magical powers that are as apparent in today’s computers as they are in new age belief and folklore.

The Mayans, Druid priests, and Tibetan monks all knew the spiritual power of crystal. The ancients used it to strengthen the sun’s rays to bring heat, and the Chinese science of Feng-shui teaches that arranging crystals around the home retains positive

Pure rock crystal is clear, but usually quart comes in a variety of opacity.

Milky quartz is cloudy because of microscopic inclusions of fluid embodied in the crystal at the start of its life.

Smoky Quartz is caused by natural radiation from nearby granite rocks which have a small amount of radioactivity.

Quartz – Rose

The stone of unconditional love and infinite peace.

It was first used by the Assyrians as early as 800-600 BC, and later by the Romans, and it is common in Ancient World jewellery. Rock Crystal (April) Symbol of purity, patience and perseverance Rock Crystal objects have been found with the remains of prehistoric man (75,000 BC). The ancient Greeks and Romans used it extensively in jewellery. The Greeks believed that it was water frozen forever by the Gods.

Ruby (July)

Preserves health, removes evil thoughts and helps one reconcile disputes

The early Burmese thought that a Ruby inserted into the flesh would bestow invulnerability, and others thought it would become dull and dark to warn of impending misfortune. Catherine of Aragon , the first wife of Henry VIII is said to have foretold her own downfall in this way.

Sapphire (September)

Prevents terror and poverty, and aids wisdom and good temper.

Ancient Etruscans used Sapphire I the early seventh century BC, and it became a favourite stone in the rings and brooches of medieval kings of Europe. In the Eleventh century it became a preferred stone for ecclesiastic rings.

Silver Can be used as a mirror to the soul and help you see yourself from the outside without judgement.

Sodalite

The stone of logic, rationality, and efficiency.

Sodalite is a blue stone usually peppered with white calcite. And it’s been said that a piece of sodalite under the pillow can help you remember dreams.

Tiger Eye

The stone of perception will-power and inner-strength Tiger's-eye is polished to show its characteristic band of pearly luminescence, resulting from light reflecting off its thin parallel inclusions in the quartz.

Tiger Eye is a brown chalcedony with golden highlights Similar stones are cat’s-eye and hawk’s-eye – all with bands of pearly luminescence creating a supernatural appearance.

Turquiose (December)

Has always been used to protect the wearer from danger, attract wealth, and warn as a talisman or good luck charm

Turquoise is a soft, opaque gemstone – formed by volcanic rock reacting to copper deposits brought by water. Ranging from blue-green, to yellow-green with grey, black or brown veining.

Turquoise has been found in 5,000-year-old Egyptian tombs and the Tibetans used it as currency centuries ago. North Africa and the Middle East hold large deposits, but most turquoise today originates from Burma and is carved in China.

Turquoise didn’t reach Europe until the crusades when the name originated, meaning "Turkish stone”. Turquoise is porous, so contact with liquids, oils or even perspiration should be avoided. Jewelry should be removed before washing. Turquoise is commonly impregnated with plastic, colorless oil or wax to improve color and increase durability. Untreated turquoise will eventually turn green. As genuine turquoise is expensive, reconstituted turquoise is made today. Crafted from real turquoise chips fused with other stones to cut the cost.

Unakite

The stone for an emotionally calm state.

Also believed to stimulate the reproductive system, encourage pregnancy, and helping the healthy development of the baby in the womb. Some people even say Unakite can neutralize the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation from television sets. Unakite consists of pink feldspar mottled on green epidote and quartz.