Precious stones have always delighted people with their beauty. They served as magical talismans and signs of higher power, becoming symbols of love and family heirlooms. The beauty of precious stones is so captivating that it is impossible not to believe in their magical properties: they protect from hostile forces, bring love, happiness and good luck. Modern research confirms the discoveries of ancient sages - each of the gems has healing properties.
The history of using precious stones in jewelry goes back thousands of years, and jewelry with them has always been and will always be the best gift for all occasions.
Diamond
A diamond is a transparent artificially cut diamond. The word “diamond” comes from the Greek “indestructible.” And it is no coincidence, because the cubic allotropic form of carbon (this is the scientific definition of diamond) is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale.
Diamonds are rightfully considered the best among precious stones. The French word brillant itself means “brilliant”, “sparkling” and expresses what diamonds are so valued for: none of the stones has such a deep radiance and such an indescribable play of light. Diamonds are graded using the 4 C system: cut, clarity, color and carat. The higher each characteristic, the closer the diamond is to perfection. Diamonds with 57 facets are called full-cut. They have ideal proportions to achieve maximum brilliance and maximum play of light inside the stone: there are 33 facets on the top of the diamond and 24 on the bottom. Purity is expressed as the absence of defects or foreign inclusions. A perfect diamond is called a pure diamond.
By color, diamonds are divided into traditional (colorless and all shades of yellow) and fancy (pink, blue, indigo and even green). The weight of diamonds is measured in carats (1 carat equals 0.2 grams). Diamonds pair perfectly with most gemstones and especially well with emeralds, sapphires and rubies.
Emerald
Emerald is a beryl group gemstone that gives its name to the brightest shade of green. Together with diamond, ruby and sapphire, it is included in the group of first-order precious stones. Among the jewelry legends of the past, there are many jewelry with emeralds. According to Herodotus, the famous Polycrates ring was inlaid with emerald. According to legend, the Grail was carved from emerald. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra considered only emeralds worthy of their beauty. And the great beauty of the past was right! The depth of brilliance, bright and deep color of emerald is unparalleled. Highlight your beauty with the shimmer of emerald in warm gold!
Yakhont azure [sapphire?]
Another name for ruby. [Lies: azure is blue, and ruby is red. Blue sapphire was probably called the azure yacht.] A stone of beauty and spiritual purity.
They believed: whoever carries this stone with him, adds body and beauty to the face, calms excess sweat and pacifies bodily lusts, makes a person be pure and kind, drives out all evil spirits from the eyes and anxiety from the forehead, pacifies stomach diseases. The stone makes the one who wears it in a ring calm and towards people, honest, pious, merciful, sincere; he reveals betrayals and drives away fears. Boils that arise during a pestilence are healed with one touch.
Sapphire
Sapphire is a precious stone that amazes with its richness of color and variety of shades. It is aluminum oxide and belongs to corundum. Scientists have still not come to a consensus on where the name of this wonderful mineral came from. "Sappheiros" in Greek, "sapir" in Hebrew and "safir" in Old Persian mean "blue stone". But in ancient Babylonian safir means “scratching.” And there is also a basis for this version of the name - the hardness of this mineral is 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale. In Rus', sapphire was called lapis azure.
The shade of sapphire depends on the presence or absence of titanium and iron impurities in it. Moreover, all “colored” sapphires, except blue ones, are called “fancy”. Some of them are dichroic and combine two colors: along the crystals they are dark blue, and across the crystals they are green. Another feature of this stone is asterism - the optical effect of star formation due to the inclusion of rutile.
Orange sapphires are very popular now. Manganese ions give them their original color. Orange-pink sapphires are called padparadschas: translated from Sanskrit - “sunrise/sunset” or “lotus flower”. In India they really believed that the perfection of this stone could make a lotus bud bloom. The most beautiful padparadschas are in the jewelry collections of Cartier and Chanel.
Sapphire has always been considered a particularly valuable stone - the embodiment of calm, contemplation and tranquility. He was called the talisman of the wise, and they believed in his healing powers. Nowadays, this noble stone is personified with success and confidence.
Ruby
Ruby is the most beautiful of precious stones, a type of corundum. The color varies from deep pink to fiery crimson and deep red with a purple tint. This shade appears with a chromium content of up to 2%. Ruby is a first class gemstone and one of the most expensive stones in the world. Its chemical formula is Al2O3.
Ruby is associated with the sun, passion, fire and love. In Europe, from time immemorial, it has been a symbol of strength, beauty, devotion to faith, dignity and courage. In the East, it represents love, health, strength and vitality. In India, ruby is considered the stone of the Sun.
Topaz
Topaz is an aluminum fluorosilicate. Its chemical formula is one of the most complex among precious stones: Al2 [SiO4] (F, OH)2, and the shade depends on the impurities of iron, titanium, chromium or vanadium. The color range of topaz is varied: from brown and wine-yellow to blue, pink, golden, orange and even reddish. There are polychrome topazes, when sections of one crystal have different colors (usually blue/wine yellow).
Topaz is a hard mineral: 8.0 on the Mohs scale. It is difficult to process, but after cutting the stone acquires a bright shine. In Rus', topaz was called the Siberian diamond, and, according to legend, it received its modern name from the name of the island in the Red Sea - Topazios (now Zeberget), where it was first discovered.
For centuries, blue topaz has been considered a stone that gives women beauty and men wealth and fame; it was used to decorate the crowns of rulers and the outfits of legendary beauties of the past. This gemstone is endowed with powerful energy.
Rauch-topaz
The name “rauchtopaz” has been established in jewelry for a long time, although these beautiful stones have nothing to do with topaz. Their second name is more correct - smoky quartz or smoky crystal. It perfectly emphasizes both the composition and the peculiarity of this stone. Rauchtopazes range from a barely noticeable smoky to brown and deep chocolate color. This stone looks like frozen clots of smoke left over from unknown, but undoubtedly majestic bonfires.
This is exactly how it was perceived in ancient times. In the Far East, rauchtopaz is considered the stone of Buddha; here it is credited with mystical and healing properties that help to achieve nirvana. In Scotland it is called the Cairngorm Stone and is used to adorn national costumes. And in Russia, jewelry with rauchtopaz became especially popular under Catherine the Great and never went out of fashion.
The closest “relatives” of rauchtopaz are rock crystal, citrine and amethyst; their chemical composition is also silicon oxides. Already in the 18th century, Ural craftsmen turned rauchtopazes into citrines by heat treatment: they wrapped them in dough and baked them in an oven. Rauchtopazes are very durable: the hardness index is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale. But, like many other stones, they are fragile and require careful handling. Rauchtopaz crystals are often collected, inlaid in gold, and less often in platinum and silver.
A stone of contemplation and peace, optimism and inspiration, a stone of sages and artists, rauchtopaz is equally often used in both men's and women's jewelry.
Amethyst
Amethyst is the most beautiful of quartzes with colors ranging from violet and dark purple to pink. The beautiful purple or cherry blue color of amethyst, which distinguishes it from simple quartz and rock crystal, is due to traces of iron and manganese oxides. In jewelry, the most prized amethysts are their lilac, violet, and pinkish-purple colors.
In ancient times, amethysts symbolized connection with higher powers. The reverent attitude towards amethysts continued later. They were often used to decorate the rings of priests and especially important church attributes: crosses, icons, bowls... Perhaps the reason for this is the deep and unusual purple color of amethyst - a symbol of purity, devotion and optimism.
Amethyst is the favorite stone of European jewelers. It never goes out of style. Jewelry with amethysts appears annually in the collections of Cartier and Boucheron, VanCleef and Bvlgari. Moreover, purple amethysts are used to create expensive jewelry.
A favorite of jewelers, amethyst requires a special approach. It is not advisable to store jewelry with amethysts in direct sunlight; its color may lose saturation. But at the same time, all the depth and beauty of the stone is revealed precisely in daylight!
Notes
- ↑ 123456789101112131415
[kristallov.net/kamni_na_bukvu_a.html A / Dictionary of minerals and rocks] - ↑ 12345678910
[kristallov.net/b3.html B // Dictionary of minerals and rocks] - ↑ 1234
[kristallov.net/v3.html В/Dictionary of minerals and rocks] - [kristallov.net/g3.html G / Dictionary of minerals and rocks]
- ↑ 12345678910
Error in footnotes: Invalid tag ; no text specified for footnotes .D0.B3 - ↑ 1234
[kristallov.net/d3.html D / Dictionary of minerals and rocks] - [www.vostlit.info/Texts/Dokumenty/China/XVII/1600-1620/Russ_kit_otn_17_v_I/glossar.htm Terminological dictionary]
- [www.rubricon.com/qe.asp?qtype=4&qall=0&aid={8211B08E-1793-45F2-9232-917AE585C51D}&ii=1&id=1&sletter=%u042F&rq=0&onlyname=checked&newwind=&psize=10&pn=63 Yakhont]. Great Soviet Encyclopedia
. - [samlib.ru/r/rusanow_wladislaw_adolfowich/kamni.shtml Outdated names of minerals]
Aquamarine
Pliny the Elder gave a romantic and very appropriate name to aquamarine. The romantic name “aquamarine” was first used by the ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder. This unusual gem reminded him of the pure green waters of the sea. Aquamarine - beryllium aluminosilicate with a ring structure - belongs to valuable jewelry stones. One of the largest aquamarines still adorns the crown of the Queen of England, adjacent to diamonds and rubies. This beautiful stone is considered the ruler of the water element, the stone of purposeful and lucky people.
Alexandrite
Alexandrite, a type of chrysoberyl, is not only a very beautiful stone, but also an unusual one.
It seems that it is not even one, but several stones: it can look so different depending on the lighting. Its color changes dramatically: from blue or olive green in daylight to pink-crimson, red-violet or even purple in evening or artificial light. This phenomenon is called the alexandrite effect or reverse. And it is caused by the characteristics of the crystal lattice and the position of trivalent chromium ions in it. The stone got its name because its discovery coincided with
sixteenth birthday of Alexander II.
Synthetic alexandrite is a stone that is a complete analogue of the natural one in chemical composition, physical properties, crystal lattice, color, luster, dispersion and other properties. The only difference is that such a stone was created in a laboratory and is therefore much cheaper than natural stone.
It should be noted that the cost of alexandrites sometimes exceeds the cost of diamonds. This is due to the fact that currently the deposits of alexandrite in nature are almost exhausted, so it is almost impossible to find alexandrite on the market.
Magical and healing properties
Amirdovlat Amasiatsi, (Armenian naturalist, scientist of the 15th century, personal physician of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror) pointed out that there are 5 types of yakhont, pompously emphasizing that the nature of the mineral is dry and cold. Preferring the colors of the stone - garnet and red, the author attributed to them the healing properties of helping with a weak heart and palpitations. The doctor advised women who breastfeed their children to wear the gem to maintain lactation.
To improve your mood, it was recommended to take the crystal in your mouth.
He also pointed out the property of harmonizing the body and enlightening the soul with the help of the stone, saying that those who wear it will be attractive to others. But it is quite possible that we were talking about a blue gem, since from other sources it is known that ancient esotericists did not recommend wearing a red yakhont to choleric people, and people prone to passion, violence, and rowdyism. They claimed that lalas, scarlet rubies, contributed to increased mood swings. For this, the red mineral was called the stone of anger.
But about the cherry yakhont, amethyst, they said that when taken into the mouth, a person’s thirst went away. Amethyst was credited with healing properties for many eye diseases.
Be careful if you come across information that supposedly “ground corundum is taken to treat male impotence, eye diseases and colds,” the result of such “treatment” can be disastrous. If, of course, you succeed, you can crush corundum, which is only harder than diamond. Perhaps this is what they did in the Middle Ages.
Remember that as a therapy, the stone is used exclusively in folk medicine. First of all, you need to contact a medical facility and not self-medicate.
Zircon
Zircon jewelry has never gone out of fashion. Its unique refractive properties can only be compared to a diamond; it is not for nothing that in the East zircon is called its younger brother. And jewelers often create products and even collections in two versions: with diamonds and its more affordable version - with zircons.
Zargun means "golden" in Persian. It is from this word that the name of this amazing stone comes. But zircons are not only transparent. In nature, blue, gray, pink, red, burgundy, yellow, brown, almost black and green stones are found. The color is due to various impurities, among which the most common are oxides of iron, calcium, aluminum, and less commonly hafnium, and zircon becomes blue after heat treatment.
Zircon deposits are mainly found in Thailand, as well as on the island of Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Madagascar. Hyacinths - pink zircons - are also mined in the USA, Brazil, Canada, Norway and Australia.
Zircon deposits are also known in Russia: in the Urals, Yakutia, and on the Kola Peninsula.
In ancient times, this stone was worn by sages. It is believed that zircon makes a person more observant and gives the gift of foresight, attracts good luck and wealth, promotes health, in particular helps to get rid of excess weight. And in ancient Greece they believed that zircon helped overcome the discord between spirit and body. As for the signs of the Zodiac, astrologers primarily recommend wearing jewelry with zircons to Sagittarius and Aquarius.
cubic zirconia
Cubic zirconia is zirconium dioxide - ZrO2, which is why it is also called cubic zirconia. This is an artificially grown mineral; it has no analogues in nature. The first cubic zirconia was synthesized in 1970 at the Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences. Lebedeva. This research institution is abbreviated as FIAN, which gave the name to the new mineral. Despite the fact that there are now many technologies for the production of cubic zirconia, the best crystals are still produced according to the one developed by the Lebedev Physical Institute.
Jewelers immediately fell in love with this stone because it has relatively high hardness and, like a diamond, good refraction of light, and thanks to the ability to paint crystals in almost any color, jewelry with cubic zirconia is in great demand. Faceted cubic zirconias are visually indistinguishable from natural precious stones and are very often used to imitate them.
Outside the CIS countries, cubic zirconia is known as dzhevalite and daimonsquay, and this stone is also sometimes called zirconite or shelby. Nowadays jewelry with cubic zirconia is very popular. This artificial gemstone is framed in silver, gold and platinum. Jewelry with cubic zirconia looks very beautiful, and the price is much cheaper than the same jewelry with diamonds or natural precious stones.
Pearl
Pearl is the most mysterious jewelry stone, the embodiment of beauty and romance. It has never gone out of fashion and goes with both an evening outfit and an office suit. Style icons of all times, from Cleopatra to Coco Chanel, appreciated its warm, pearlescent shine. The word “pearl” itself is used to emphasize uniqueness and beauty.
Altyn brand products use cultured pearls of natural origin. Cultured pearls are pearls grown in natural conditions, but with some human assistance. It is necessary that pearls, for which they once dived into the depths, are now practically not mined. Back in the fifties of the last century, its production was banned internationally.
The cost of a “wild” pearl is from 100 to 100,000 dollars, and its difference from a cultured one can only be noticed by professionals under X-ray! Therefore, more than 90% of pearls in the jewelry world today are cultured. According to the technology invented by Japanese scientists, shell crumbs are introduced into the Pinctadamartensi oyster. And then the mollusks are placed in nets, fed, examined, treated for parasites, even the water is heated in the open sea... This is how a cultured pearl is born - just like thousands of years ago. Therefore, you can always be sure that when purchasing jewelry with pearls at Altyn, you will receive products with natural pearls at the best prices.
Malachite
Absorbs negative energy, which is why the stone was washed at least once a week under running water, at least for 1–2 minutes. It acquires energy well if the stone is left overnight on a friend of rock crystal crystals, amethyst and other minerals. Malachite harmonizes all human energy flows. Malachite helps pregnant women bear a child, promotes a successful birth, and helps children with almost all diseases. The stone is used as a powerful antidote, although it itself is poisonous. Malachite promotes general regeneration, establishes processes in the body that promote rejuvenation, heals vision and is used in cosmetic and eye ointments, removes heavy elements from the body. He loves his owner very much, and each individual can agree with malachite on almost everything he wants.
Turquoise
Turquoise is a special stone. Its deep, unusual color has attracted and fascinated for a long time. It is believed that turquoise is a symbol of unchanging and faithful love, protection from evil thoughts, and help in achieving a good goal. Linguists agree that the name of this most beautiful of gems came to us from Farsi. “Firyuza” among the Persians means high spirits, a blossoming flower, and the joy of friendship, and “piruz” means victory.
The ancient Greeks were sure that this was the stone of the goddess of love Aphrodite herself. The East also agreed that this stunning stone bestows good luck in love: here turquoise has long been a mandatory decoration for the bride. In jewelry, turquoise is usually used in the form of cabochons, often in irregular shapes. It goes well with other jewelry stones, gold and silver. There are relatively few reserves of this beautiful stone on our planet, and over time its price will only increase. So buy turquoise jewelry and let it become your good luck charm.
In the ancient texts of the Bible and Koran
The first mentions of the mineral can be seen in the Bible (Exodus 28:19; Exodus 39:12). The translation of the biblical texts says that the yakhont stone is a precious gem, the third of twelve attached to the chest leather vestment of the high priest.
Casket of the Polish princess Jadwiga Jagiellonka, photo: hermitagemuseum.org
Fragment, photo: hermitagemuseum.org
Photo: Nata-Ko, liveinternet.ru
There is also a mention by Arakel Davrizhetsi about Mount Salandir-Dagi in Ceylon, as if Adam descended on it after his expulsion from Eden, and after which the yahonts began to exist there. And as this Armenian scientist of the 17th century noted in his works, that besides this mountain, these gems cannot be found anywhere else.
In the Koran, the ancient concept is found once in the interpretation of ABU Adel in Sura 88 “The Covering One,” verse 13: “There are beds erected.” The explanation to the sura says the following: “The beds of paradise are made of gold, decorated with chrysolite, pearls and yakhont.”
Amber
Amber is a petrified fossil resin, the hardened resin of the oldest coniferous trees of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. Along with pearls, jet and coral, amber is an organic stone, that is, of organic origin. The color of amber varies from almost white to red-brown and almost black. Experts distinguish more than 350 shades of amber.
Amber is called the magic resin of the ancient forest. It is believed that with its golden hues, amber clarifies thoughts and helps in achieving plans. This is the sunniest, most positive stone in people's perception. Even the ancient sages noticed that amber jewelry heals and inspires a person. It gives strength and confidence, drives away evil and eliminates powerful negative energy. Amber is a stone of financial well-being, creativity, beauty, a stone of love and family harmony. It brings success to those who wear it. Amber does not age. And the more it comes into contact with human skin, the stronger it becomes. Therefore, in ancient times, people tried to wear amber constantly.
Today, amber mined on the shores of the Baltic is the most highly valued. This is due to the fact that the natural conditions in this geographical area allowed the formation of amber of stunning color and quality compared to, for example, Burma. Burmese amber is opaque and harder than Baltic amber. In “Altyn” you will find jewelry with Baltic amber for every taste. The widest range of rings, earrings, beads and bracelets made of amber will pleasantly please the most demanding buyer!
Alatyr-stone
A magic stone that is located on the island of Buyan. Its epithet is “white-flammable stone”; it is believed that it is endowed with the most wonderful properties. It is white in color and huge in size. “Alatyr is the stone of all stones, the father of all stones!” As legends say, it fell from the sky, and on it were written letters with the laws of the god Svarog.
Under that stone all the power of the Russian land is hidden, and there is no end to that power. Springs flow from under the Alatyr stone, giving the whole world food and healing, that is, living water. Before dawn, the morning Dawn sits on the Alatyr Stone, before spreading its pink veil across the sky and awakening the whole world from a night's sleep.
Agate
Agate is one of the most beautiful chalcedony. Rich color palette: green, white, orange, red, brown, black, elegantly striped, with subtle color transitions and inclusions...
Sometimes agate is formed in layers, which, depending on conditions and additions, turn out to be different colors. The most beautiful is considered white, layered and shimmering. Warm colors: yellow, brown, orange are given to agates by iron, and if the agate is green, it means the mineral contains chlorides. Sometimes the pattern of green agate resembles moss, and sometimes nature creates real pictures: green forests and dark mountains. Manganese inclusions create a pattern reminiscent of wood; they are called dendritic agates.
Agate is a stone of peace and tranquility, kindness and fidelity. It has long been believed that it protects a person in risky endeavors. Astrologers are sure that this stone has a positive effect on representatives of all signs. It is not for nothing that the name itself is believed to come from the Greek word “agates” - happy! Buy jewelry with agates, believe in yourself and be happy!
Mountain crystal
A stone whose healing properties were written about in ancient books. In fact, it can completely put a person in order, just like carnelian. The beneficial effects of the stone are numerous, crystal is especially good at treating the lymphatic system and diseases associated with it, fluid disorders, dropsy of various origins, diseases of the teeth, respiratory system, kidneys, bladder, crushes and removes stones from the body. Crystal improves memory and speech, the activity of the heart and brain, pituitary gland, blood, and spine. Giving a person abundant energy, the stone has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
It is good to drink crystal water (the stone should be kept in the container for at least three days) to maintain the general tone of the body, as well as for jaundice, viscous bile, stones of various origins and in different organs, and severe liver dysfunction. Crystal interspersed with rutile is called “Venus hair” and has an excellent effect on any hair disease.
Onyx
Onyx is one of the varieties of agate. Its distinctive feature is stripes of red, white, brown, and black. It is believed that the thinner the stripes, the greater the value of the stone. Depending on the color of the stripes, this gem has many names: chalcedony-onyx (layers of sky blue coloring alternate with gray and white stripes), Arabic (white stripes harmonize with black shades), carnelian-onyx (a combination of gray and white stripes), carnelian (alternating red and white layers), sardonyx (stripes of white and brown colors).
Black onyx is especially valuable. He is truly stunningly handsome! Coal black color favorably sets off a woman’s delicate skin, emphasizes facial features and eye color. Convince yourself of the beauty of this stone by looking at these jewelry from the Altyna collections!
The luxurious black stone attracts all the rays from the surrounding space. Its velvety black depth absorbs all shades of the color palette. And among the magical properties they note the ability to increase internal energy and give strength. Perhaps this is why stylish products with black onyx are appreciated and often chosen by men.
cat's eye
A stone that was considered indispensable in the treatment of fears. It is now known that those who wear it can be cured of mental disorders, depression, excessive aggressiveness, phobias, fears, and skin diseases. It perfectly helps the healing of wounds, bruises, fractures, all colds and helps the body acquire persistent protective reactions. It relieves fatigue well, so you can keep products made from this stone visible in your home. The stone has the property of predicting the state of health and life events: it becomes different to the touch. Cat's eye has a beneficial effect on various internal organs, promotes concentration, restores the body's strength and relieves pain. Gives the owner great endurance and patience. Develops will. It was considered a necessary amulet stone for warriors.
