Gemstone Lore and Legends Gemstone Lore and Legends
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Gemstone Lore and Legends
alexandrite - named after a czar
• Carried Russian royal colors. Named for Alexander II, the Russian czar.

amethyst - the color of royalty
• Claimed by Da Vinci to dispel evil thoughts.
• Considered sacred to Buddha.
• Believed to prevent drunkenness. Often used for goblets in ancient Greece.

amber - 25 million years old
• Known in Greek mythology as tears dried by the sun.
• Said to bring good luck.
• Used in the Middle Ages for rosary beads.

andalusite - good luck colors
• Displays different colors from different angles.
• Believed to bring good luck.

aquamarine - sailors' best friend
• Named after the sea. Like water, its color is pale to deep blue, often tinged with a hint of sea-green.
• Held the power to keep sailors safe at sea. This stone was also treasured by mermaids.
• Said to re-awaken love in married couples or spark new friendships.
• Carried by sailors to stay in the good graces of Poseidon.

citrine- life saver
• Carried as protection against snake venom in ancient times.

coral - crimson tide-turner
• Said to aid in the safe crossing of rivers.
• Wards off hurricanes.
• Believed to lose its powers once broken.

diamond- the king gem
• Name stems from "Adama," - Greek for "unconquerable," suggesting the eternity of love.
• Believed to help one see things clearly and honestly.
• Represented fearlessness and invincibility.
• Believed to be unlucky when containing flaws, spots or specks.

emerald - cleopatra's coveted
• Prized by Cleopatra more than any other gem.
• Held by the ancients as the gemstone symbolizing love and rebirth.
• Said to quicken the heart and give its owner eloquence.

garnet - the guiding light
• Carried by travelers to protect against accidents.
• Used by Noah to navigate home.

iolite - the water sapphire
• Known as the "water sapphire," said to be used by the Vikings as a navigational tool.

jade - china's royal gemstone
• Treasured in China as the royal gemstone for 5,000 years.
• Endured thousands of years as a symbol of love, virtue and status.
• Reigns as the best known as a symbol of good luck.

jasper - the rainmaker
• Believed to bring on rain and help in dangerous situations.

kunzite- rosy ruler
• Called the stone of discipline.
lapis lazulli - indigo enchanter
• Believed by the Romans to ward off fear and envy and to act as a powerful aphrodisiac.
• Ground up and used to paint the skies and seas in ancient European paintings.
• Believed to free the soul of envy and free the wearer of melancholy.

moonstone - moonlit enticer
• Named by the Romans who once thought they were formed out of moonlight.
• Said to arouse passions.
• Believed to be a stone of inner strength.

onyx - temptation tamer
• Said to cool the yearnings of love.
• Worn in mourning in the Victorian age.

opals - lovely and loyal
• Worn by blondes to protect their hair from changing colors.
• Called the Cupid stone because it reflected the complexion of the Greek god of love.
• Said to lose its power once the owner died.

pearls - the queen gem
• Held as the most valuable gemstone for centuries, symbolizing innocence and purity.
• Considered proof that the moon had magical powers.
• Considered by the Chinese to be the hidden soul of the oyster.
• Called the tears of the gods in ancient Persian mythology.
• Thought to be God's first act of creation by some Muslim legends.

peridot - protective beauty
• Given as a symbol of fame, dignity and protection.
• Favored by pirates to protect them against evil.
• Said to protect the wearer from bad dreams at night when set in gold.

quartz - cool deceiver
• Considered spiritual and once believed to be a compact form of ice.
• Believed to attract energy.

ruby - peacemaker
• Thought to ward off misfortune.
• Known as the stone of love.
• Given as a symbol of success, devotion and integrity.
• Said by ancient lore to be capable of reconciling lovers' quarrels.
• Given in engagement rings to express passion and promise of their heart.

sapphire - true blue loyalty
• Said to have been worn around the necks of kings as a powerful defense against harm-preserving them from envy and putting them in divine favor.
• Given in engagement rings to express commitment and loyalty.
• Represents truth, sincerity and consistency.

topaz - colorful cloak
• Believed by the ancient Greeks to have the power to make its wearer invisible in times of emergency.
• Carved with a figure of a falcon in ancient times to help acquire the goodwill of kings, princes and magnates.

tourmaline - many faces
• Able to pass for virtually every other stone around, it has been mistaken for emeralds and even for rubies in the Russian crown jewels.
• Said to express an artist's every mood and inspiration.

turquoise - a smooth guardian
• Believed by Native Americans to protect them from demons and help their aim when hunting.
• Thought, throughout the Middle East, to increase prosperity.

zircon - funny facets
• Thought in the middle ages to help bring wisdom to the wearer.
• Said to improve humor.
• Worn by travelers for protection.

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