What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about precious stones? For most people, it’s diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. These are the “big four.”
But it turns out that there’s a world of interesting gemstones out there. And each of them has specific properties that could improve your outfits – and your life.
Opal
Opal is perhaps one of the most interesting stones you can buy because of the way it forms. The material is made of the fossilized remnants of ancient shells – a bit like limestone – that have become opalized over time. Many gemstones have cross-sections that tell interesting stories, showing different layers of material, indicating how it formed.
The gem is famous for providing wealth, health and happiness. It can be fragile, though, so only order it from reputable dealers.
Ammolite
If you like your jewellery to have an iridescent look, be sure to check out Ammolite. Ammolite is a stone that represents calm thinking and wisdom. It’s usually extremely multi-coloured, providing mostly blue and green mixed with reds, oranges, and yellows.
Major jewellers regularly commission artisans like JewelCast to create metal housings for the stone. However, it’s important to store it in the dark. The blue elements are photo-sensitive and can fade over time if you don’t look after them.
Larimar
Larimar is the “in the moment” stone – a gem that reminds you that the past and future don’t exist. Most examples of larimars are sky blue with cloudy white patches, making it a very uplifting jewel. It’s also called the dolphin stone because of its association with the sea.
Many people use this stone in their homes to help them feel calmer and more relaxed. Some people believe that it confers wisdom.
Carnelian
Carnelian is an interesting precious stone because of its bright colour. The stone itself is best described as having a sticky, honey-like orange colour that irradiates a warm glow.
The stone is all about being confident and self-actualizing – realizing your dreams and making them come to fruition.
In the past, people associated the stone with the noble class only, but since then, it can become more democratized. It’s not expensive, and you can often pick up large stones for less than a day’s wages.
Goldstone
Goldstone isn’t actually a gemstone at all. But once you polish it up, it looks stunning.
A lot of goldstone is actually red and contains flecks of gold throughout their volume. In the 17th century, monks would experiment with these stones, believing that they could extract gold from them.
Today, we know that that’s not possible, thanks to the chemical composition. But that doesn’t stop these incredible objects from looking very “gold-like” in their appearance.
The stone stands for vitality and energy. It’s also been associated with communication and education.
Drusy Agate
Lastly, you might want to check out drusy agate. It’s an unusual stone – often clear or blue – that has spurs and growths, sometimes called sprouted crystals. Like other crystal structures, it grows under enormous pressure and has a more natural look and feel.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links