MONDAYS MUSING—WHAT WAS ONCE PRECIOUS...

Its one of those dancing with Murphy's Law days...

Isn't it funny how the value of things change through the years?

I've always had a fascination for gemstones. Aside from the sheer beauty of the stones was the metaphysical properties assigned to them both by ancient cultures and the resurgence of those beliefs in modern times. Precious gemstones have always been used in both in secular and religious rituals—Christian and pagan.

Ancients placed great value on stones that today aren't so valued. Amethyst and red sardonyx is two such gems.

Purple Sapphire

Amethyst Quartz

For instance, amethyst was highly prized and up until the 18^th century amethyst was included in with the most valuable cardinal gemstones. Cardinal stones include diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Today, amethyst is relatively inexpensive, in part, because of the discovery of rich deposits of the stones in Brazil, Zambia (two of the largest producers), Austria and even here in the states. This availability relegated the amethyst quartz from precious to semi-precious category.

In ancient times there were two different types of amethyst, occidental (quartz) and oriental (sapphire). Orient amethyst is a form or a species of the sapphire family and when in the clear form (colorless) is almost indistinguishable from a diamond both in hardness and brilliance. Today the term Oriental amethyst is an illegal term among gem dealers in many countries. Instead these are considered a purple variety of sapphire.

Engraved Amethyst

Engraved Sardonyx

The other form in ancient times was from the western world and quartz family. It’s softer and has been used to make engraved jewelry and pendants. Quartz amethyst was also used to make drinking cups, wine goblets and chalices, many intricately engraved and popular because it was thought to prevent or be an antidote to drunkenness. J

Red sardonyx, or red onyx was highly prized by ancients in Egypt as well as in Rome.  Today we think of the more common black onyx but it comes in quite a variety of colors from black to reddish brown, orange, and red. This is chalcedony quartz. In ancient times it was used as a talisman of protection against evil and harm. Pieces of sardonyx were placed above doors and windows and in all four corners of the house as a grid of protection. Finding red sardonyx in large pieces was rare and hence the precious gem aspect. In fact, there is a sardonyx chalice in the National

Museum of Natural History in Washington DC that dates back to 100 BC from Egypt. Allegedly, the cup is cut from one piece of sardonyx. A Benedictine monk acquired it 1100 years later and had his goldsmiths add silver and gold to the chalice. It was used to hold sacramental wine for mass.

Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II

In Roman times soldiers carried sardonyx and their pieces were often lavishly carved with gods, goddesses, emperors, and heroes such as Aries and Hercules, to make them fearless in war and

Goddess Minerva-Roman Times

protect them from harm. Some were carved from other less expensive colors of onyx. 

(Drawing of a Roman cameo w/God of War.)

Purple Sapphires

Sardonyx

Today, red sardonyx, like the amethyst, is relatively inexpensive.

I’m thinking if there were time travel either gem would be a good currency to have with you when traveling to the ancient world. J       

MONDAY’S MUSINGS: THE POWER OF THE BRILLIANT ZIRCON

It sure is a Monday!

A lovely engagement ring. A pair of sparkling dangle earrings, a brooch, a necklace, the shining accent stones in almost any jewelry. Is it a Zircon or is it a Diamond?

Grains of zircon

Honestly, it’s difficult to tell by the naked eye and even some loupes cannot show the truth. Under a 30 power magnifier, someone with a trained eye can and do see the differences. There are synthetic zirconia or fakes and they are easier to spot because of the dispersion even though these synthetics can be made from grains of reflective zircon the angles are different.

When you think of Zircon, most think fake diamond.  But there is nothing fake about zircons—they’re one of the fieriest natural gemstones in existence next to the diamond. This is due to dispersion. I won’t bore you with all the technical formulae involved with wavelengths, etc. I’ll keep it simple. In gemology the flashes of color you see are due to the degree and angle to which a prism can be cut from a gemstone. It’s the flashes of fire you see in a brilliant diamond. Or a natural zircon.

Zircon colors

Zircons have been mined for thousands of years—Sri Lanka has been mining them for over two thousand years. Gem quality stones can be found in the pebbles of alluvial deposits and in the rough you might not know what you have, unless you know what you’re looking for. Natural zircon can be colorless (and these have traditionally been used in place of diamonds) but also come in shades of gold, pink, green, browns and hazels. Most of the natural zircons are heat treated to clarify the colors or change the color. There are stones from Vietnam and Thailand, when heat-treated, turn a brilliant blue. 

Flamegem--red  zircon

There is also a fiery red zircon, which in ancient times was called Jacinth and was highly valued. They were also called flamegems.

Jacinth (red zircon) in the rough

In ancient Israel, the high priest wore a fiery red zircon on his breastplate. In Exodus 28:19 it’s listed as the first stone in the third row. The book of Revelation speaks of Jacinth as a stone in New Jerusalem, along with other precious and semi-precious stones.

According to Tennyson, King Arthur was said to have Jacinth and other zircon stones set in the hilt of Excalibur. “…all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth work…”

Excalibur being studded with many zircons wouldn’t be usual when you consider the magical properties of the stones. Zircons were believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor, riches, and protection. It was said that when a zircon lost its fire and luster it was a warning of danger. They were also used in enchantment, clairvoyant dreams, and as ornamentation of devices—such as swords, armor, and jewelry—for protection from fire or being struck by lightening, whether natural or from sorcerers or capricious deities. Topaz colored zircon was said to protect against evil spirits.

Red wine zircons

Zircon is also reputed to help the wearer connect with their inner strengths and provide self-confidence and energy. Its supposed to be a stone to help those who grieve to let go, make peace, and move on with their lives. 

The colors of zircons also correspond to different protective properties and represent different signs of the zodiac:

Colorless zircon:  promotes clarity and truth.
Yellow zircon (hyacinth): inspiration, intellect (Gemini, Leo).
Orange zircon: warmth helps us to appreciate and enjoy life (Virgo).

Red zircon: strength, decisiveness (Aries, Scorpio).
Brown zircon: promotes grounding, helps to attract a permanent home (Capricorn). 
Blue zircon: birthstone for Sagittarius, promotes introspection, spirituality, meditation and religion.
Green zircon: promotes renewal, harmony and friendliness (Cancer, Libra).

I’m fascinated by the environmental upheavals—volcanoes, earthquakes, intense heat, the abrasive wash of water, and enormous pressure—that produce gemstones.  In the natural state most gemstones aren’t particularly pretty. I’m captivated by the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They see this rough looking chunk of rock with a bit something that catches their imagination and they work that stone to release the beauty and that hint of something special their eye saw. Isn’t it amazing?

What is astounding to me is how close in strength and fire zircons and diamond are. Both are natural gemstones; almost equal in beauty and fire, both are valuable although the diamond is more so.  As with many gemstones they have been attributed with rich history mystical power.

So the next time you see a gorgeous piece of jewelry and wonder, is it a zircon or is it a diamond?

Only a trained jeweler knows for sure.

MONDAY MUSINGS—Tiger's Eye

As a kid, I always had a absorption for eyes—the sheen of them, the size and shape, and what they tell you about the creature they’re attached to. I drew them constantly. All sizes and shapes. I go back and look at some of my school notebooks and there are all sorts of eye pictures in the margins—human and animal. I still catch myself drawing them.

A curious young Bengal tiger, taken by Swamidu

The big cat’s eyes have a particular allure for me. Which probably explains my fascination for the gem called Tiger-Eye. The luster and shades of colors they come in is amazing.

Polished Tiger-eye gemstones in various colors.

Tiger-eye is in the quartz family. What makes them different from many quartz gemstones is they’re metamorphic—meaning they start out as one thing and through great heat and pressure become something different, something beautiful. They tend to be golden in color—all shades of amber and brown because of the iron oxide. As you can see from the picture, some do come in blue, green, and some rare reds (and they can be dyed other colors and there are simulated tiger-eye gems, too).

Tigers eye is one of the most popular chatoyant gemstone. In gemology, chatoyancy, or chatoyance is an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gemstones and the amount of color or luster depends upon the angle of light when being cut and shaped. Aquamarines, tourmalines, moonstone, and some beryl quartz are chatoyant gemstones.

Polished Tiger-eye gem-easy to
see the reason for the name. 

The word Chatoyant comes from the French word, chatoyer and means to shimmer like a cat's eyes. Chat is French for Cat.


Most Tiger-eye gems are found in South Africa but are also found in places like Australia and the US. 

One Tiger Eye meaning assures the correct use of power, courage, grace and the ability to see clearly without illusion. It was a stone carried by soldiers to enable them to see clearly in the heat of battle. Shamans and healers carry tiger-eye for grounding in metaphysical work and healing. 

In business, the Tiger-eye is supposed to draw the qualities of the tiger into the wearer—patience, focus, and determination. Tiger-eye is a popular gem for men’s jewelry and there are those in business who carry the gem as a talisman for clear thinking and insight in to the situations. 

Another Tiger Eye meaning was to restore peace and harmony to the wearer.

I don’t wear the Tiger’s Eye for it’s supposed mystical properties or what it represents. I wear it because it’s a beautiful gemstone when cut and polished properly, and placed in the right setting. Like a pendant. :-)