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Moonstone

Moonstone simply owes its name to its resemblance to the celestial body.

The Greeks and Romans associated, already at the time, the moonstone with their lunar deities and thought that this stone was a solidified moon ray.

Moonstone presents a phenomenon of adularescence. This phenomenon takes its name from the adular family of which the moonstone is part. When cut into a cabochon, these stones present a bluish white reflection that seems to caress the surface following the direction of the light.

Moonstone is made up of thin strips of feldspar and this bluish sheen, called adularescence, is caused by blue light interfering with the layers of feldspar.

Considering the importance of the moon to our ancestors, and the similarity they glimpsed between the moonstone and the satellite, their reverence for this ornamental stone is understandable. Due to the silvery to bluish-white light that magically dances across the surface of the stone, it was believed, in ancient India as well as in Rome, that the Moonstone was mysteriously created by the rays of the moon.

It is sacred in India and bears the Hindi name of chandrakant, a term derived from the Sanskrit chandra (“moon”) and kanta (“loved”), which means “beloved of the moon” and thus evokes the mythical origin of the rock. The Romans believed that the appearance of the moon stone changed with the different phases of the star. They even believed that an image of Diana, Roman goddess of the moon could be seen on every moon stone.

One of the recurring themes of the mythology revolving around the moon stone is divination. This is perhaps related to the fact that this ornamental stone has always been considered a “feminine” stone or as the “stone of the goddesses”; in ancient times, divination was usually a female art. So much so that the men disguised themselves as women and took a Moonstone in their mouths in order to see into the future.

An ornamental stone of “tender passions”, the Moon stone is regularly described as having the ability to influence the strongest and most beautiful of all feelings: love.

This ornamental stone was declared the official stone of the US state of Florida, 31 years after the 1969 moon landing.

The Indians, who still hold great importance to stones and beliefs, believed that placing a moonstone in the mouth on full moon nights offered the power to read couples’ futures.

Formerly, moonstones were traditionally cut in cabochon; today they are more and more often faceted.

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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Topaz

Topaz is an aluminum fluorine silicate, colored by iron and chromium, and which can be processed to develop a wide variety of colors.

Topaz used in jewelry is classified as a fine stone.

Topaz has a long history: it is mentioned in the Bible, where it was set in Aaron’s breastplate. It was believed indeed endowed with the capacity to make invincible. It is still mentioned there as one of the twelve stones that served in the founding of Jerusalem.

Topaz is particularly popular because of its variety of colors: it is found in white, yellow, orange, pink, blue green, purple, and sometimes even multicolored. It is generally pure to the eye and can come in large sizes. Its shine is lively; some specimens are additionally pleochroic, that is, they show different colors when viewed from different angles.

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Zircon

Zircon is a natural zirconium silicate. Zircon has a strong birefringence: when the light penetrates the stone, it is divided into two distinct light beams.

This does not increase the shine of the stone, but gives it greater depth, and an interesting mosaic effect.

Its adamantine brilliance, close to that of the Diamond, its fire and its lustre, make it a gem of choice to highlight other gems.

Since ancient times, Zircon was known and exploited: it has been found on some of the oldest archaeological sites in the world. It appears in several ancient texts, notably in a Hindu poem on the mythical Kalpa tree, which was said to be adorned with Zircon leaves.

Some sources also mention a Jewish legend, in which an angel named “Zircon” appears to serve as a guide for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

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