Ranging from light to dark purple, this variety of macrocrystalline quartz forms when iron is present in the earth. Amethyst used to be as expensive as ruby and emerald until the 19th Century, when Brazil’s large mineral deposits were discovered. Amethyst can be found in crystals weighing well over 100 pounds, but when worn Amethyst is particularly stimulating to the Third Eye, Crown and Etheric Chakras. Originating from the Greek word for “not drunk,’ Amethyst has been highly regarded for its ability to keep its wearer clear headed and quick. It is the February birthstone.

The coating that is a result of plating another metal in bronze with an oxidized finish. We plate in antique bronze only over brass.

See “Plating” for more information.

The coating that is a result of plating another metal in silver with an oxidized finish. We use this plating only over brass.

See “Plating” for more information.

A setting that secures a stone in place using a raised surrounding that is brought down overlapping the edges of the stone which holds it in place.

Called Carbonado, black diamonds are a form of polycrystalline diamond, which essentially means its structure is similar to many small diamonds being pressed together. Black diamonds do not refract light like white diamonds, but they absorb it, which lends them their color.

See “Diamond” for more information.

One of the more uncommon forms of cryptocrystalline quartz, commonly known as chalcedony, the striations of blue and white in this stone aid in a peaceful, calm and uplifted mind. Blue Lace Agate is a throat chakra stone that will aid in communication, which is why it is also a support crystal that has great de-stressing qualities and is useful in times of high anxiety or fighting.

An alloy of copper and zinc. Its malleability makes brass ideal for jewelry making as well as musical instruments. Because of its metal composition, brass is a very grounding metal that will help you cope with and solve your problems.

Calcite in it's purest form is completely colorless. It is a soft gemstone that is often paired with other materials to strengthen it. We pair it with bronze to create hardness, durability, and contrast. Pictured above in our Essential Ring, the ring is plated with rose gold. The rose gold only attaches to the bronze during plating revealing a very beautiful and unique stone. Calcites metaphysical properties can increase energy and clear negativity.

Refers to the type of cut technique applied to a stone, which is shaped and polished, typically round on top and flat on the bottom.

A light brown diamond with subtle yellow secondary tones. Largely disregarded throughout history, champagne diamonds have recently increased in popularity and value. They are connected with the earth an represent harmony and tradition.

See “Diamond” for more information.

The hardest natural substance and the most valued, this king of crystals is a symbol of innocence, love, and strength. Only diamonds can cut diamonds. A totally colorless diamond is made of nothing but carbon, with impurities such as boron and nitrogen contributing to colored diamonds, such as blue or brown respectively. The ancient Romans and Greeks held the belief that diamonds were tears cried by the gods, and Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds (this is possibly the first association between diamonds and love). Diamonds unite the body and the mind through the crown chakra, enabling healing and a positive mental attitude. Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April.

An earring that is worn upwards with the curve of the ear, secured in place with tension by a thin wire that is threaded through the ear.

A two-component earring that involves a stud worn on the front of the ear held in place by a back-piece that hangs below the earlobe.

Of the mineral family beryl, given its characteristic green color from trace amounts of chromium in it’s mineral composition. Emeralds are mistakenly known for being soft, while actually they are as hard as quartz, but are highly included which is what causes them to break. Emerald is the birthstone of May and is known to be Venus’ sacred stone and a preserver of love, which also related to its connection with the heart chakra. It can foster hope and tranquility in a troubled mind and bring the wearer reason and wisdom.

A gem that has been cut with flat faces in order to improve appearance and reflect light. The art of cutting a gem is mathematically precise, with hundreds of different faceting arrangements being used.

A member of the cryptocrystalline quartz family, and known for its ability to be easily shaped into tools or blades using a method called knapping, its use originated in the stone age. Flint calms the emotional body, grounding excess emotional energies. A well-known property of flint is its unique ability to spark when struck against steel.

Garnet is found in many colors, its signature being a deep red. Garnets are unique in that they may have similar physical properties but can differ greatly in chemical composition which gives us the many forms of garnet; pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular, uvarovite, and andradite. Garnet’s stimulates the first, or root, chair and is a stone of passion and courage. Garnet stimulates devotion to your family, friends, self, and your purpose or goal. Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January.

Gold has been highly valued since before recorded history. Due to its incredible malleability gold can be rolled thin enough to become transparent, and because of this makes excellent wires for electrical conducting, jewelry, and even eye protection for astronauts. Gold provides warm sun-energy to the heart chakra and is known for its healing properties. Pure gold (24 karat) is very soft and is often alloyed with a mixture of other metals to give it strength and durability. Karatage is defined for each piece based on how much metal in a piece of jewelry is gold.

We use the following karatage in our jewelry: 18K: 75% gold, 25% other metals 14K: 58.3% gold, 41.7% other metals 10K: 41.7% gold, 58.3% other metals

Gold Plate – see “Yellow Gold Plate” or “Rose Gold Plate”

The coating that is a result of plating another metal in a black oxide coating which can be composed of several different metal variations.

See “Plating” for more information.

A stone setting technique in which the stone is embedded within a piece of jewelry, flush with its surface.

Also known as Cordierite, Iolite is a magnesium iron aluminum cyclosilicate. Viking navigators used thin slices of polite to filter light and locate the sun on cloudy days. It can display a blue to violet hue in one direction and appear pale to colorless from the other.

Jasper is another member of the cryptocrystalline quartz family. It can be found in nearly any color, most often in a range of red, orange, and yellow because of its high iron content. Uses for this stone can be traced as far back to 4th and 5th millennium BC. Jasper has combined purposes of power and protection. It gives the wearer courage to speak out and seek personal independence. It provides a constant flow of peace and relaxation in times of chaos. During times of addiction or compulsive behavior jasper will provide balance and preserve strength for the path ahead. Jasper is a traditional birthstone for March.

Valued for its iridescent optical effect called labradorescence, labradorite is a member of the feldspar family. The stone, usually gray-green, dark gray, black or grayish-white, is composed in aggregate layers that refract light as iridescent flashes of peacock blue, gold, pale green, or coppery red. Inuit peoples claim Labradorite fell as frozen fire from the Aurora Borealis, an ordinary stone that transforms to the extraordinary, shimmering with mystical light that separates the waking world from unseen realms. Labradorite is the most powerful protector of the mineral kingdom. As a power stone labradorite prevails in the form of determining dreams and goals. It can stimulate your imagination and inspire enthusiasm to develop ideas and purpose.

Valued for its vivid, exquisite, color this semi-precious stone made of the mineral lazurite has been widely treasured since the existence of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, China, Greece, Egypt and Rome. Not only has lapis been used as adornment in jewelry and amulets, but it was used as pigment for rare ultramarine paint during the Renaissance, and even by Cleopatra as eye shadow. The most valuable pyrite is deep blue, though lapis is sometimes found with deposits of pyrite (fools gold). It is the stone of total awareness and will bring light to its wearer. Lapis promotes openness of the throat chakra. It will open the door to self-acceptance, mental clarity and emotional healing.

Easily identifiable by its alternating green bands, malachite is a copper carbonate mineral whose use has been dated as far back as 3000 BC. Malachite has been used throughout many cultures for decorative purposes, jewelry, and pigment for paint or makeup. In the Middle Ages, malachite was thought to protect against the evil eye and to cure stomach ailments if ingested. Still today, Malachite is known for its strong protection over children. It can also be worn to protect the wearer from accidents, safeguard during times of travel, and aid in business success. Malachite has an excellent vibration within the heart chakra and the other chakras surrounding it.

A ring made in a smaller size that is worn above the knuckle.

Based in the feldspar family of minerals, this gemstone has a glowing effect that can be attributed to the phenomenon called adularescence. A diffraction of light through the microstructure of the stone, the internal structure causes the light to spread and create a billowing effect similar to moon beams shining through clouds. Because of this ethereal effect, Moonstone was popularly used during the Art Nouveau period of jewelry making. Moonstone is known to bring success in love and business to the wearer and promote inspiration and intuition. When worn during the full moon it is most powerful.

When silica-rich lava erupts and rapidly cools as it reaches large bodies of water, it quickly solidifies into a volcanic glass with very little to no crystalline structure. Several varieties of obsidian occur, such a black, rainbow, snowflake, and mahogany. Due to its glass-like qualities it was used to make weapons, jewelry and tools in many ancient civilizations. Obsidian is very grounding as it is tied to the root chakra. It is used to protect against depression and negativity. The black color of this gemstone symbolizes self-control and resilience.

Opal is a silica mineraloid that appears in many different colors and varieties. The beautiful dance of colors that make opals so special and unique can be attributed to light waves diffracting as they penetrate the stone and pass through the silica structure. The Romans believed the opal to be the most powerful and precious of all gemstones due to this play of color. It is a stone of inspiration that motivates imagination and creativity. Opal has a high water content, and will aid in all obstacles in life, like water flows over a stone. Opal is the birthstone for October.

One of the many forms of cryptocrystalline quartz, onyx is an agate that ranges in color from white to black and almost everything in between. It is commonly banded in multiple colors. Onyx will ensure a healthy release of negative emotions such as sorrow or grief. It can also help with ending unhappy relationships while sharpening your sense and fortifying self-confidence. Onyx connects and grounds at the root chakra.

Refers to a common setting and design style of stones set closely together. The gems are separated and held in place by little beads of metal similar to prongs. The result is what looks like a surface paved in stones, which is where the name originates in French.

Pearls are formed when a small irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters into the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk. As time passes on, the mollusk will deposit concentric layers of calcium carbonate, the same iridescent material found lining clam shells, also known as nacre. Over the course of several years the calcium carbonate builds up and becomes the pearl that society has historically valued so immensely. A great way to test if your pearl is real is to rub it lightly on the surface of your teeth to see if it feels gritty, as an artificial pearl will feel smooth.

A process through which a piece of jewelry made from one metal is coated with a layer of another metal by use of electrical currents. This coating is not permanent and will wear over time after extensive wear.

Thin metal tines that hold a stone in place. Typically there are 3, 4, or 6 prongs holding each stone. Prongs are used to secure a stone with the least amount of metal possible.

The second most populous stone on the planet, quartz occurs in many different varieties and colors, designated between two families; macrocrystalline and cryptocrystalline. Large crystals such as quartz points (and even amethyst and citrine) are perfect examples of macrocrystalline quartz, as agate or chalcedony is an example of cryptocrystalline quartz. Although a common stone, quartz can be powerful when combined with other stones in healing and meditation. It amplifies the energies of other stones and can bring varying effects to each user. A quartz crystal will help the user get to know oneself.

Rose Gold is one of many forms of colored gold. It is sometimes referred to as crown gold, red gold, and pink gold. Rose gold is made by alloying copper with gold and a little bit of silver. The high the copper content the more rose colored the gold will become.

See "Gold" for more information.

The outside coating that is a result of plating another metal in rose gold.

See “Plating” for more information.

Historically the ruby is one of the most well known colored stones and up until about 100 years ago was more valued than diamonds. A ruby is made of a mineral element called corundum, which it shares with sapphire (see below), but must be a certain level of red to be designated a ruby. Due to its prominent connection with beauty and wisdom it appeared several times in the Bible, been referred to as the “king of precious stones” in Sanskrit and was one of the most sought after stones by European royalty. Today rubies continue to be symbols of passion, health, wealth, and success in love and wisdom. Ruby is directly related to the physical charka and will provide inner strength and courage.

Technically known as corundum, sapphires range in a spectrum of colors from the well-known blue, to clear, orange, yellow, purple, green, and pink. Corundum also occurs as a red stone, which is then designated a ruby (see above). Blue sapphire is the September birthstone. In Ancient Greek and Roman times it was believed that sapphires protected its wearer from envy and harm. Sapphire related to the brow chakra and brings mental clarity. Sapphires are believed to symbolize truth, sincerity, royalty and faithfulness. It is the birthstone of September.

A modified form of bezel with a saw-like surrounding wall that is pushed down over the stone to secure it in place. See “Bezel” for more information.

A faux septum ring sits on the cartilage wall between the nostrils without the necessity of a piercing.

The coating that is a result of electroplating another metal in silver. We plate in silver only over brass.

See “Plating” for more information.

Spinel is often called the great imposter of the gemstone world, as it is often confused for other gemstones. Pure spinel is colorless, but it can be found in a range of hues from red, orange, purple, blue, and black depending on different elemental mixtures that occur when the gem is forming. Because of this color variation spinel can be related to many different charkas. Black spinel in particular will help boost vitality and stamina when faced with obstacles. It is send to lend physical and mental strength to its wearer.

Sterling Silver is an alloy of silver with the standard 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% of other metals. The latter percentage aids in strength and durability of the metal when used in jewelry. Silver is the metal of the moon and reflects the soul, bringing clarity and healing. Silver is a natural antimicrobial and can be woven into clothes to prevent bacteria growth, or even ingested as a colloid to treat and prevent illness. In fact, the phrase “born with a silver spoon” originates from this property of silver.

A recent discovery as far as gemstones are concerned, Tanzanite is found in only one place in the world, northern Tanzania. This gemstone is unique because of a characteristic called pleochroism, in that it displays color variations from different angles, all hues of violets and saturated blues.

Tiger's Eye is a gemstone of the quartz family that is a golden to red-brown color with a lustrous sheen. This visual effect is caused by silicified asbestos in a phenomena called chatoyancy. Tiger's eye is said to enhance confidence and one’s personal power.

Topaz is a silicate mineral that is found in a small array of colors, the most valuable being imperial topaz, which is orange to pink. Topaz is also found clear and in shades of champagne. In Ancient Greece, topaz was believed to bestow strength on the wearer. During the European Renaissance it was believed to have the power to break spells and alleviate anger. In India it has become a common idea that topaz worn above the heart assures a long life, beauty and intelligence. Topaz is the main birthstone for November.

Turquoise is considered one of most ancient gems, dating back to 5000 BC. It is a copper based cryptocrystalline mineral with a waxy finish that is usually opaque but can be found with semi-translucent sections on occasion. In some countries pure blue turquoise is the most highly valued, while at other times turquoise with its signature black matrix, veins of host-rock that run through it, is highly sought after. It is highly regarded as a symbol of health, good fortune and protection from evil. Turquoise balances and aligns all the chakras, stabilizing mood swings and instilling inner calm.

Bronze is an alloy consisting mostly of copper. Bronze was one of the first metals to be alloyed during the development of early civilization. Bronze is grounding, with strong but gentle healing properties.

See "Sapphire" above for more information.

The coating that is a result of plating another metal in yellow gold. We plate in yellow gold over brass and sterling silver.

See “Plating” for more information.