This weeks story is kindly written for us by Alexandra Alon from Augustine Jewels.

Everything on earth is composed of energy – and rocks, crystals and gemstones are no exception. Gemstones are sure to bring you the energy you have been seeking, whether it be a boost of creativity and imagination, beams of energy, or a sense of calm and soothing balance.

In this difficult period, we need to take care of ourselves – relax, pamper yourself, make your surroundings cosy, read, and learn something new by diving into the jewellery world. We would like to tell you the stories of the Kyanite, Alexandrite, Amazonite and Moonstone gemstones which we have carefully selected for you. We want to help tap into that energy – to lift your spirits and bring some positivity into your life!

Silver Kyanite Cabochon Statement Ring
Price £150

Pear cut Kyanite Gemstone
5.65 carats, price £498

Kyanite derives from the Greek word ‘kuanos’ or ‘kyanos’, meaning ‘deep blue’, which alludes to its typical blue color. However, as well as frequently seen in its blue hue, kyanite is also found in clear, white, green, black, and sometimes even rarely in purple hues. Some kyanite gemstones are not consistent and clear throughout, these are pleochroic (when they appear to be different colors when viewed from different directions). And some also have inclusions throughout – fiber-like structures and flakes. Even though kyanite is rarely seen free of inclusions, some may display the chatoyance phenomenon – also known as the cat’s eye, which furthermore gives each stone a unique character and a distinguished hallmark of beauty. High-quality and beautifully colored kyanite can be cut into attractive and desirable cabochons or into faceted stones. These are often used in rings, earrings, pendants, beads and other kinds of jewellery.

These blue gemstones are known to hold the symbolic meanings of balance, patience, faith and respect – lending its focus to compassion – which at this turbulent and uncertain time is something that is very prevalent. We think that kyanite beautifully reflects the energy of the sky, as winter gives way to spring, the sun climbs higher each day. And with spring coming nearer and unveiling its beautiful presence each and every day, we should get creative and unveil our own colours as well!

Alexandrite Gemstone
15 mm x 12 mm, Octagon Cut, 9.4 carats, price £1000

*Photo showing colour changes of the same gemstone

“Green in sunlight. Red in lamplight. Colour changing Alexandrite is nature’s magic” GIA.

Often described as “emerald by day, ruby by night”, Alexandrite is the very rare colour-change variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. It was originally discovered in Russia’s Ural Mountains in the 1830s and is now found in Sri Lanka, East Africa and Brazil. According to a popular but controversial story about the origin of this gemstone, Alexandrite was discovered by the Finnish mineralogist Nordenskiöld and named Alexandrite in honor of the future Tsar, Alexander II of Russia.

With this gemstone having the ability to display some of the most remarkable colour changes in the world… it is important to note that the Alexandrites have two primary value drivers. First, the closer the colors to pure green and red, the higher the value. Second, the more distinct the color change, the higher the value. Alexandrites can exhibit everything from 100% to just 5% color change. Thus, the most valuable gems would have a 100% color shift from pure green to pure red. Blue-greens and purplish or brownish reds hold less value.

With it’s ever changing color, it is a reminder that life is not only what it seems to be. This gemstone is said to strengthen confidence, creativity, imagination and intuition. It is also said to intensify feelings of love and sensuality. What we also want to note and for you to take away with you: with its power of its remarkable changing colour, it is a reminder to ourselves that we are too also always changing and becoming more remarkable.

Silver Amazonite Stud Earrings
6 mm, Amazonite Cabochon Stones, price £75

Amazonite is a very old gemstone which has been prized for its beauty and healing powers for centuries. It has incredible soothing properties, which restore balance and bring a sense of calm into oneself. Other qualities which it possesses increase one’s self confidence and communication skills.

The mineral is believed to have been treasured as far back as the 10th century BC. According to legend, the warrior women of the ancient Amazon tribe in Brazil used Amazonite stones to adorn their shields, cure illnesses and heal wounds, uses that are all at the heart of Amazonite stone meaning. The pale green rock had also been carved into statues, amulets and gemstones for jewellery and has had important texts carved on it throughout history.

Amazonite is also referred to as “The Amazon Stone”, named after the Amazon River in South America. It is believed to have been discovered at the Amazon River Basin in Brazil. However, the mineral is present in other parts of Brazil, as well Colorado and Virginia in the United States, Australia, and Madagascar.

Silver Moonstone Cabochon Statement Ring
Price £150

As ancient as the moon itself, the meaning of the Moonstone lies within its energy. The power that it gives is said to nourish, stabilize, give passion, and awaken feminine energies. It is also associated with the inner goddess: a symbol of fertility and sensuality. The life-giving feminine figure is an empowering visualization that gives us the gift of creating harmony within and increasing intuition, the perfect prescription for cleansing the mind of negative emotions holding you back.

Moonstone is a variety of the feldspar group mineral orthoclase. During formation, orthoclase and albite separate into alternating layers. When light falls between these thin layers it is scattered producing the phenomenon called adularescence – the metallic glow-like iridescence from inside the stone – a kind of play of light one could say.

Moonstone has been used in jewelry for millennia, including ancient civilizations. The Romans admired this stone, as they believed it was derived from the solidified rays of the moon. Today, the most prized moonstones are from Sri Lanka and India. Blue moonstones are highly valued because of their rarity; such stones are predominantly found in Sri Lanka. Many other moonstone populations are said to be found in Switzerland’s Adula Mountains.

The gemstone’s distinctive opalescent sheen reflects a rainbow of pearly hues such as blue, yellow, silvery gray, and white, which symbolize the moon – and its connection to fluctuating moods and the ever-flowing cycles of life. It is a powerful gem that can mean a lot of things to someone with the diverse healing effects that it holds, and we think you can find your magic within this stone.

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Even if we have to stay at home, we don’t want you to compromise on your wellbeing. We hope that we could enlighten and inspire you about the energy and power which these beautiful gemstones hold. They make wonderful gifts for friends and loved ones, or for yourself to cherish and own. We hope you find a stone that resonates with you.

At Augustine Jewels we pride ourselves on intricate and beautiful handmade jewellery. We choose the highest-quality stones, which are hand selected by our expert team for their beauty, clarity and rarity, before being transformed into beautiful jewellery pieces by the finest craftsmen. All of our gemstones are natural and ethically sourced from around the globe.

Each of our ready-to-wear collections is inspired by a luxury travel destination, from the South of France to Paris to the jewelled Fabergé Eggs of Russia. We choose our gemstones to mimic the colours and atmosphere of each location, for example, the South of France Collection encompasses beaming yellow Citrine, sparkling Sky Blue Topaz, soft Rose and Smoky Quartz, and stunning Green Amethyst, which capture the beautiful colours and elegance of the South of France scenery. Travel through thirteen of our beautiful collections and leave no stone unturned.

For bespoke pieces, we offer a highly personalised service; Alexandra works closely with her clients, helping you select the perfect stone, hand drawing every detail of the design, and finishing with a beautiful and elegant piece of jewellery for you to pass down for generations. Her designs have been shortlisted for multiple awards such as Jewellery Designer of the Year 2017. Whether you have a special design in mind, are looking to invest in a stone, or just want to create something unique and beautiful, we can help – contact us today or book a complimentary consultation to see what we can do for you.

To learn more about our collections and explore what we do, please visit our website via Almost Essential

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If you would like to keep up to date on the world of gemstones and other precious stones, jewellery trends and styling advice, Augustine Jewels have a fantastic blog, which you can also subscribe to for the latest stories! Almost Essential would like to thank Alexandra Alon for writing and sharing this article for us.