Gemstone Fun Facts & History
Amber β Found mainly in the Baltic regions (Lithuania, Poland, Kaliningrad) and the Caribbean, amber is fossilized tree resin dating back over 40 million years. Its colors range from honey gold to green, blue, red, and even white. Cultures across Europe and Asia wore amber as protection, carved it into amulets, and even ground it for medicine.
Lapis Lazuli β This deep blue stone, often flecked with gold pyrite, was prized by the Egyptians, who used it in jewelry and ground it into pigment for sacred art. King Tutankhamunβs burial mask is famously inlaid with lapis.
Jade β Found in Canada, China, and Russia, jade comes in two forms: nephrite and jadeite. Universally regarded as a stone of protection and harmony, jade is also worn to attract abundance and wealth, making it a cherished gemstone across cultures.
Amethyst β A violet quartz valued since ancient Greece, where it was believed to guard against intoxication. The finest stones are found in Brazil, but amethyst occurs worldwide.
Carnelian β A reddish-orange form of chalcedony quartz, carnelian has been found in Egypt, India, and Brazil. Known as the βsunset stone,β it was worn for courage and used to make seals in the Roman Empire.
Rose Quartz β Soft pink quartz associated with love and romance. Ancient Romans and Egyptians used it for beauty rituals and talismans of affection.
Larimar β A rare blue stone found only in the Dominican Republic, its swirling colors are said to capture the Caribbean Sea.
Agate β A type of banded chalcedony quartz found worldwide, especially in Brazil and Uruguay. Its colorful bands form as layers of silica slowly deposit in volcanic rock cavities over millions of years. Each band tells part of the stoneβs unique geologic story.