Natural stones are an amazing work of nature. Their brightness fascinates and captivates; you want to peer into their faces again and again, admiring their majestic, unique beauty. And how perfectly they complement the image of any beauty wearing jewelry using natural crystals. Such products can transform and make any woman unique. But how to choose the right accessory, what stones are jewelry made from? Let's try to understand this issue.
What types of stones are there?
According to the classification of natural crystals developed by A. E. Fersman, depending on their rarity, features and value, 3 groups of stones for jewelry can be distinguished: precious (or semi-precious), semi-precious and ornamental.
Gems
Precious stones are rare minerals with a beautiful appearance, which rightfully include noble diamond , spring emerald , fire ruby , topaz , sapphire , zircon .
Precious stones are also divided according to classification, for example, there are 1st order, like diamond , 2nd, like topaz and 3rd, like zircon . Depending on this order, they have different prices. However, it may depend on the size and characteristics of the gems.
It happens that a stone of a lower order can cost more than a mineral of a higher level. Basically, all emeralds that are used by master jewelers are up to 2 carats, and the cost can range from $500 to $1000. However, an emerald weighing more than 3 carats sometimes exceeds the price of even a ruby and a diamond of that weight. You can always ask a jeweler what stones I make jewelry from.
Semiprecious stones
This group includes crystals that are not as rare as precious ones. There are much more deposits of them on Earth, so they are considered semi-precious. This category includes amethyst , garnet , agate , tourmaline , peridot and many others. The cost of these minerals, of course, is much lower than precious ones. However, there are exceptions here too.
For example, high-quality tourmaline costs from $25 to $150 per carat. However, sometimes you come across stones that combine a smooth transition of 2-3 colors, the cost of which is approximately $1000 per carat. The blue-green mineral is much more expensive - up to $5,000. You can check with the master what kind of stones the jewelry you like is made from. Often these characteristics are indicated on the jewelry tag.
Ornamental stones
Ornamental materials mainly include opaque minerals, rock or organic compounds. Such stones do not have a bright shine, but with a good cut they can even be compared with precious crystals. In ornamental jewelry you can find: jade , lapis lazuli , sodalite , azurite , malachite , jasper , vesuvian , etc. Check in the store or with the master what stones are used to make the jewelry you have your eye on.
Slates in the interior
Products made from slate are very durable and highly resistant to high and low temperatures. This material is also characterized by low water absorption, abrasion resistance and ease of processing.
Slate surfaces are most often gray in color, sometimes with a hint of blue or green, although brown, yellowish surfaces are also found, often with a characteristic pearlescent sheen. Due to the content of mica and silica, they shimmer in the light and in the light of fires. This is why slate is an ideal material for wall cladding, fireplaces and also for floors.
Slate is also a rather rare stone. Products made from it are supplied to our market mainly from China, Germany and France. The French, by the way, simply adore this material and widely use it in both external and internal decoration of houses.
Names of stones and their meaning
Now let's figure out what stones are used to make jewelry that can not only decorate, but also heal and bring benefits.
One of the most desirable for many girls is diamond, which consists of the main vital element - carbon. Diamond is considered a symbol of innocence, purity, wealth, success and happiness. It improves memory and helps its owners feel younger.
One of the most revered and beloved minerals all over the world is emerald. It not only fascinates with its beauty, but also has a number of mystical and healing properties, helping in the treatment of the stomach, bladder, head and joints. It is also indispensable in personal relationships, as it helps to calm down, refrain from rash actions, and remain faithful to your spouse.
Pearls are a mineral that is amazing in nature and also very popular in terms of jewelry. It takes at least 12 years for a grain of sand that falls into the shell of a mollusk to turn into this amazing stone. It means purity, prosperity, durability. Able to improve relationships with loved ones.
Very often, large gemstones are combined with zircon in jewelry. Zircon is a brittle mineral of crystalline nature. It is characterized by a strong diamond shine, for which this crystal is also called the younger brother of diamond. It is believed that this crystal is a stone of strength and power.
Features of the use of marble in interior cladding
Since ancient times, marble was considered an unsurpassed material for the construction and decoration of buildings; ancient sculptors idolized it. The Temple of Artemis and the Parthenon, the statue of Venus de Milo are made of snow-white marble, which still retains the spirit of antiquity. Marble is a metamorphic rock formed as a result of recrystallization and metamorphism of limestones and dolomites. Translated from ancient Greek, marble means “brilliant stone,” and it truly has the amazing property of shining, transmitting light, literally shining under the bright rays of the sun.
Marble is surprisingly plastic - it can easily be processed and polished, and at the same time it is quite durable, moisture-resistant material, which also has antiseptic properties. It is successfully used for cladding wet rooms, fireplaces, floors and walls, for making window sills, table tops, as well as interior items - sculptures, vases, mosaics, etc. However, marble is very sensitive to external influences; mechanical damage and chemical agents can easily damage its surface. Based on color, marbles are divided into white and colored. Colored marbles are characterized by the presence of veins, which are cracks filled with natural cements.
Rocks related to marble, which are also successfully used today for interior decoration, are onyx and travertine.
The attractive pattern, variety of shades and relative cheapness of this material are increasingly providing compelling arguments in favor of choosing travertine for interior decoration.
Jewelry made from natural stones
Not only people can interact, make friends and quarrel. The same applies to stones and metals. Therefore, it is important to know what stones jewelry is made from, as well as what combinations of metals and crystals are found.
Natural stones in gold
Gold clashes with the following jewelry: garnet, red jasper, hematite, pink topaz. It is completely normal to combine it with stones: agate, golden topaz, onyx, emerald. But an ideal pair for gold can be a noble diamond , an unusual yellow sapphire hyacinth , peridot , red or green amber .
Natural stones in silver
Silver does not tolerate diamonds, rubies, turquoise, zircons, beryl, and red coral. But pearls, topaz, rock crystal, malachite or lapis lazuli are much more suitable. But the best combinations with this metal are crystal moonstone , lilac amethyst , and legendary jade .
Natural stones for jewelry
As for costume jewelry made from natural minerals, agate , amethyst , opal , pearls , garnet , and turquoise . The most popular jewelry is made from turquoise and green crystals; jewelry with amethyst is less popular.
Stone products
As a rule, rings, beads and bracelets are made from solid minerals, which do not require the participation of metals in order to secure the stone in a certain position. To make a solid product from a single crystal, it must be of significant size. Therefore, most often such jewelry is made of amethyst , citrine , quartz , morion , rock crystal , agate, jasper, and opal.
Limestones and travertine in the interior
Limestones are soft stones with high porosity. They easily absorb fat and water. Therefore, surfaces made from them must be impregnated with resin, silicone and polished. This will make them easier to keep clean.
The most famous and popular type of limestone in decoration is travertine. It is a slightly harder version of limestone with an original, heavily carved and porous structure, and characteristic warm honey-yellow tones. Travertine has recently become so fashionable that its specific color and texture have even been copied by ceramic tile manufacturers.
Thin travertine stones are best suited for finishing walls and fireplace rooms. If you want to use them in the bathroom, then this can only be done after the pores have been sealed and the surface itself has been polished and impregnated.
How to choose a stone
Based on the fact that stones can have a fairly significant impact on its owner, bring good luck or, on the contrary, negatively influence it, it is clear that the choice of jewelry with a stone should be approached with the utmost care.
How to choose a stone according to your horoscope
The easiest way to successfully choose a stone for yourself is by your zodiac sign. Experts in the field of astrology have long developed a classification of stones suitable for a particular sign.
In addition to the fact that you can choose a stone according to your zodiac sign, there is another method for selecting stones according to your horoscope for your benefit. You will learn about this from the video below.
How to choose a talisman stone
It’s even better when the stone is not only correctly selected and beautiful, but also protects against bad spells or brings something good - that is, it is a talisman. Especially in need of protection are those who are unable to resist negativity, the evil eye, and envy, namely children and pregnant women. Let's figure out what stones talismans are made from.
Malachite is a strong protective mineral for children, protecting the child from the evil eye and a number of diseases. Both family and children's talisman is rose quartz, which protects children from dangers, diseases, and injuries. Obsidian is the most powerful magical amulet for a child, because... with its energy it is able to protect against black magic.
The best women's talisman is carnelian, which helps to find love and family happiness, protect a woman's health, get a long-awaited pregnancy, heal wounds, and prevent bleeding.
The best talisman for a pregnant woman is cacholong, which is not only capable of giving her energy and strength during the entire period of pregnancy, but also copes well with toxicosis, edema, and high blood pressure. It will help you maintain a calm, harmonious state. Emeralds are useful for pregnant women, as they promote quick and easy childbirth.
Well, for a new mother, the best amulet will be jewelry with diamonds, which will fill her with the missing energy and protect her from illnesses and injuries. It is recommended to take diamonds during childbirth because they enhance metabolic processes and can stop bleeding.
Stones that bring good luck
Jewelry with garnet, jade, golden or yellow citrine are considered talismans of good luck and success, especially in material matters and in business. They contribute to prosperity, accumulation, and increase in savings.
Agates will be able to bring prosperity and success in business to their owner. Moreover, each profession has its own color of the mineral: black will help players place their bets correctly on the stock exchange, blue will help to reveal a creative personality and earn money with their talent, and a gray stone will help those who have decided to arrange a career as a lawyer, notary or detective.
Another stone promises success in business - green chrysoprase. It will help a novice businessman open a business and protect him from rash and fruitless transactions.
Now, knowing what stones jewelry is made from, let’s remember the most important criterion when choosing a mineral - peace of mind and balance. If, while studying the stone, you picked it up and felt peace and tranquility, then this is your option. If you were anxious or excited, then it is better to refuse this purchase.
You can look at the beautiful accessories, find out what stones jewelry is made from and how to wear them correctly in the video below.
How and where is stone cladding used?
This material is considered universal, because with its help any home turns into a real palace. The accents look especially beautiful - stone steps, podiums, niches, bar counters, trim around the openings.
The lining of fireplaces, especially wood-burning ones, is no less in demand. Just entrust the installation of such a fireplace to specialists, because... Natural stone does not like sudden temperature changes and thermal insulation is necessary. Among other things, a marble fireplace risks becoming the main decorative element of your living room. An interesting option is to decorate the space around the head of the bed and various household appliances with stone. An accent wall will give the room a special charm.
Stone finishing is also appropriate in the kitchen. An apron made of quartzite and other types of natural stone is resistant to moisture, high temperature and regular exposure to detergents. This is the best option for kitchens in a variety of styles - classic, country, Provence, shabby chic. The best addition to the work area would be a marble window sill or a niche trimmed with stone fragments.
Organic stones
Gems of organic origin are classified into a separate group . The most valuable are natural sea pearls, formed in oyster shells. Some pearls cost millions of dollars.
Coral jewelry is cheaper, but it is even more “alive”, because coral is a polyp, an invertebrate marine animal. Amber, which is formed when resin hardens on coniferous trees, also belongs to the organic group. Sometimes an insect lands on the resin, which then cannot tear itself away from the sticky surface and ends up in a trap. New layers of substance are superimposed on top and as a result, a mosquito or butterfly is completely enclosed in amber. Samples with inclusions are more expensive than regular ones.
Cost of gems
Prices for precious gems depend on many factors. Not only the physicochemical properties and appearance are important, but also the rarity of its occurrence in nature. For example, the cost of 1 carat of a high-quality diamond is 18-18 thousand dollars, but the price per carat of its dark red variety reaches 1 million dollars.
The region of origin also matters. Some of the highest quality and purest minerals are mined in Russia (in Yakutia and the Urals). Also leading are the countries of Africa and Australia, where placers and deposits of rare varieties of gems, such as red emeralds, are often found.
Shine
In the description of precious stones, in addition to physical properties and chemical composition, there is such a characteristic as shine. This effect is a consequence of the refraction of light from the surface of the mineral, independent of its shade.
The degree of surface treatment of the crystal matters. Light is reflected better from a smooth plane than from a rough one. In the latter case, it most often dissipates, so the correct cut of the stone is very important to enhance this characteristic.
The following types of gloss are distinguished:
- metal;
- diamond;
- glass;
- resin;
- wax;
- fatty;
- pearl.
The most valuable minerals, diamonds, have a diamond-like luster.
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What, what, what, what... are jewelry made from?
