Gemstone jewelry is the most mesmerizing and timeless chunk of history consisting of sparkling diamonds, vibrant rubies, and rich sapphires amongst numerous others known to add elegance to any look. Gemstones are typically minerals, rocks, or organic materials that are beautified to make embellishments of various types depending on their composition making them unique in separate ways. People have appreciated gemstone jewelry through the ages for their deep-rooted history, intriguing myths, and spiritual gist as they incorporate the beauty and qualities of the stone into their lives.
In India, gemstones have had a fair share of history in trade and adornment while contributing to the cultural essence of the land to which they belong. For thousands of years, India was considered to be the supplier of gemstones to the world trade addressing its fortune-providing properties. Hints of Gemstones can be seen in the Ajanta and Ellora which were constructed between the second to sixth centuries, proving these precious elements with their distinct historical existence.
According to the epic tales of Mahabharata, the potion of Amrita consists of pure water, gold, herbal extracts, and most importantly dissolved gemstones. Kohinoor is frequently remembered for having multiple owners leaving behind war, bloodshed, and disruption of peace, there was one such similar diamond in history, the Syamantaka Mani. This divine gemstone had an unusual ability to make gold, Surya (Sun God) gave it to his most loyal devotee from whom it kept on passing on to several owners.
A lion stole the stone which was then killed by the bear King Jambavan who wanted to gift the diamond to his daughter. The king was defeated by lord Krishna, who finally bought the diamond to rest in Dwarka. Even in the cosmic tug of war best known as Samudra Manthan, the gods are on the right, and the demons on the left are churning the cosmic ocean to bring Amrita to the surface.
After churning the ocean for the longest time several treasures floated up to the surface of the water including Goddess Lakshmi, a seven-headed horse, and a precious greenish stone called Kaustuba Mani. The stone is said to represent divine consciousness which Lord Vishnu carries on his chest.
A grayish blue diamond dating back to the 17th century was found in one of the mines in India where it was first bought by a French merchant named Jean Baptiste Tavernier. He then proceeded to sell the diamond to the king of France Loius XIV in 1668, who recut the stone to fit in gold by a jeweler. Soon after the loot of the diamond from the French treasury, it was then said to be owned by King George IV of England but was soon sold to pay off all of his debts after his death.
The stone was then bought by several people through private channels until it reached Evalyn Walsh McLean, a mining heiress. Mclean faced many misfortunes afterward as her son died in a car accident, her daughter died of a drug overdose, and her husband died in a sanitarium. All of this led the family to sell their newspaper the Washington Post in a local bank auction.
Mclean also ended up dying due to pneumonia in 1947 and that is when the stone was lastly bought by Harry Winston along with Mclean’s whole jewelry collection. In 1958 he donated the Hope diamond which was worth a quarter of a billion dollars to the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, where it belongs to this day.
The Delhi purple sapphire is originally not a sapphire but an amethyst with a violet hue. It is said that the gemstone was stolen by a British soldier from a temple in Kanpur during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The stone was brought to London by Colonel W. Ferris which then led to the downfall of his life as the whole family suffered from financial instability and health issues.
It was soon passed on to Edward Heron, a scientist and a writer who claimed to be harmed by the curse of the Delhi purple sapphire immediately after receiving it. He mentioned that the stone is cursed and covered with the bloodshed of its past owners.
Aware of its deadly powers Edward kept it away in seven boxes surrounded with good luck charms that did not eventually save him from dying. Soon after his death, his daughter donated the amethyst stone to the National Museum of London along with a cautious letter for the future owners of the gemstone on the handling of the infamous Delhi purple sapphire.
Gemstones have been around for thousands of years, Egyptians were the first ones to be introduced to the gemstones, adorning themselves with turquoise, lapis lazuli, and amethyst, among several others. Egyptians were known to believe that every stone holds a special significance, therefore using them in elaborate neckpieces, rings, and headpieces often combined with gold for a subtle contrast.
The Sumerians of Mesopotamia created some of the earliest jewels, including dainty beads of agate, lapis lazuli, and red carnelian. The Sumerians were the first ones to incorporate the technique of granulation, which involves tiny gold beads being adhered to metal surfaces solely with heat, granulation is used to add texture to existing designs.
The Romans popularised the use of rings to indicate social status and power by specifically using the most precious gemstones, such as sapphires, emeralds, and pearls, in their jewelry, they had a special take on this as they engraved the gems with regional seals. The Renaissance period was a time of unmatched grandeur that brought back ancient culture and art seen in the jewelry-making style of the mentioned period.
Precious gemstones were popularised once again majorly renewing rare diamonds that were cut to enhance their beauty. The emergence of the Victorian period brought in a new take on the jewelry styles by using delicate and intricate designs including flowers, hearts, and naturesque elements.
Later in that period gems like jet, onyx, and amethyst were being widely used. Art Nouveau is a jewelry style that was highly popularised during World War I, known for its natural shape and flowing lines incorporated as gemstones in soft pastel shades. In addition, art nouveau jewelry showcases major elegance and sophistication with pearls and diamonds while introducing platinum as a new metal.
Gemstones are known for their profound meaning in various civilisations symbolizing beauty, power, and deep spiritual understanding, each stone carries its meaning of being the stone of eternal love, good fortune, and commitment, making them the best choice for any special occasion.
Sapphires are expensive not just because of their rich deep blue color but also their historical symbolism of wisdom and royalty. In the ancient period, gemstones were not just decorative items but were also included in spiritual practices to bring positive and healing properties.
Turquoise is a vibrant green-blue gemstone that has been a priceless prize for thousands of years often used for jewelry and decor items. In addition, turquoise offers a sense of protection, healing, and good fortune.
Amethyst is a purple stone ranging from a soft lavender color to a deep violet often used for jewelry while amethyst is said to bring clarity and peace of mind it has been held close for years for its beautiful cultural values. For the maintenance of this stone avoid placing it in direct sunlight for longer and clean gently with a soft cloth.
Pearls are legitimately known as the queen of gemstones, being one of the most precious stones ever to exist. It is an organic stone obtained from the sea through a natural deriving process. The extraordinary hue and shine of the pearl ranges from classic white to deep black making them an everlasting symbol of elegance and divinity.
Topaz has been well known as a powerful stone in history having a major mention in the bible as well. The natural state of the gemstone is colorless or pale but certain levels of impurities present in the stone result in a variety of colors like deep blue, pale green, purple, pink, and reddish-orange. Although it is very hard because of its atomic strength, topaz still requires gentle care by the wearer.
The charming history of the gemstones has been truly fascinating since ancient times making them a crucial fragment of several cultural backgrounds. As we took a bumpy ride down the intriguing history of gemstones we came across the untold myths and mysteries that make these gemstones truly amazing and one of their kind enriched with a dark nuance of their persona. Whether you are a believer in the spiritual and mystical resemblance of these precious stones or just an admirer of their everlasting beauty, owning a gemstone cluster jewelry that has been a rare natural element under the surface of the earth is a delightful privilege in itself.
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