Blue Topaz Earrings
Imagine a world of black and white hue, white sky, black soil, gray trees and smoky air. To dwell in such a colorless world will be sheer boredom. The fun of life is to live amongst the colorful creations, the bright blue sky, and golden shinny sunlight, the cool green vegetation that imbibes our soul with energy and solace. However, the modern inventions make life convenient, the real gift of nature is unsurpassable and can never be juxtaposed with man's creation. One such astonishing gift of nature is the GEMSTONE. The colorful, sparkling, and radiant crystals that render from the bowels of earth. Many fantasies and ideologies evolve around these mystic stones. They are hailed in various names as healing stones, lucky stones and birthstones.
The focus of this article is to bring to the readers in an interesting and concise form, the travelogue of blue topaz earrings gemstones through the various generation of mankind. Let us start from Geosciences, the study about gemstone, and then pass on to survey the occurrence of gemstone in various civilizations. The reference of gemstones in the religious scriptures further emphasizes the sacredness of these precious stones. The bewitching role of these miraculous stones in the world of occult is quiet interesting too.
I: GEOSCIENCE:
Gemstones are naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral extracted from the earth crust and deep sea. Not all minerals are capable of being cut and fashioned. The mineral must posses hardness and stability and occur in crystals or masses, large enough for cutting. Such material is rare. Out of four thousand known minerals, only 100 minerals are ever obtained, and only about 20 are commonly utilized. Gemstones are valuable, because they are rare and most durable. The value of the gemstone is determined by its quality and size. The size is given in carats, which is a term of weight (1 carat =0.2 grams). Synthetic gems manufactured in laboratories and gem factories are of much less value and less desired. They are not believed to possess the divine radiations associated with original gems.
II: Travelogue of Gemstones in various civilizations:
a. Gemstones in Jewellery:
Man adorned blue topaz earrings gemstones in jewellery. Jewellery is a work derived from an anglicized form of the French word 'Jouel', in around 13th century. Initially jewellery meant the adoration of any natural material like animal bone, teeth, shell, and wood or carved stones upon the human body. At the advent of gemstones, jewellery studded with gems became prominent. Jewllery was often made for people of rank and status. The history of royalty sheds light on the occurrence of gemstones in the royal jewellery.
Diamonds, long considered the most prized of gemstones, were first mined in India. Currently Africa and Canada are the major sources. The British crown jewels, contains the culliman Diamond, part of the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found (1905). Other than diamond, some gems like amethyst, cubic zirconias are also considered precious.
b. Gemstones in Greek and Roman Civilization:
The trend of studding blue topaz earrings gemstones in jewellery existed in Greek around 1400 BC. By 300 BC, Greeks started to utilize other gems like Amethyst, Pearls, and Emerald. The first sign of cameos appeared with Greeks. They created them from Indian Sardonyx, a striped brown, pink and cream agate stone.
The common piece of jewellery in Rome was the brooch, which was used to hold clothing together. Brooch studded with gemstones was greatly admired. A wide variety of natural materials were used by Romans for their jewellery, from their extensive resources across the continents. They imported Sri Lankan sapphires, Indian diamonds and used emeralds and amber in their ornaments. Both Greeks and Romans entrusted with gemstones, the power to ward off Evil Eye.
c. The Renaissance:
During 17th century an increase in exploration and trade resulted in hording wide variety of gemstones.The CHEAPSIDE HOART, the stock of a jeweler hidden in London, England during the commonwealth period and not found again till 1912, is a valid evidence of gemstones. It contained Colombian topaz, Amazonite, from Brazil, Spinel, Wlite and chrysoberyl from Sri Lanka, ruby from India, Afghan,Lais lazuli, Persian turquoise, Red sea peridotas well as Bohemian and Hungarian opal, garnet and amethyst. During the rule of Napoleon, jewellery such as diamond tlara, diamond earrings, diamond rings, and diamond brooch and diamond necklaces was launched.
d. Gemstones in Asia:
China was the first Asian culture to use gemstones. Gemstones show a history of
about 5000 yrs in China. Chinese, who were religious in their mind, utilized gemstones dominantly in Buddhist symbols.They preferred jade, due to the human-like qualities ,they assigned to it, such as its hardness durability , and aesthetic beauty.Jade rings from between the 4th century and 7th century BCE , show immense evidence. Amulets can also be seen commonly. They were used in Chinese earrings worn by both men and women.
India was the first country to mine diamonds, with some mines dating back to 296 BC. When Chinese used diamond for carving jade, Indians traded diamond for their aesthetic values.
e. Gemstones in America:
Britons, the Native Americans used shell, woods, turquoise and soap stones. The properties of the stones were often used in jewellery. The turquoise was used in necklaces and earring.
f. Opal of Australia:
Opals are predominantly supplied from Australia. Since many years, though opal was mined in Europe and South America, for many years, Australia is currently ranking in opal supply.
III: GEMSTONES IN SCRIPTURES AND LITERATURE:
The gemstones are referred in the following verses in Bible.
1. The Old Testament Exodus, chapter 39(16-14) Breastplate of the High Priest.
2. The Old Testament Revelation, chapter 2 (18-22).
3. The New Testament Corinthians chapter 3(12-13).
4. Apocrypha Tobit chapter 13(16-18).
1. The Old Testament
Exodus, chapter 39, (6-14)
And they wrought onyx stones
Enclosed in ouches of gold,
Graven, as signets are graven,
With the names of the children of Israel.
And he made the breastplate of cunning work,
Like the work of the ephod;
Of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet,
And fine twined linen.
They set in it four rows of stones:
The first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle:
This was the first row.
And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and jasper:
They were enclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosing.
Coral is mentioned twice in the Holy Quran, the sacred book of Muslims, in Surat Al-Rahman once in association with Pearl and again in connection with Ruby. Allah-Gems, are alluring gemstones with Allah written in Arabic The Allah Gems are extremely rare. About 10,000 pieces of agate are split open to get a good piece. These gems are far rarer than diamonds, though they are less expensive. This Allah-Gem caught the attention of the connoisseurs of art, at the recently held Dubai International Arts and Antique Expo.
Further authors and erudite men used gemstones, among other images of nature to delineate and pictures the human emotions and expressions. Gemstones were used as milestones to mark every event from birth to death.Men of letters adorned the gemstones in literature and poetry as figure of image. The poetry Lapis Lazuli by the inimitable bard of 20th century, W.B.Yeats, is an apt example.
IV: GEMSTONES AS HEALING STONES:
Prior to the invention of modern medical science, healing therapy was a mixed theory of different notions.The radiations from the gemstones was believed to have an impact upon the human body. The ancient civilization of Mediterranean Basin, central and South American began to ascribe medicinal and occult powers to gemstones, thereby treading a path quiet in contrary to the existing medical theory.
Treatment of a particular disease by gemstones is termed GEMOPATHY. In Asian countries like India and China, the tradition is long established. But many people in the west strongly believe in the up surging gemopathy. The healing power of gems differs in accordance with the colour, texture, and the crystalline structure of the blue topaz earrings gem in question. The Treatment of Disease by Precious stones 2004 by Zakariya Hemimi, is an evident proof of the revival of gem-therapy. The following is a brief description of the medical value of gemstones.
Ruby- Heart disease, fear, confusion, and eye-disorder.
Pearl- Blood disorder, abdominal diseases,
Coral - Insanity, coma, disorder of brain.
Emerald Loss of voice, insomnia.
Yellow sapphire Lethargy, heaviness, breast related disease,
Diamond Impotency, semetic disorder.
Blue sapphire - Insanity, abdominal disorder, infertility.
V: BIRTHSTONES:
Gemstones are perceived with magical powers. The dominant ideology, that is persistent even during the modern times, is the superhuman effect; the gems have upon human body and soul, when worn. Since ancient times, every culture bore a divinity to the gems. In Indian, Hindu mythology gems are referred as Protection Gems that ward off the evil energy. There is a belief that the twelve stone in the Great Breastplate of Jewish High Priest may have something in significance with the evolution of birthstone chart. The interpreters of Revelation ascribe this to the twelve apostles.The number twelve is also associated with the Hindu Mythology, say the twelve zodiac signs. Each gem is believed to represent or control the radiations of the zodiac signs based on a colour system.
The custom of associating each birthstone to the calendar months rather than that of zodiac also exists till date. The list of the birthstones, which is accepted today, was adopted in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewellers, which later evolved into the Jewelers of America. Let us shun away the superstitious stigma adhered to the gemstones, but the aesthetic beauty of the alluring gems are truly a feast to the romantic minds.
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