This Gemstone Index is provided as a guide to assist you with your purchases. We have tried to include as much relevant information as possible. We have included information related to the products we sell.

Agate

There are many different forms of Agate. Examples include Blood Agate, Fossil Agate, Moss Agate, Tree Agate and Natural Agate. Agate is a cooling stone and it is said to cure insomnia, protect against danger, promote strength and healing, and ensure a healthy life. The major sources of agate are the U.S.A., Australia, Canada and Mexico.

Tree Agate

This gemstone is covered with green flecks. It is said to bring awareness of personal strengths, creating security and stability. Its metaphysical power is believed to be effective over a long period of time.

Amazonite

The most common form of Amazonite is pale blue-green. It is an opaque stone, often found with white, yellow or grey inclusions. Amazonite is believed to have many healing characteristics, including improving your skin, marriage, clarity of thought and social interaction. It is also credited with alleviating muscle spasms, stress and exhaustion. The gemstone is found mainly in the U.S.A., Russia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Australia.

Amethyst

Amethyst is probably one of the most sought after semi-precious gemstones on the market. Amethyst is believed to cure impatience, alleviate feelings of victimization, balances high-energy, eliminates chaos, and helps keep one grounded. Amethyst is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina, the U.S.A. and several African countries. There are different grades of Amethyst Gemstone.

Grade A            High-quality amethyst has a beautiful colour, composition and polish.

Grade AB-B            This amethyst is lighter in colour than grade A

Carnelian

Carnelian is an A-grade Agate. True Carnelian is a dark red/orange colour. Red carnelian has been used for centuries to stop the flow of blood, and many believe the gemstone will stop nosebleeds. It is said to help heal physical wounds and blood disorders. It is recommended for infertility or impotency. Deposits of this gemstone are found in Brazil, India, Australia, Russia, Madagascar, South Africa, Uruguay and the U.S.A.

Cats Eye

Cats Eye is not a Gemstone; it is made from glass and has a unique reflecting property. Cats Eye glass has a property called chatoyancy, which causes it to reflect light in an unusual way. A band of light shows around the middle of beads, but it may not show up on pendants because the band shows up most clearly on deep colours and rounded shapes.

Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla is most commonly found in an attractive blue-green color with brown or black inclusions. Chrysocolla is said to be good for creativity, female energy, communication, and in relieving ulcers and arthritis. It is also associated with tranquillity and peace, intuition, patience, and unconditional love.

Cinnabar

Cinnabar is bright scarlet to brick-red in colour. It can be found in all areas that yield mercury. Cinnabar is known to be highly toxic so please be careful when sellers insist their Cinnabar is ‘natural’. We do not stock any natural cinnabar for obvious health reasons. Our Cinnabar is made up of layers of lacquer derived from cinnabar resin.

Citrine

The name Citrine comes from the French citron, or "lemon," for its colour. Citrine stone is a particular type of quartz. Citrine is valued for the treatment of depression and is said to eliminate self-destructive tendencies. It also is purported to stimulate memory, aid digestion, remove toxins from the body and fight diabetes.

Cloisonné

Cloisonné is not a Gemstone but we have included it in our index because we sell a wide variety of Cloisonné beads. Cloisonné decoration is used on jewellery and other metal decorative items such as bowls and vases. The base metal for beads and pendants is usually copper. Thin, flat wire is assembled into outlines and soldered to the base shape, then filled in with enamel and fired to create the designs.

Coral

Coral is a calcium carbonate, built up by the skeletal material of small animals that live in colonies in the sea. It comes in a wide range of colours, with black, red and pink considered the most valuable. It appears dull and matte when unfinished, but gains a beautiful gloss after polishing. Coral is among the most ancient of gem materials. Coral is said to be good for calming and improving ones life, therefore it is considered the best accessory for modern people living in the fast lane. Coral is said to protect children and it is given as a gift to children in many countries. It also is used in difficulties of the lungs and digestion.

Dolomite

Dolomite is usually a white, grey or brown stone. If iron is present, it can also be brown or black. Dolomite is believed to stimulate the metabolism of calcium and magnesium, and keep a balance between the two. Dolomite is used by healers to stabilise ones health. It is also thought to dissolve cramps. Dolomite is mined in Europe, Brazil, Africa, Mexico and some parts of North America.

Fluorite

Fluorite gemstone consists of several colours, which includes green, white, purple and lavender. Fluorite is a soft gemstone, easily scratched by a knife and even by quartz. It has been said to help clear the mind and heighten mental achievement while increasing the ability to concentrate. Fluorite is used on the body as well, in the treatment of bones, teeth and cell structure. Major sources of fluorite include the UK, Switzerland and the U.S.A

Goldstone

Goldstone is a beautiful manmade glass with tiny copper dots visible throughout the stone. A special process is needed to create the stone's metallic gleam. Copper salts are added to brown (or blue) liquid glass. The mass of glass is then held at a specific temperature for a length of time and then the entire mass is allowed to cool. As the glass cools, the salts turn into copper crystals, giving the stone that unique sparkle. Goldstone originated with monks trying to make gold out of other materials. The secret was kept for years until the Chinese discovered how to make the gemstone. Because of its origins in the monastery, goldstone is used frequently in religious jewellery.

Goldstone is believed to store the energy of those who touch it, making it an excellent gift for loved ones who are far away. It is also considered a good deflector of unwanted energies. The copper within goldstone makes it extremely helpful in the areas of inflammation and increasing one’s blood flow. It is believed to be a powerful energy generator.

Brown Goldstone

This variety of goldstone is the most common. Its glass colour is reddish-brown. 

Blue Goldstone

This variety of goldstone is much more difficult to come by than Brown Goldstone. This deep-blue goldstone variety looks like the midnight sky, sprinkled with stars. It is made with blue glass.

Hematite

Hematite is a silvery, shiny opaque gemstone that almost looks like metal. Hematite is an iron oxide. Metaphysically, hematite is said to inspire inner life and help to keep inward peace. Many believe that Hematite aids clarity, balance and calm. Hematite is also said to enhance memory and intellect, strengthen the circulatory system and help in the treatment of blood and kidney disorders.

Magnetic Hematite

A wide variety of health benefits have been attributed to magnetic jewellery. It is said to maintain the natural charge of the nerve cells, thus reducing pain; increase the healing process; boost the immune system; improve quality of sleep; relieve ailments of the hands, wrists and fingers; and generally enhance physical energy and vitality. It also is reported to help relieve headaches and light migraines. In some circumstances people have recorded a difference within 48 hours of putting on the stones. Magnetic jewellery is not recommended for people who are pregnant or wear a pacemaker.

Howlite

This calcium silicoborate is naturally white, often with a dark grey or black spider-web matrix. Howlite is an inexpensive gemstone, and because it is so soft and porous it is easily dyed to imitate more expensive gemstones such as turquoise. Howlite is the stone of memory, knowledge and progress, and is said to encourage reasoning, observation, discernment, patience and tact. It also is believed to eliminate pain, stress and anger, and help balance calcium levels in the body, aiding absorption and distribution. North America is the world's primary source of Howlite.
 

White Howlite

This is Howlite in its natural form and colour.

Turquoise Howlite

This gemstone is natural White Howlite, which has been dyed turquoise.

Jade

Jade Gemstone is available in many different colours, the most common being Green Jade. Since at least 2950 B.C., Jade has been treasured in China as the royal Gemstone. Jade is said to help protect the kidneys, heart, liver, spleen, thymus and thyroid, as well as strengthening the body. It also is believed to aid longevity, and is known as a symbol of love and virtue. Jade is mined in China, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan and the U.S.A.

Green Jade

            This is a milky, light opaque green and is a form of Serpentine.

Purple Jade

Purple Jade is in fact White Jade, which has been dyed a vibrant purple to produce this unique gemstone. It is very rare which makes Purple Jade such a unique product. The dye is applied through a chemical process after the bead or pendant has been cut.

Olive Jade

Every bit the colour of an olive, this yellowish-green gemstone is aptly named. However, it is not a real Jade, but rather Serpentine. Many sellers refer to Serpentine as Olive Jade because if its physical similarities.

Yellow Jade

Also known as Butterscotch Agate, this gemstone is not a real Jade, but actually a golden-coloured form of Serpentine.

White Jade

A beautiful opaque Gemstone, it is often dyed to create vibrant coloured beads and pendants such as Purple Jade.

Jasper

Jasper comes in many different varieties as detailed below. It has been thought to strengthen the stomach and cure gynaecological troubles. Some people also use it to drive away evil spirits and protect against snake and spider bites. It supposedly gives you the courage to speak out and the bravery to achieve personal independence. Jasper is mined in many countries including, Sicily, France, India, Venezuela, Germany, the U.S.A. and several countries in North Africa.

Autumn Jasper

This gemstone of mottled red, green and pink symbolizes emotional security and is therefore believed to give emotional stability to the wearer.

Dalmatian Jasper

This stone is named after the dog breed, Dalmatian, whose spotted coat it resembles. This brown-and-black-speckled gemstone is believed to increase patience. The gemstone is also said to lessen or remove disillusionment and protect against nightmares, depression and negative thinking.

Fancy Jasper

This gemstone is an opaque creamy beige or grey stone with lavender, green, pink, orange or red swirls and specks. It is said to facilitate tranquillity and help eliminate worry and depression.

Leopard Skin Jasper

This is one of those confusing Jaspers, as some people refer to it as a Rhyolite. It is mottled with red, yellow, brown and pinkish spots like the fur of a leopard. It is considered a wonderful companion gemstone for working on bringing things into your life that you desire.

Picture Jasper

This is beautiful Jasper that has streaks of colour (usually shades of brown), which looks like desert sand dunes. It is formed by mud, rich with quartz that oozed and dripped into pockets of gas formed by molten lava. The heat from the exposure turns the mud almost instantly solid. Picture Jasper is mined in North America. It's believed to facilitate the development and continuance of business pursuits and activities.

Poppy Jasper (Breciated Jasper)

A red, pink and black gemstone, Poppy Jasper is so named because it looks like a bunch of pink and red poppies. It is also known as Breciated Jasper.

Red Jasper

Red Jasper has a beautiful red colouring with grey stripes. The stripes often seen in Red Jasper are quartz veins. It is used to regulate metabolic energy and promote physical stamina. It also is believed to have the ability to send negative energy back to the sender, the way a mirror reflects light.

Spider Jasper

A striking Gemstone with a white web like matrix similar to a spiders web.

Turquoise Jasper

This is a natural form of Jasper that is mined in Africa. It has a matrix structure similar to that of turquoise, and is a light bluish-green. Some sellers refer to it as African Turquoise but this is inaccurate because the stone is not true turquoise, but actually a natural Jasper mined in Africa.

Turtle Shell Jasper

This is mottled Jasper that looks like a turtle's shell, with its shades of brown, mahogany, gold, peach and orange-red.

Yellow Jasper

The soft beeswax colour of this gemstone is very soothing. It is often used for problems with the stomach, intestines, liver and spleen. It is supposed to offer protection while on a journey.

Labradorite

Labradorite is said to detoxify the body and slow the aging process. It also is believed to elevate consciousness and protect a person's aura, helping to keep the aura clear, balanced, protected and free from energy leaks. Many say the stone heals mental confusion and indecision. Labradorite is found in Canada, Madagascar, the Ukraine, Australia, Mexico, Norway and the U.S.A.

Lampwork

Lampwork is not a Gemstone but we have included it in our index because we sell a wide variety of Lampwork beads. Lampwork beads are one type of glass craft. Hand crafted glass beads can be as plain or as decorative as the lampworker likes. Multiple layers of glass can be used, switching colours to create the desired effects. Small dots of colour can be left as bumps on the bead's surface or plunged into the centre of the bead for a totally different look.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is composed of grains of several blue minerals Lazurite and Sodalite, as well as Calcite and speckles of Pyrite. Lapis lazuli was one of the first gemstones ever to be used and worn as jewellery. Today, people around the world consider Lapis Lazuli to be a stone of truth and friendship. It is reputed to bring about harmony in relationships. Major sources include Afghanistan, Egypt, Canada and Chile.

Millefiori

Millefiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware.

Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is the iridescent coating on the inside of mollusk shells. Mother of pearl symbolizes faith, charity and innocence, and traditionally has been used to strengthen the environment and bring greater purity to the atmosphere.

Among the chief sources of this gemstone are the pearl oyster, found in warm and tropical seas, chiefly in Asia; the freshwater pearl mussel, which lives in many rivers of the United States and Europe; and the abalone of California, Japan and other Pacific regions.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a natural glass that forms from volcanic activity. The gemstone is made of the same minerals as granite. Nowadays Obsidian is used for dating. Major sources include Iceland, Italy, the U.S.A., Japan and Indonesia.

Mahogany Obsidian

This deep red-brown gemstone with black speckles is said to put the wearer more at ease with his/her sensuality.

Snowflake Obsidian

Snowflake Obsidian gemstone is usually a black or dark grey with light grey radiating patches, this gemstone is believed to assist with clarity and logic.

Onyx

Onyx is purported to help eliminate apathy, stress and neurological disorders, eliminate negative thinking, and sharpen the wits of the wearer. It is used to change habits, in addition to helping concentration levels and aiding absentmindedness. Some people believe it makes the wearer more eloquent, and thus it is worn for public speaking. The main sources of onyx are India and South America, but it is also found in China, Madagascar, Mexico and the U.S.A.

Opalite
Opalite is in fact a very fancy and beautiful glass from China. The glass has undergone various chemical treatments to produce its cloudy and rainbow like appearance. Opalite undergoes the same finishing process as other gemstones. It is cut, faceted and polished.

Picasso marble

Picasso marble comes from limestone. It was formed when magma covered limestone fields during prehistoric times. As heat and pressure forced the magma through the fractures in the limestone, it painted the material grey with black lines. The gemstone was named after Pablo Picasso.

Picasso marble is said to aid in circulation problems and increase the body's metabolism, therefore causing weight loss. Some believe this stone transforms intuition into intellectual thought and will renew old friendships that have been lost. The gemstone comes only from mines in Utah in the U.S.A.

Quartz

Quartz is said to be the universal healing stone. The crystals are reputed to promote hope, happiness and optimism. Quartz is found all around the world.

Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz is one of the most desirable varieties of quartz. Physically, Rose Quartz is used to benefit the heart, circulatory system, fertility, headaches, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, sinus problems, throat problems, depression, addictions and earaches. Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, Brazil, India, Germany and several parts of the U.S.A.

Smoky Quartz

Smoky Quartz is believed to be excellent for grounding and removing negativity. It is said to enhance survival instincts and help one reach personal and business goals, as well as assisting in making wishes come true. Many people use Smoky Quartz to treat problems associated with the lower torso, including kidneys, abdomen, pancreas and reproductive organs. It also is good for dealing with hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder.

“Quartz”

The following quartz stones below are synthetic gemstones. The "quartz" is made from glass melted in a furnace and then combined with a colouring agent that produces the unique colour. Once the desired colour is reached the glass is allowed to cool. It is very difficult to do this and consequently there is only one factory reported to be doing this as a commercial venture.

Blue Quartz

Blue Quartz is a synthetic gemstone and contains a beautiful deep blue colour.

Blueberry Quartz

Blueberry Quartz contains beautiful blue thin swirls and needles. It is very rare which makes Blueberry Quartz a unique product.

Cherry Quartz

Cherry Quartz is probably one of the most sought after synthetic quartz stones available in the market today due to its unique colour. It contains beautiful cherry coloured thin swirls and needles. It is very rare and difficult to come by in the UK.

Pineapple Quartz

Pineapple Quartz is another rare synthetic quartz and there are very few sellers of it within the UK. The quartz contains beautiful pineapple coloured thin swirls and needles.

Purple Quartz

Probably one of the rarest synthetic quartzes available today. Very difficult to come by and we only have a limited stock of Purple Quartz. It contains a beautiful deep purple colour and some of the beads/gemstones have thin swirls and needles.

Serpentine

Serpentine is often referred to as Jade because of its similar colour. However, Serpentine is softer and less dense than most real Jade. Metaphysically, serpentine is said to restore self-confidence, dispel fear and enhance meditation. It also is believed to balance female hormones and increase milk production in nursing mothers. Serpentine is found in the British Isles, China, South Africa and the U.S.A.

Sodalite

Sodalite is characterized by its dark, intense blue colour with white and sometimes yellow streaks. It is believed to have subtle, soothing energies and help you to see the wisdom of adopting a simpler, less hectic lifestyle. It also is said to be effective in combating radiation. Physically, Sodalite is said to help boost the immune system, balance the metabolism and cleanse the organs. It is found in Namibia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, India, Russia and the U.S.A.

Tiger Eye

Tiger Eye is a Quartz with rich yellow and brown stripes, and a fine golden lustre. Traditionally, Tiger Eye has been used as a gift between lovers to ease sexual tension and help partners tune in to each other in a psychic or telepathic way. Many w people wear the stone to strengthen convictions, and to acquire courage and confidence. It also is reputed to relieve such physical conditions as high blood pressure, bronchial asthma, heart disease and psoriasis. Tiger Eye is found mainly in South Africa, but also in Australia, Burma, Namibia and California in the USA.

Turquoise

Probably one of the most recognized semiprecious gemstones in existence, Turquoise has been popular since prehistoric times. It occurs naturally in shades ranging from sky blue to grey-green.

Grade AA: A high-grade natural Turquoise. The stone is usually from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona.

Grade A-B: Jewellery in this category is usually stabilised or enhanced to harden the stone. The jewellery is produced from Chinese, Mexican or American Turquoise.

Yellow Turquoise

Yellow Turquoise is a new gemstone that has recently came onto the market in the past few years. It is mined in China's Hubei Province and is proving to be very popular due to its striking yellow colour.

Unakite

Unakite is an interesting mix of red/pink flecks against a green background. It was named for the Unaka Mountains in the South-eastern U.S.A., where it was first discovered. Unakite is relatively new to the market but is growing in popularity. Unakite is considered to be a balancing stone. Unakite also is believed to help us to live in the present instead of dwelling on the past. It is said to help us release the mental or emotional blocks that can often stop us from moving forward. Unakite is purported to stimulate the health of the heart and circulatory systems, and ensure a healthy reproductive system. This gemstone is found mainly in the U.S.A., but also in South Africa, Brazil and China.