Its reputation includes the ability to calm and improve life…..

Coral is an interesting material, it is not a mineral or gemstone, in fact it doesn’t come from the earth’s crust, it is created from living organisms.  Coral is created by polyps that secrete Coral only a few millimeters in thickness, usually it can take a few years for Coral to grow into large enough pieces for jewelry.  Coral is a wonderful material that comes in many beautiful colors, most notably white, orange, black, pink or salmon which may be called angelskin and red. Red Coral is extremely beautiful and very rare.  

Coral has been known to man since ancient times and the word Coral comes from Greek, however the exact meaning is not known.  Some say that it comes from the Greek 'korallion', which denotes the hard, calcareous skeleton of the coral animals, or from 'kura-halos', for 'mermaid', as the fine branches of the coral sometimes look like small figures. Others think it more likely that the word is derived from the Hebrew 'goral', (a small stone used in the drawing of lots), for coral branches used to be used in oracles in Palestine, Asia Minor and around the Mediterranean.

 

Coral can be found all over the world; however, the finest qualities are usually located in the warmer waters.  Corals live at depths of between three and 300 meters in the waters around Japan, Taiwan and in the Malaysian Archipelago, in the Red Sea, in the Bay of Biscay and around the Canary Islands, as well as in north-east Australia and the Midway Islands.  In the Mediterranean, there are coral banks in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Sardinia, off Tunisia and Algeria, former Yugoslavia and Turkey.

Like the Greeks, the ancient Egyptians also applied coral beads to decoration, and are known to have employed it in royal burial ceremonies.  A coral and coral bead even have a long history of use by senior monks in Tibet, and has been labeled one of the seven jewels of Buddhism as described by ancient Sanskrit texts. Coral has been used reverently, by many cultures and since time immemorial, for its intriguing visual characteristics and metaphysical properties.

Modern believers lend its reputation to calm and improve life.  It is stated that Coral will give strength and willingness to meet challenges and critical situations. Coral is believed to be beneficial in taming tempers, rages, compulsive disorders, and depression. Consequently, coral is good for achieving spiritual balance.

Chrysoprase has been called a "Victory Stone"

The gemstone Chrysoprase is an opalescent apple green colored variety of chalcedony (quartz). Most green stones owe their color to chromium or vanadium, but chrysoprase derives its color from the nickel content.  Chrysoprase is so rare is due to the fact that it is a cryptocrystalline, this means that instead of being formed by large six sided crystals, the size of the crystals are extremely small and invisible to the naked eye. This attribute is much rarer in nature, as well as more beautiful making Chrysoprase one of the rarest form of the chalcedony group.

It is found in Australia, Brazil, the Ural Mountains, and the U.S., specifically Arizona and California.  Usually Chrysoprase is formed by deterioration or lateritization of nickeliferous serpentinites, which means that quartz stone with nickel deposits gently corrode and deteriorate causing this exotic gemstone. Usually, Chrysoprase can be found in deep veins that contain magnesite or iron and silica rocks.

 

Chrysoprase has been known to man since ancient times. The word Chrysoprase comes from Greek, “chrsyo” means gold and “prase” means leek. During ancient times it was valued and formed into cameos and intaglios by the Greeks and Romans.  Ancient Egyptians also saw the value of this fine gemstone and it was part of decorations that adorned the pharaohs.  It was used by the Greeks, Romans, and the Egyptians in jewelry and other ornamental objects and because of its semi-opaque green color, it is often mistaken for Imperial jadeite.

 

The Book of Revelations (21:20) describes the holy city of Jerusalem with its 12 foundation walls, each decorated with precious gemstones, including the tenth, being chrysoprase.  According to Alburtus Magnus: The always victorious Alexander the Great wore a chrysoprase stone in his girdle. One day a snake bit the stone off the girdle and dropped it in the river. From that time forward, Alexander never won another battle.  Chrysoprase was said to be a "Victory Stone."  It encourages fidelity in business and personal affairs.  Chrysoprase is a stone that can help us to peacefully absorb spiritual energies, and to make transformation a natural part of our daily lives. 

Known as a sacred stone in Native American culture

Chalcedony, which is found worldwide, is the name for a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, which means the quartz crystals are too small to be seen without high magnification.  It occurs in many different forms, colors, patterns, and many varieties have been used as gemstones since antiquity.  Its name comes from the name of a Greek town, Chalkedon.

Chalcedony is found in almost every color including: white, gray, black, brown, brownish red, orange, yellow, light to dark green, blue, lavender or, in the case of agates and jaspers, combinations of those colors. The classic Chalcedony varieties include: Agate - The multicolored banded variety, which is the most well-known and unique form of Chalcedony; Aventurine - An opaque, compact form, most often green in color, containing small Mica, Hematite, or Goethite scales which cause a glistening effect; Bloodstone - Dark green to greenish blue variety speckled with red or brown spots; Carnelian - Red to amber-red translucent variety; Chrysoprase - Apple green variety; one of the more popular gemstone forms of Chalcedony; Jasper - Opaque form of brown, yellow, or reddish Chalcedony; often multicolored, spotted, or speckled; Onyx - May refer to either solid black Chalcedony; Sard - Brownish to brownish-red, transparent to translucent form; and Tiger's Eye - Pseudomorph of compact Quartz after the fibrous mineral Crocidolite.

Chalcedony is found worldwide, and the countries listed are some well-known sources: Agate comes from Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Australia, and in the U.S. from Arizona, Oregon, and Michigan; Chrysoprase comes from Australia and Poland, and blue Chalcedony from the African countries of Malawi and Namibia; White and gray Chalcedony comes from California and Nevada; Bloodstone comes from India, Brazil, Australia, and Madagascar; Carnelian, Sard and Sardonyx come from Brazil, Uruguay, India and Madagascar; The significant occurrence of Tiger's Eye, is South Africa.

Chalcedony is known as a sacred stone in Native American culture. It is believed to encourage brotherhood, good will, and instill generosity. Many believe in its metaphysical powers in removing depression, mental illness, fear hysteria and touchiness.  It is also believed to encourage the mothering instinct, and harmonize mind, body and spirit.

The ancient Egyptians described it as a "sunset enclosed in stone"

Carnelian is a member of the quartz family; it is an orange-red variety of Chalcedony.  Also called cornelian, it is translucent and owes its red to reddish brown color to dispersed iron oxide.  Most Carnelians is heat treated today to enhance the reddish brown color. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited.  The colors range from orange-yellow to reddish-brown; however the most favorable pieces are a deep red to red-orange hue.

Carnelian is found around the world but mainly in Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, India, Russia, parts of Africa and the United States in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Idaho.

Carnelian has a long and storied past, people holding high social statuses were often buried with this gem stone. In Ancient Egypt, carnelian was believed to work against anger, envy and hatred. It was a favorite gemstone among ancient Egyptian royalty.  Folklore states that carnelian is a stone of ambition and drive and is known as a Power Stone.  It is said to be an excellent career stone, being very helpful in making choices and decisions.  Carnelian is believed to be the most powerful ACTION stone for focusing, realization and self-actualization.  It reminds one to be "in the moment".