| Since the dawn of antiquity to modern times the | | | | unearthed around the world. In the Middle Ages |
| wish to be beautiful has been man's natural | | | | the Crusaders brought gemstones from Asia to |
| instinct. Neanderthal man decorated himself no | | | | Europe, where they were regarded as having |
| less than filled his belly with food. From glamorous | | | | magical properties, as well as the ability to |
| bird feathers and striped or dotted animal hides | | | | safeguard virtue and protect from poverty. |
| and furs he made clothes. From fruit stones and | | | | Gemstones are stones whose level of hardness is |
| snail shells he made necklaces. But gemstones had | | | | 8-10. Diamond is the hardest stone. It is colorless, |
| been off limits for the common man. Their | | | | transparent, and measures 10 in the hardness |
| preciousness and rarity made them accessible | | | | scale. So do Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby. |
| only to the rich and powerful - kings, monarchs | | | | Turquoise, Amethyst and Topaz measure 7 in the |
| and rulers. They used them to display their wealth | | | | hardness scale and are also types of gemstones. |
| and status for gaining the public's honor and | | | | Gemstones are usually found in rocks hidden deep |
| respect. In those times, gemstones were also | | | | in the ground. Their quality depends on the type |
| used by religious clergy, healers and alchemists. | | | | of rocks they are found in. Climate also has an |
| Throughout the ages men of wisdom learned to | | | | impact on gemstone formation. The color of |
| identify gemstones' and crystals' unique properties. | | | | gemstones is determined by the metallic oxides |
| They deeply explored their characteristics and | | | | within them. Large concentrations of gemstones |
| used them for healing and spiritual and mental | | | | can be found in South Africa, Germany, Brazil, |
| development. They used them to treat illnesses | | | | Mexico, and Tibet, to name just a few. |
| of body and spirit, protection, magic and even | | | | Unpolished gemstones look like simple stones. Only |
| sorcery. Certain crystals were used for | | | | after extracting them from their mineral shell and |
| communication with high spiritual realms to recieve | | | | polishing them do they shine and glitter. Their |
| divine information. | | | | value is also determined by their weight, which is |
| Because of their rarity and beauty gemstones | | | | measured in Karats. One Karat equals one fifth of |
| have always captured people's attention. Man | | | | a gram. The value of a gemstone is also |
| learned how to polish them, use them for jewelry | | | | determined by it's hardness, clarity and light |
| and even carve them into statues. Gemstone | | | | refraction. Light refraction depends on crystal |
| jewelry was found in many ancient tombs | | | | structure. |