Gem Lore

Ancient Japanese Gemstone Traditions: Magatama

Ancient Japanese Gemstone Traditions: Magatama

Japan's magatama — the sacred curved bead — represents one of the world's most enduring gemstone traditions, connecting jade, jasper, and crystal to divine power, imperial authority, and healing across...

Ancient Japanese Gemstone Traditions: Magatama

Japan's magatama — the sacred curved bead — represents one of the world's most enduring gemstone traditions, connecting jade, jasper, and crystal to divine power, imperial authority, and healing across...

Ancient Celtic Gemstone Traditions: Amber, Jet & Sacred Stones

Ancient Celtic Gemstone Traditions: Amber, Jet ...

The Celts and the Sacred StoneThe Celtic peoples — the Iron Age cultures that spread across Europe from approximately 800 BCE onward, reaching from Anatolia to Ireland — developed rich...

Ancient Celtic Gemstone Traditions: Amber, Jet ...

The Celts and the Sacred StoneThe Celtic peoples — the Iron Age cultures that spread across Europe from approximately 800 BCE onward, reaching from Anatolia to Ireland — developed rich...

Ancient Nubian Gemstones: Gold & Carnelian Trade Traditions

Ancient Nubian Gemstones: Gold & Carnelian Trad...

The Gold Land of the SouthTo the ancient Egyptians, Nubia was known as "Ta-Seti" (Land of the Bow) and "Nub" — a word meaning gold. This name was not metaphorical....

Ancient Nubian Gemstones: Gold & Carnelian Trad...

The Gold Land of the SouthTo the ancient Egyptians, Nubia was known as "Ta-Seti" (Land of the Bow) and "Nub" — a word meaning gold. This name was not metaphorical....

Ancient Ethiopian Gemstones: Opal & Emerald History Explained

Ancient Ethiopian Gemstones: Opal & Emerald His...

Ethiopia: A Gemstone KingdomEthiopia is one of the world's most important gemstone-producing countries — and one of the least celebrated in popular gemstone history. Home to some of the finest...

Ancient Ethiopian Gemstones: Opal & Emerald His...

Ethiopia: A Gemstone KingdomEthiopia is one of the world's most important gemstone-producing countries — and one of the least celebrated in popular gemstone history. Home to some of the finest...

Ancient African Gemstone Traditions: Sub-Saharan Sacred Stones & Healing

Ancient African Gemstone Traditions: Sub-Sahara...

A Continent of StoneAfrica is the birthplace of humanity — and it is also one of the richest gemstone-producing regions on earth. From the gold fields of West Africa to...

Ancient African Gemstone Traditions: Sub-Sahara...

A Continent of StoneAfrica is the birthplace of humanity — and it is also one of the richest gemstone-producing regions on earth. From the gold fields of West Africa to...

Ancient Southeast Asian Gemstones: Trade & Culture

Ancient Southeast Asian Gemstones: Trade & Culture

Southeast Asia is the world's gemstone crossroads — home to Burmese rubies, Thai sapphires, and Burmese jadeite, and the meeting point of animist, Hindu, and Buddhist gemstone traditions spanning 2,000...

Ancient Southeast Asian Gemstones: Trade & Culture

Southeast Asia is the world's gemstone crossroads — home to Burmese rubies, Thai sapphires, and Burmese jadeite, and the meeting point of animist, Hindu, and Buddhist gemstone traditions spanning 2,000...