Gemstone Meanings | Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Afghanite

Discovered in 1968, Afghanite showcases a range of blues with white inclusions. These magical inclusions are UV-reactive, fluorescing bright orange under black light.

Agate, Red

Discover the rich history and symbolism of lustrous, warm red agate, and find inspiring design ideas to incorporate this timeless gem into your creations.

Apatite

Apatite was named from the Greek word apate, meaning "to deceive" because people were confusing it with more expensive gemstones. But it's not the gemstone's fault!

Chalcedony

Chalcedony is believed to be the stone of communication and makes a beautiful addition to jewelry designs. Learn more about this stone's meaning and properties in this informative Gem Note.

Fluorite

Looking for the perfect gemstone to help you concentrate? Fluorite, the stone of discernment and aptitude, may be just what your next handmade jewelry design needs.

Garnet, Tsavorite

Explore the captivating journey of tsavorite—from its geological origins and rich metaphysical symbolism to its exquisite use in modern jewelry design.

Gaspéite

Discovered in 1977, gaspeite is an intriguing rare mineral that is found in only a few places. Make sure one of those places is in your handmade jewelry designs!

Goldstone

Though not a stone--or gold!--goldstone is still a beautiful "gemstone" material. Its creation is shrouded in urban legend, including the result of alchemy or on accident by Italian monks.

Grandidierite

A rare gemstone not typically found in jewelry design, discover the unique possibilities of your creations with grandidierite.

Hemimorphite

Hemimorphite gets its name from the Greek words hemi ("half") and morph ("shape") because each end has a different shape--a quite unusual behavior in crystal formation.

Jade, Malaysia

This gemstone may resemble jade in some aspects, but Malaysia "jade" is a trade name used for translucent quartz that has been expertly dyed and available in a myriad of colors.

Jasper, Flower

When you see someone wearing flower jasper, it's like unexpectedly seeing a bouquet of warm, sunny colors. Flower jasper is thought to lift spirits and bring joy; perfect for jewelry!

Jasper, Picasso

Part of jewelry designers' fascination with Picasso jasper is the artistic tension: the boldness of black, the passive quietness of grey and the exciting energy of red all swept together.

Jasper, Rainbow

When life has you down, design with rainbow jasper. Rainbow jasper is called a "sustaining stone" in metaphysical beliefs and thought to be helpful in times of emotional fatigue or stress.

Jasper, Red

Learn about red jasper, from its physical properties to its place in legend and history.

Jasper, Red Creek

Miners were looking for turquoise when they found red creek jasper. The lovely red, green, yellow, blue-gray and black stone offers the perfect autumn/fall color combination for jewelry.

Jasper, Sesame

Discover the intriguing history and unique beauty of sesame jasper, a stone with striking speckles and earthy tones—perfect for bold, natural jewelry designs.

Jasper, Silver Leaf

Natural sophistication. That's what Mother Nature got when she combined grey, black and white in a beautifully swirling pattern to create the distinctive silver leaf jasper.

Jasper, Zebra

It's time to get designing! Zebra jasper motivates us to move out of apathy into action. It helps us avoid over-thinking and encourages us to just enjoy the experience of living.

Kunzite

The soft pink and purple hues of kunzite are well-suited for feminine jewelry designs and special occasion jewelry such as for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli is one of the oldest opaque gemstones in history--more than 6,500 years old! Valued since antiquity, lapis lazuli is a highly sought-after stone in jewelry designs.

Lepidolite

With its variety of pinkish rose to purple hues along with other shades, lepidolite offers incredible tonal flexibility in jewelry designs, pairing well with other gemstones and metal tones.

Magnetite

Magnetite (not to be confused with magnesite) is a rock mineral believed to alleviate negative emotions such as fear, anger and grief while promoting positive qualities in the wearer.

Malachite, Red

While malachite gemstones are renowned for their rich green color, red "malachite" is just as loved for its warm terra cotta color and metaphysical associations of energy and courage.

Marble

Marble is viewed as a stone of potential. Marble has been used in architecture, decorative carvings and, of course, jewelry for centuries for its fantastic cutting and shaping properties.

Marcasite

Explore the captivating history of marcasite and delve into its physical properties. Discover how it is used to craft jewelry with a subtle, timeless elegance.

Moonstone, Pink/Peach

Discover the history, meaning and unique beauty of pink and peach moonstone—from its ancient associations with love and intuition to its gentle shimmer and design potential in modern jewelry-making.

Moonstone, Pink Flake

Pink flake moonstone is a beautiful stone in feminine jewelry designs, but the overall color isn't so pink (especially the redder specimens) it can't also be used in masculine designs.

Moonstone, Rainbow

Unearth the beauty of rainbow moonstone and learn its history, geological properties, design uses and proper care in this Gem Note.

Moonstone, Silver

Nothing says subtle sophistication like grey or silver. Silver moonstone is a tantalizing silvery-grey translucent stone with a sheen that enhances just such a sense of sophistication.

Mother-of-Pearl, White

Especially popular in Victorian-inspired jewelry designs, mother-of-pearl shell is often seen as cameos, but it isn't just for feminine jewelry, as it is a favorite for cuff links and tie tacks.

Obsidian, Black

Discover the history and properties of black obsidian, from ancient tools to modern jewelry. Learn how this volcanic glass has shaped cultures and design

Obsidian, Golden Sheen

Black and gold are a timeless pairing--and golden sheen obsidian proves their elegance. Additionally, the reflective nature of obsidian makes it a favorite for self-reflective meditation.

Obsidian, Mahogany

Obsidian's naturally dark, glossy color makes it fashionable for men and women's jewelry. It can be easily incorporated into vintage, gothic, Celtic and other designs from classic to modern.

Obsidian, Snowflake

Snowflake obsidian is striking in its appearance and is also a durable gemstone--making the spotted obsidian popular for use as a "worry stone" as well as a beautiful addition to jewelry.

Opal

This article explores the history, properties, and varieties of opal—including precious, fire, and common opals—highlighting their beauty, symbolism, and uses in jewelry design.

Peridot

Explore the rich history, metaphysical meanings, peridot properties and design inspiration behind this vibrant green gemstone.

Pipestone (Catlinite)

Pipestone has a robust brick red color and can contain quartz or mica for a bit of sheen and shimmer, making this gemstone a favorite for both women's and men's jewelry designs.

Quartz, Cat's Eye

Cat's eye quartz is thought to bring good fortune—sounds like a great reason to use it in jewelry! There are more reasons cat's eye quartz is ideal for jewelry, too, especially men's designs.

Quartz, Rutilated

Discover rutilated quartz, a stunning quartz variety with golden or silver rutile inclusions, known for its energy-amplifying and clarity-enhancing properties.

Quartz, Snow

Snow quartz looks pure and fresh as newly fallen snow. Snow quartz is associated with innocence, which is why wearing it is said to help give a child-like perspective free of cynicism.

Quartz, Solar

Solar quartz is a rare formation of white crystalline quartz with some druzy inclusions and beautiful natural orbicular patterns that may have green or brown moss-like inclusions.

Quartz, Tourmalinated

You know quartz is a gemstone, but what does tourmalinated mean? It's what gives this gemstone its distinct and sophisticated color scheme that's loved in women's and men's jewelry designs.

Riverstone

Riverstone is light tan to light brown and is a favorite neutral in jewelry. The stone takes pigment well and is often dyed. Luckily, the dyed stone still retains perceived metaphysical properties.

Septarian

Each septarian specimen is unique with an ancient quality that makes them a joy to use in jewelry. They look fantastic and have a plethora of beneficial metaphysical abilities, too.

Seraphinite

Seraphinite is a soft gemstone, which can make designers nervous to use it, but the beauty of this greenish stone named after angels can't be emphasized enough for use in jewelry.

Serpentine

According to metaphysical beliefs, serpentine provides clear thought to better facilitate meditation, but that isn't the only reason you should consider designing with this gemstone.

Shungite

What do Russia and Nobel Prizes have to do with Shungite? There's a very interesting and varied history with this folklore favorite.

Slate

Slate is believed to preserve you from weakness. Made from pressed mudstone, this stone is black due to plants or plankton, and may contain fossils.

Soapstone

Soapstone is incredibly soft, which makes it a perfect stone for carving. Natural soapstone tends to have light shades of gray, green or brown, making it ideal for autumn-themed jewelry.

Sugilite

Sugilite offers lots of designing possibilities whether it's beads, cabochons, inlays and more. Like amethyst, sugilite's variety of purples makes it go well with just about everything.

Tanzanite

Rarer than diamonds and almost as famous, tanzanite has skyrocketed in popularity. You'll want to learn about the gem and start designing now as deposits could run dry!

Tektite

Looking to design with a gemstone that's out of this world? Tektite is a form of natural glass that forms not from the heat of volcanoes, but from atmospheric friction on meteorites.

Tiger Iron

Tiger iron is actually three gemstones in one. With the associations of the three component stones, tiger iron is ideal for men's designs, without reducing popularity in women's jewelry.

Topaz, White

Sparkling white topaz is used equally well as a centerpiece or accent in jewelry designs. Read on to learn more about this beautiful and adaptable gemstone.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline holds a special place in the hearts of jewelry designers and gem enthusiasts for its incredible amount of colors. No wonder it was thought tourmaline traveled along a rainbow.

Trolleite

Delve into the rich history, metaphysical properties, and captivating lore of trolleite gemstones, and discover inspiring design suggestions to integrate this beautiful stone into your jewelry creations.

Zoisite

A perfect gemstone for artists, writers and jewelry designers, zoisite is said to have creative energy. Ruby in zoisite varieties especially are said to help artists and their art become one.

Gemstone Meanings and Properties