The variety of textures and colours of gemstones seems to have no limits.    Some of the lovely gemstones sold by Frenelle jewellery are described below: (please note this is a work in progress and some gemstones have yet to be researched and written about)

Agate

Agate is a type of microcrystalline quartz.  It is considered to be a semi-precious stone and comes in a wide range of beautiful colours.  It is generally found in volcanic rocks.

The name "Agate" comes from a river in Southwest Sicily - the "Achates" where agate stones were discovered with artefacts from Neolithic times.

Black Agate

Black agate is a type of chalcedony - which is a type of quartz crystal.  It is found all over the world, with the largest mines in Brazil, Mexico, United States, Uruguay and Madagascar.

Black agate is considered to have the ability to "ground and centre"  which allows your body to cope better with diseases.  It is said black agate will encourage more energy in your life and to help with problems and decision making.

Blue Weathered Agate

One of my favourite gemstones.  The weathered appearance looks rather like "crackling".  

Botswana Agate

Undergoing research - come back soon

Red Agate

Undergoing research - come back soon

White Agate

Undergoing research - come back soon

 

Aquamarine

Named after the colour of sea water, this is the birthstone of March.  It's colouring comes from the traces of ferrous iron found in the stone and the amount of iron determines its tone from very light to dark.  

In Western cultures the Aquamarine is strongly connected to the sea and is said to protect travellers, especially sailors and fishermen.

 

Chrysoprase

Undergoing research - come back soon

Howlite

Undergoing research - come back soon

Jasper

Jasper is a type of Chalcedony stone and is generally found in brown, yellow or reddish colours.  However, there are a huge number of varieties of jasper available and each has it's own name.

Jasper is considered to be the "stone of endurance" and supports us through times of stress, bringing tranquility and wholeness.

Picture Jasper

This variety of brown Jasper contains intricate lines and colours that resemble a painting.  Each piece is unique and looks like a small planet.

Picture Jasper is said to encourage ecological awareness.  It is a stone of harmony and stimulates creativity.  It helps to bring thoughts and feelings to the surface to be released.  Picture Jasper is thought to stimulate the immune system and helps treat skin and kidney disorders.

 

Laboradite

This lovely gemstone is a member of the "Feldspar" family of minerals and is known for it's flashes of colour, rather like opal.  In this gemstone it is known as "labradorescence".  

It was first discovered in Labrador, Canada in 1770 where it gets is name.

 

Lapis Lazuli

Often simply known as "Lapis", Lapis Lazuli is a gorgeous blue gemstone.  It is a rock which is composed of many different minerals, the presence and amount of each giving the stones a wide variety of blue hues, textures and "veins" of other colours through the stone.

Evidence of early mining for Lapis Lazuli has been found in Afghanistan

as early as 7000 BC and Afghanistan is still one of the best sources of this gemstone.  

To be called "Lapis Lazuli" a rock must have a distinct blue colour and contain at least 25% blue lazurite.

The Egyptian used Lapis in a powered form in cosmetics to give a stunning blue shade to eyes.  And it was also mixed with oil to create a gorgeous blue paint.

Lava

Undergoing research - come back soon

Obsidian

Undergoing research - come back soon

 

Peridot

Undergoing research - come back soon

 

Quartz

Rose Quartz

Undergoing research - come back soon

 

Rhodonite

Undergoing research - come back soon

 

Tiger's Eye

Tiger's eye is a type of quartz gemstone with a silky sheen and is generally golden to reddish brown in colour.  It also has parallel stripes through it which give it the name "Tiger's Eye" because of it's appearance.

Tiger's Eye is known as a protective stone and was often carried to ward off evil.  In Roman times, soliders would wear rings and other jewellery with tiger's eye stones for strength and protection before battle.  Today it is used by wearers to boost courage.

Turquoise

Undergoing research - come back soon