MAGIC COLORED GEMSTONES

THE MAGIC OF

ecause gemstones are created by nature, people have always believed they have a special energy and mystical properties. Belief in gem powers has existed for nearly 5,000 years. Depending on the era and the civilization, colored stones have been associated with wealth, power, love, safety, and wellbeing. Some people think gem lore is silly — how could a simple rock have such power? I would argue that wearing a beautiful gemstone has the power to promote

Bemotional wellbeing and strength just by making you feel beautiful and powerful. Gemstones allow us to illuminate our individual spirits and express our sense of style. Everyone responds to color, and each hue works its own special, secret magic. From amethyst and garnet to the finest rubies and emeralds, jewelry designers are constantly finding new ways of conveying that power. Here are some recent examples and a glimpse into the special magic of gem colors.

RED

RUBY: Like no other gemstone, the ruby is the perfect way to express powerful feelings. Ruby symbolizes bravery, determination, and passionate energy. A ring set with a precious ruby is a celebration of love, which makes everything else possible. It is also the July birthstone and the gem of the 40th anniversary.

14k White & Rose Gold Ring with .78 Carat Padparascha Sapphire, Surrounded by .46 Carat tw Diamonds, $3,780. Ashley Lauren Collection 14k White Gold 7.83 Carat Oval Raspberry Rhodolite Ring, Surrounded by .63 Carat tw Diamonds, $5,650.

Ashley Lauren Collection 14k Rose Gold 8.17 Carat Oval Pink Tourmaline Ring, $2,599.

IWC PORTUGIESER. ENGINEERED FOR NAVIGATORS.

Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph. Ref. 3907: A sporty, elegant design, rugged construction, high-level water-resistance and an IWC-manufactured 89361 calibre with flyback functionality: the new Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph is a winner all the way down the line. A totalizer at “12 o’clock” shows stopped hours and minutes and is easy to read, even in a heavy swell. The filigree bezel and flat casing ring lend a touch of unmistakable elegance to the 44-millimetre case, and the newly developed stainless-steel bracelet offers optimum comfort in wear. So, whether you make your appearance aboard a yacht or on terra firma, you can be sure your nautically inspired sports watch knows absolutely no compromises.

IWC. ENGINEERING DREAMS. SINCE 1868.

IWC Schaffhausen, Switzerland · www.iwc.com

REGISTER TO EXTEND YOUR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY FROM 2 TO 8 YEARS REGISTER ON IWC.COM/MYIWC

IWC-manufactured 89361 calibre · Self-winding · 68-hour power reserve · Date display · Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds · Hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock · Flyback function · Small hacking seconds · Screw-in crown · Sapphire glass · See-through sapphire-glass back · Water-resistant 6 bar · Diameter 44.6 mm

Ashley Lauren Collection 14k White Gold .63 Carat Pear Paraiba Tourmaline, Surrounded by .41 Carat tw Diamonds, $15,100. 18k White Gold 4.07 Paraiba Ring, Surrounded by 1.15 Carat tw Diamonds, $20,700.

BLUE

SAPPHIRE: A gift of sapphire symbolizes a pledge of trust, loyalty, and sincerity. It is from this tradition that sapphire has long been a popular choice for engagement rings. The gift of sapphire is a pledge to keep promises. It is also the birthstone of September. Like ruby, it is one of the most prized of gems, due to its hardness and highly saturated color.

Ashley Lauren Collection 14k White Gold 52.78 Carat tw Aqua Cabachon and 1.24 Carat tw Diamond Earrings, $7,350.

Platinum 6.29 carat Blue Sapphire, Surrounded by .99 Carat tw Half Moon & Round Diamonds, $30,799.

GREEN

EMERALD: The ancient Egyptians believed emerald represented fertility and rebirth, as well as hope and loyalty. It was associated with the Greek goddess Venus, who represented love and beauty, and in several cultures as diverse as Chinese and Irish, it has long represented good luck. Emerald has even been credited with improving one’s memory and intelligence and transforming negativity into positive emotional energy.

Ashley Lauren Collection 19k White Gold/18k Yellow Gold 6.57 Peridot Ring, Surrounded by .71 Carat tw Diamonds, $4,950.

Ashley Lauren Collection 14k White Gold 3.74 Oval Green Tourmaline Ring, Surrounded by 1.05 Carat tw Diamonds, $9,250. 14k White Gold 25.03 Carat Watermelon Tourmaline Ring, Surrounded by .45 Carat tw Diamonds, $28,500.

GREEN TOURMALINE: Tourmaline is a relatively modern gemstone, reaching wide popularity only in the 1970s. It is said to have special healing properties and the ability to release a wholesome energy to all parts of the body, enhancing courage, strength, and stamina. With a hardness of 7-7.5, tourmaline is quite resistant to scratching, chipping, and cracking, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear.

Ashley Lauren Collection 14k Yellow Gold 2.30 Carat Oval Peridot Bezel Set Ring, $695.

PINK

PINK SAPPHIRE: Pink is one of the most popular and most beautiful of the many vibrant colors of sapphire. It represents intuition, clarity, and selfmastery. It stimulates the emotions of love, forgiveness, and acceptance. Like all sapphires, it is a very hard gem, and thus suitable for any form of jewelry. It lends an extra-feminine air to any jewelry design. AMETHYST: In addition to bringing peace, happiness, and emotional well-being, amethyst is credited with the power to enhance your intuition and psychic powers, resulting in good fortune. It was also believed to protect you from snake bites and evil spirits. Amethyst is readily available in large sizes, so it is not unusual to see it as the center stone in bold cocktail rings — the perfect gift for a fifth wedding anniversary or a February birthday.

PURPLE

TANZANITE: The deep purple of Tanzanite makes it one of the most elegant gemstones on earth. It is associated with the power of communication and with a vibrational energy that invites protection and safety. Tanzanite is relatively rare and sometimes costly, found in only one place in the world, the Merelani Hills in Tanzania, East Africa.

Spark Creations 18k White Gold 5.90 Carat Tanzanite Necklace, Surrounded by .63 Carat tw Diamonds, $12,499.

Ashley Lauren Collection 19k White Gold 20.70 Carat Morganite Ring, Surrounded by 1.18 Carat tw Diamonds, $8,650.

MORGANITE:

Morganite is a beryl and, therefore, gemologically related to aquamarine and emerald. It has a dazzling brilliance and comes in soft colors that range from clear pink to warm peach. There is a gentle pink energy associated with morganite that promotes healing, compassion, assurance, and promise. With a hardness of 7.5, morganite is a durable gem that is well-suited for everyday wear.