People have long sought the peace and beauty of the natural world as a way to escape stressful times.
Hearing the wind in the trees, feeling the sun on your face, catching a glimpse of wildlife. All of these experiences satisfy the senses and bring a sense of calm. During the pandemic, even more people took to the outdoors. As they rediscovered nature, many felt drawn to a deeper connection with the natural world.
One way this connection has shown itself is in the wearing of gemstones. Gemstones are among nature's most beautiful creations. Forged over time by powerful forces, they come to life deep in the earth. Once brought to light, you can only marvel at their diversity, color, sheen, and mysterious beauty. Nugent Jewelry has long understood the allure of gemstones, and works with a wide range of them across the collection. These are available in various settings, to meet the desires and lifestyle of all kinds of wearers. Designed to be both comfortable and stylish, gemstones can go from an elegant dinner party to the yoga mat, all while keeping the wearer connected to something that came out of the earth.
People's fascination with gemstones is not new. Belief in stones carrying special meaning goes back centuries. In the 1970s, interest in metaphysical properties, crystals, and inner spirituality became popular in certain sectors of the population. This exploration was called the New Age movement. Today there has been a resurgence in interest in those ideas. Connecting mind, body, and spirit is resonating with people of all ages and all walks of life.
Why the change? Stressful times and divisiveness in our society have caused many people to turn inward, to reassess their lives, their purpose, and their identity. Spiritual exploration has become popular, with many turning to meditation, reiki, and crystal work as part of a personal practice. "Growth and healing" and "connecting to something larger than myself" are cited over and over again as personal goals. Alternative arts have been around for many years, and today people are opening their minds as never before to explore these practices, including the wearing of gemstones.
At Nugent Jewelry we say our gemstones and crystals hold "The Secret Within," because every stone carries a history of associations built up over centuries. We share those traditions with you as a matter of interest as you embark on your own exploration.
Amethyst
The most highly valued stone in the quartz group, the colors of amethyst range from purple to violet to pale red-violet. It is traditionally associated with meditation, calm, and protection. Amethyst is the birthstone for February.
Citrine
The name comes from its lemon-yellow color, but citrines can also be dark yellow and even golden brown. It is traditionally associated with personal power, abundance, and joy. Citrine is a November birthstone.
Rose Quartz
Coloration ranges from a strong pink to pale pink. It is traditionally associated with unconditional love, self-love, and close relationships.
Moonstone
Moonstone typically shows a pearly or opalescent sheen, with colors ranging from white, cream, peach, gray, and blue. This is caused by light scattering between the layers of the stone's crystal structure. Moonstone may also display other optical effects such as chatoyancy, the cat's eye effect, depending on its composition and internal structure.
Recognized as a June birthstone, moonstone is traditionally associated with compassion, intuition, and emotional steadiness. It has long been called a stone for new beginnings.
Carnelian
Carnelians range from brownish red to orange, translucent to opaque. Their name comes from the Kornel cherry. The stone is traditionally associated with vitality, creativity, and joy.
Labradorite
Labradorite ranges from dark gray to gray black with colorful iridescences of yellow, green, blue, or purple, and can also be colorless or brown. It is traditionally associated with grounding, protection, and seeing through illusion, and has long been considered a companion during times of change.
Find your stone
Every stone in the collection carries its own history. If you want to go deeper on what these associations mean and where they come from, start with Know Your Stone.
Or browse by the meaning that fits you in The Mood Edit.