Amethyst is the birthstone for February as well as the gem for the zodiac sign pisces. Amethyst is found in many locations, generally the lighter shades come from the “Americas” and the dark tones from African countries such as Zambia.

Amethyst is a balancing gem, it brings peace of mind and drives away enflamed passions and worries. Because of its calming mental effect, amethyst is a stone that can be used for over- worked, over -stressed, or overwhelmed mental states, and it gives protection to those who wear it. It is one of the best stones to use for tension or migraine headaches.

Wow! We have purchased some stunning drilled tourmalines. A lot of thick tubes in dark pinks, thin facetted tubes in olive or peppermint green, watermelon tourmaline cabochons…..

Truly beautiful stones that we are busy turning into unique beaded necklaces - some are already on display, some to be finished.

So if you are a tourmaline fan, give us a call if you wish to see photos or to find out which store holds what design!

we went on short trip to the northern cape and of course could not resist to search for unusual minerals. We brought back a fine selection. Part of the collection is already on display in the Gemstone Boutique in Kalk Bay.

It again and again amazes me what unique, unbelievable minerals and gems can be found in the Northern parts of South Africa… 

Garnet is the birthstone for January as well as the gem for the zodiac sign aquarius.

One glance at the deep red seeds nestled inside of a pomegranate fruit explains why the word “garnet” comes from the Latin word “granatus,” meaning “grain” or “seed.”  This name was given to the garnet because of its close resemblance to the succulent pomegranate seed. 

The good news is that garnets do not only come in the colour red as not everybody is a fan of that colour. The garnet comes in a variety of other hues, including muted yellows, vibrant oranges, rosy pinks, lime greens, and violets—a virtual bouquet of colors.  This diversity is due to unique combinations of elements within each particular gem, such as iron, calcium, and manganese.  

The garnet continues to be the protective gem of journeyers. A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one’s safe travel and speedy homecoming. 

I am really excited to announce that we have the most stunning seed pearls available (so hard to come by these days). All of them have great lustre, are close to perfect round and range in size from about 1.5 to 3mm. Soon there will also be some finished necklaces and bracelets.

 Stay tuned!

Yet again it seems daunting to identify the correct stone for December. There is quite a variety to choose from:

Tanzanite became an official December birthstone on October 30, 2002, in the first revision to the birthstone list since 1912.

More commonly accepted seems to be Turquoise as a December birthstone and also is the gem for the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries.  Representing happiness, usually seen as a holy stone associated with happiness and luck.

Historically there are Lapis Lazuli and Zircon (not to mix with the synthetic Zirconia – Zircon is a beautiful brown tone gem, mainly sourced in Sri Lanka)

Mystical Birthstone - Onyx (Black) - The Mystical Birthstone list was obtained from a Tibetan book said to be over a thousand years old. Legend has it that these birthstones really help one overcome the obstacles of their birth month.

Ayurvedic Birthstone - Ruby (Red) - The Ayurvedic Birthstone list is from Ayurvedic Indian Medicine - an ancient type of medicine used for thousands of years. If you want a healing gemstone, you may wish to consider  these.

that keep us going: