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If you like green gemstones, then you are spoilt for choice and I use green stones a lot in my jewellery making. Below are six green gemstones I love and I hope you will love them too.
Amazonite
This stone is a variety of feldspar. It has been used for thousands of years and both the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians used it to make jewellery and figurines; However it wasn't really used until much later when large deposits of it were discovered in the basin of the Amazon River hence its name. Since this discovery, more deposits have been discovered in Russia, the USA, China and Mongolia.
Amazonite gets its colour from its lead and water content and comes in a variety of shades. I like to use Russian Amazonite as it is mottled.
Traditionally, Amazonite is said by some to be a soothing stone which calms the brain and the nervous system. It is also said to bring balance to male and female energies.
Green Aventurine
This stone is a type of quartz which comes in a range of colours, but the most common colour is green. It often contains sparkly flecks which make is especially good for making jewellery. It is also good for jewellery as it is a relatively ard and durable stone. It can be found in Spain, Chile and Russia, but most Aventurine comes to us from India.
Some people consider Aventurine to be a particularly lucky stone which brings good fortune when playing games of chance - I just think it looks good!
To see all Green Aventurine earrings click here.
Jade
Jade has been prized by our ancestors for thousands of years, with evidence of it being used in 6000 BCE. Although it is prized around the World, it is especially valued in China where is is believed, by many, to bring good fortune and prosperity. It was also considered important in Mesoamerica and was widely used for ceremonial purposes by the Olmec and Mayan peoples.
Jade comes in a number of shades of green and is a very hard and durable stone, making it perfect not only for making jewellery, but for carving into figurines and sculptures.
To seel all Jade earrings click here.
Malachite
This is one of my favourite green stones. Malachite is a form of copper carbonate which has been mined since the Bronze Age. It is a relatively difficult stone to find as it forms in stalagtites deep underground, where it is formed by hydro-thermal activity. It can be found all over the World.
The green of Malchite is rich and I really like the lines and banding which give it its distinctive look. It forms in large deposits which means that it can be used, not only for making jewellery, but for making larger objects such as sculptures and vases.
Our ancestors believed that Malachite could ward off evil spirits and help babies to sleep (something I wish I'd known when my son was a baby)! It was also associated by the ancient Egyptians with death and the afterlife.
Peridot
This is a type of Olivine and is found right around the World. It is unusual among gemstones as it does not form in the Earth's crust, but deep in the upper mantle, finding its way to the surface through volcanic activity. It is also sometimes found in meteorites (meteoritic Peridot is extremely valuable).
Peridot is not a particularly hard or durable stone which means that it is seldom found as large pieces - which is frustrating for jewellers!
Traditionally, Peridot was seen as a stone of power which promotes love. It was also thought, in Mediaeval times, to be a cure for depression.
Connemara Marble
This beautiful green variety of marble is found in the West of Ireland and is considered by some to be Ireland's national gemstone. Marble is a metamorphic rock which starts its life as limestone.
This stone contains many different patterns and shades of green which means that no two pieces can ever be the same. Marble is soft and relatively easy to sculpt into different shapes, which makes it ideal for making jewellery.
To see all Marble earrings click here.
Fortunaearrings is a handmade jewellery store featuring a wide range of unique earrings made of gemstones and sterling silver. As well as gemstone earrings which will appeal to the gemstone collector, you will also find a range of earrings made of Venetian glass lampworked at my Devon workshop. See my full handmade jewellery portfolio by clicking the shop link at the top of this page.