The Curator's Journal

The Breastplate of Aaron Part 2 - Decoding the Breastplate

By Yaĝé Enigmus The Breastplate of Aaron is a prime example of how gemstones were used in spiritual practices of ancient times. The twelve stones in this ritual item were all supposedly crafted fro...

The Breastplate of Aaron Part 1 - The Priestly Breastplate

By Yaĝé Enigmus Countless civilizations throughout history have held gemstones in high regard, very often because of the beliefs that surround them and not just their mere beauty. Many of these pra...

Birthstones Part 6 – Eastern Birthstone Lists: Hindu, Ayurvedic, Mystical, Siamese and Phenomenal Birthstones

By Yaĝé Enigmus Gemstones that hold special meaning can be found in almost every human culture. When selecting a gemstone as a birthstone, the origin of the birthstone list used can be as significa...

Birthstones Part 5: The Greek and Chinese Zodiacs

By Yaĝé Enigmus In addition to the birthstones that most people in western markets are familiar with, birthstone lists also exist based on the signs of the Greek and Chinese zodiacs. These lists al...

Birthstones Part 4 – Beyond the Twelve Months: Birthstones for the Time of Day, Day of the Week, Day of the Month, and Season

By Yaĝé Enigmus When choosing to purchase a birthstone for oneself or as a gift, one may find that the birthstone associated with the relevant month isn’t suitable for their needs or doesn’t satisf...

Birthstones Part 3 – The Origins of Western Birthstone Lists: from Traditional to Modern and Beyond

By Yaĝé Enigmus In 1906, the National Association of Jewellers (today known as the Jewellers of America) was founded. This American organization met in 1912 and adopted their own official version o...

Birthstones Part 2: Origins of Western Birthstone Lists - From Biblical to Traditional

By Yaĝé Enigmus   Today in contemporary western markets, gem dealers and private jewellers often mention ‘birthstones’ when asked for help in choosing a stone to gift or have made into gemstone jew...

Birthstones Part 1: What are Birthstones?

 By Yaĝé Enigmus When giving the gift of a gemstone or custom gemstone jewellery, it can sometimes take a bit of thought to pick the right stone, especially if the receiver doesn’t already have a f...

GEM MINING IN AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan is a well-known gem producing country accommodating some of the oldest mines in the world. The four main gemstone-producing areas are Badakhshan, Jagdalek, Nuristan, and the Panjshir Va...

Garnet

Red garnet is one of the most common and widespread of gems, found in metamorphic rocks (which are rocks altered by heat and pressure) on every continent. But not all garnets are as abundant as t...