Stones and Materials

Color: bright sky blue, medium blue to green and or with a black matrix

Meaning: Power, Luck, Protection, Healing, Balancing, Purification

There are many different kinds of turquoise. A few different types of turquoise that we use at Aldrich Art is: Sleeping Beauty, Kingman, Blue Gem, Chinese, Damele, Orville Jack, Carico Lake, and Mojave. It ranges from a bright blue to a very pale baby blue hue as well as bright lime green to an earthy brown to a teal hue. The Orville Jack turquoise that we have was purchased over a decade ago and is no longer being mined so we use what we have left of this stone sparingly. Carico Lake is a special type of turquoise that is only mined at the Montoya Mine in Nevada. It can range from blue to green and has wonderful matrix. Many of the other turquoise that we use is mined in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado (Manasa, Leadville, and Cripple Creek)

For thousands of years, Turquoise has spanned all cultures, prized as a symbol of wisdom, nobility and the power of immortality. Among the Ancient Egyptians, Persians and Chinese, Aztecs and Incas of South America, and Native North Americans, Turquoise was sacred in its adornment and for power, luck, and protection.

Turquoise is a most efficient healer, providing solace for the spirit and well being for the body. It benefits the overall mood and emotion by balancing and inducing a sense of serenity and peace. Holding or wearing Turquoise helps restore depleted vitality and lifts sagging spirits. It relieves stress and brings focus back to the center heart. It is empathetic and balancing, helping one to recognize the causes of happiness and unhappiness, and to master them.

As a stone of purification, Turquoise dispels negative energy and clears electromagnetic smog from the environment. It promotes self-realization and aids in creative problem solving, thus calming the nerves when speaking in public. It helps stabilize mood swings, and dissolves a martyred attitude of self-sabotage.

Color: purple

Meaning: Protection, Understanding Dreams, Guards Against Negativity

The exquisite purple stone we use is from South Africa. Sugilite is found in manganese mines near Johannesburg, South Africa. The availability of good sugilite is limited and varies from year to year, since it is actually the manganese that the mine is looking to procure. The price of sugilite varies greatly from season to season based on mine yield and inflation from importers, therefore the price of two similar pieces of jewelry made one year apart could vary greatly since the cost of sugilite has risen each year.

Few other jewelers feature such large areas of sugilite in their work. The large areas tend to exhibit more variation and imperfections that may be present in the stone. As does everything in nature, sugilite has flaws or imperfections, the same as diamonds or tree bark. We believe that these “imperfections” is perfection itself, because it is a reflection of Mother Nature.

Sugilite is a splendid stone for the realm of dreams, lending access to one’s innermost thoughts, yearnings and beliefs. Meditating or dreaming with this vivid crystal opens the Third Eye, Crown and Etheric Chakras, greatly increasing the depth of one’s experience and allowing the imagery one receives to be rich in significance and symbolic meaning. It assists one in remembering night dreams and aids lucid dreaming, and supports one in recalling the dreams one may have had for one’s life and somehow put aside, or in recovering the dreams one’s soul had for this lifetime.

Sugilite is one of the very best crystals for those who are highly sensitive and take on whatever energies are around them. Wear or carry Sugilite to create a warm, protective “shield of Light,” keeping the wearer impervious to negativity and the disharmony of others. In times of discouragement or despair, place Sugilite on the Third Eye to draw in comforting energy and a flow of gentle, loving information from the spiritual world to bring peace and relaxation to the emotional body.

Color: red, pink or salmon

Meaning: Passion, Love, Prosperity, Optimism

Coral is an organic material that is harvested by divers off the bottom of the ocean from the coasts of Spain, Italy, and Indonesia.

Coral is of organic origin. Coral can be used to reconnect with nature and its variety of wonders. Coral also attracts love and prosperity, particularly red coral, which is a stone of passion. Creativity and optimism are also qualities that coral brings out. Emotionally, coral brings inner peace, strength, and understanding of purpose. Physically coral is used in alternative crystal healing for general healing.

Color: royal blue (Lapis Lazuli, royal blue with gold flecks)

Meaning: Truth, Honesty, Learning, Memory Enhancement, Communication

Lapis is a royal blue color with gold flecks. The lapis that Aldrich Art sources is generally from Afghanistan. We only use AAA grade, which is the best quality.

Lapis Lazuli is a powerful crystal for activating the higher mind and enhancing intellectual ability. It stimulates the desire for knowledge, truth and understanding, and aids the process of learning. It is excellent for enhancing memory.

A stone of truth, Lapis encourages honesty of the spirit, and in the spoken and written word. Wear it for all forms of deep communication. It is also a stone of friendship and brings harmony in relationships. A Lapis grid brings calm and loving communication. In the workplace, it attracts promotion, success and lasting recognition in your field.

Lapis Lazuli is a crystal of truth in all aspects. It reveals inner truth, and promotes self-awareness and the acceptance of that knowledge. It provides for the relief of things that may have been suppressed and allows for them to surface, helping to diminish dis-ease or repressed anger, and allows for self-expression without holding back or compromising.

Color: bright orange shell

Meaning: Prosperity, Channeling, Stress Relief

The spiny oyster shell that we buy is primarily from the Sea of Cortez off the eastern coast of Baja California & Mexico. It can range in color from light yellow to a dark red and there are shells that are purple. Only the brightest colored shells are selected for inlay.

The Inca referred to spiny oyster as mullu and used the shell as an offering for rain and good harvests during the spring. The importance of this shell was so great that there was a unique role in their society based around the mollusk. This class of person was to ensure that adequate supplies of spondylus were available at all times to Inca temples.

Color: almost any color of the rainbow, including white, pink, blue, purple, green or black

Meaning: natural healing on a physical, mental, and spiritual level

The geological process that forms a druzy, the layer of crystals on the rock, occurs when water brings minerals onto a rock’s surface. When the water evaporates, cooling occurs and the minerals are left behind to form crystals on top of the rock. Depending on the minerals, druzy gemstones can be almost any color of the rainbow, including white, pink, blue, purple, green or black.

The healing properties of Druzy Crystals are great for promoting natural healing on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. It’s also known to boost the immune and reproductive systems. This crystal can be useful in treating infections, and it can also heal both emotional and mental issues.

** You shouldn’t wear druzy stone jewelry in the shower, bath, hot tub, or pool. The minerals and chemicals in the water can dull or damage your druzy stones. Take off your jewelry before getting into water and store it in a safe place.

Color: white, cream

Meaning: Inspiration, Creativity, Memory

Most of the opal that we use in Aldrich Art jewelry comes from Australia. For the most part it is mined at the Coober Pedy and Mintebe Mines. It can be transparent or translucent but we try to buy white-based stone with flecks of red, green, purple, and blue. Opal is a relatively soft mineral that is comprised of silicon and water. Only the most colorful and highest quality of opal is used in our jewelry.

Opals make up is a large portion of water and is associated with being able to handle changes in life. Hold this stone close to your heart during times of transformation. Opal is believed to have properties for creativity and inspiration.

Color: black with a shiny finish

Meaning: Purification, Protection, Spiritual Quests, Inner Growth, Protection, Healing, Balancing, Purification

Jet is black stone with a shiny finish. It is formed from the high-pressure decomposition of wood. It is a very soft stone ranging between 2.5 and 4 on the Mohs hardness scale. Jet is easy to carve but cracks easily.

Jet’s energies of purification of energy and vibrations bring about protection on many levels. It has been used extensively for protection against evil and all negative energies. It is also a powerful protector against psychic attack. Jet also has energies making it protective to finances and business and brings stability to these realms. It reaches the height of these properties traditionally when worn as a pendant or necklace set in silver. In purification processes, jet may absorb some of the unwanted negative energy, so it should be cleared / cleansed fully after each use, and it will be happy to work with you again.

In the spiritual realms, jet has many uses. Protection is one, particularly against sickness and violence. It is also used for clairvoyance, past life work, and psychic work in general, as it purifies the vibration of the information coming in. Jet is used to remove energetic attachments, particularly those from other people, and it sloughs away negative energies. This makes it a particularly good choice for assisting in clearing the aura. Jet is used for spiritual quests, spiritual advancement, and to assist in opening one to awakening with a rise of Kundalini energy. Jet is used in rituals and magic to bring up and channel Earth energy including manifestation of will and desires.

Jet also eases anxiety and depression, calming anxious or fearful thinking as well as delusions. Ease of anxiety and depression can then bring about inner growth, increase self-reliance, and ease change in any areas of life.

Color: purple

Meaning: Peace, Psychic, Sobriety, Stability

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz and the most valuable form of quartz. The color of natural amethyst is caused by iron or manganese compound impurities in the mineral and can range from a watercolor pale pink to a dark almost opaque, purple.

In today’s world, Amethyst is still a remarkable stone of spirituality and contentment, known for its metaphysical abilities to still the mind and inspire an enhanced meditative state. Its inherent high frequency purifies the aura of any negative energy or attachments, and creates a protective shield of Light around the body, allowing one to remain clear and centered while opening to spiritual direction. Amethyst stimulates the Third Eye, Crown and Etheric Chakras enhancing cognitive perception as well as accelerating the development of intuitive and psychic ability. It initiates wisdom and greater understanding, and is a stone of comfort for those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Amethyst’s ability to expand the higher mind also enhances one’s creativity and passion. It strengthens the imagination and intuition, and refines the thinking processes. It helps in the assimilation of new ideas, putting thought into action, and brings projects to fruition. It is a talisman of focus and success.

Color: Light Green (Arizona)

Meaning: Heart Chakra, Balance, Compassion

Peridot is the gem form of the mineral olivine. It is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color; the green hues can vary from yellowish to brownish green, from light olive green to vibrant green. The color of each stone is a result of iron in its chemical composition.

Peridot is ideal for discharging emotional issues that affect the physical body. Place it over the Solar Plexus to relax and release nervous tension, known as “butterflies,” as well as to alleviate fear and guilt, anxiety or impatience. Place Peridot over the Heart Chakra to relieve heaviness of heart, empower forgiveness, or alleviate destructive jealousy or self-doubt caused by betrayal in past relationships.

Peridot stimulates psychological clarity and inspires a sense of happiness and contentedness in one’s life. It empowers one to detach the mind from outside influences and have confidence in one’s own abilities, looking inward for guidance and accessing the wisdom of the higher mind. It initiates independence and assertion without aggression, accepting the world as it is, then transforming it with clear intention to create the reality one wishes to have.

Color: white with rainbow hues

Meaning: Prosperity, Healing, Protection, Intuition, Imagination

Mother of Pearl is an organic material produced by some mollusks as an inner shell layer. Most of the Mother of Pearl that we use is Golden Lip Mother of Pearl.

Mother of Pearl has both traditional and New Age metaphysical and healing lore. It is said to attract prosperity. It is used in mystical work and lore to heighten intuition, psychic sensitivity, and imagination. It is purported to protect from negative influence, and transmute negative energy. It is said to be highly protective and a particularly potent stone of protection for children. A traditional lore use of Mother of Pearl is to purify environments.

A protection stone, Mother of Pearl brings the gentle healing power of the sea. It is a stress relieving stone. It is relaxing, soothing, and calming to the emotions. Mother of Pearl stimulates our intuition, imagination, sensitivity and adaptability. It helps our emotions become more harmonious and balanced. It is calming and soothing to temper feelings of fear. It enables you to more easily express feelings of love. Mother of Pearl helps with clarity in decision-making and is helpful for endurance, organization and for home life.

Color: Dark Red

Meaning: Happiness, Prosperity, Integrity, Devotion

Ruby is one of the world’s most valuable gemstones. With its hardness and durability, ruby is an excellent choice for all types of jewelry. The color of a ruby is due to a trace of chromic oxide in the stone; the amount of this substance determines the depth of color.

Revered in many cultures throughout history, Ruby has always been a talisman of passion, protection and prosperity. Ruby also sustains and protects those with sensitive natures and distorted views of themselves or others. It overcomes fears of being “ugly” or unloved, and is particularly empowering for those who hold excess weight in the body in order to ground in the physical world. It releases destructive emotional holds, and is a powerful stone for developing a more loving attitude toward oneself and the physical body.

Ruby carries the frequency of the enlightened Base Chakra, stimulating the flow of life-force energy or chi through the body. It strengthens the ability to meet one’s needs and manifest one’s desires, and is powerful in activating the kundalini.

Color: Dark Red (Arizona)

Meaning: Romance, Love, Self-Confidence, Support, Courage

Pyrope Garnet is mined in the four corners region near Kayenta, Arizona. Traditional red garnet derives its deep color from iron and magnesium.

Pyrope Garnet offers us physical, emotional and spiritual support. Use its healing powers to boost circulation and blood disorders, as well as the digestive tract and immune system. Pyrope emotionally relieves anxiety, and promotes composure, courage and endurance. It lightens the overall mood. It protects the Base and Crown Chakras, and may balance the Heart and Brow Chakras as well.

Pyrope Garnet stimulates warmth and gentleness, unifying the creative forces of the self. On the spiritual path, it also helps open the heart to love – from Divine Love, as well as love of others.

Color: Light Blue

Meaning: Calming, Peace, Understanding, Communication, Creative Inspiration

Blue Topaz is a hard, usually transparent aluminum silicate gem material. Faceted blue topaz has a brilliance that rivals more expensive stones. Topaz is an 8 on the Mohs scale making it tough and durable.

The sparkling stones evoke images of the wind, sky, and water. Blue is the color of calm and quiet. It can help us channel relaxing energies and fight off chaos and negative emotions.

Traditionally, the icy blue shades of topaz gemstones are associated with learning, understanding, creative inspiration and peaceful communication.

Color: Clear White

Meaning: Balance, Release Tension, Success, Mental Clarity, Energy

White Topaz is a hard, usually transparent aluminum silicate gem material. Faceted white topaz has a brilliance that rivals more expensive stones. Topaz is an 8 on the Mohs scale making it tough and durable, pure topaz is colorless.

White Topaz is also called Clear Topaz or Silver Topaz. It will aid your spiritual development as it encourages you to accept direction and guidance from Spirit and to find your purpose.

You can use the vibration of this stone to aid you to manifest, as it has strong magnification energy. It also aids you to have a more orderly approach.

This will aid manifestation and make the passage of achieving your desires easier and faster. This crystal carries the energy of truth, and its vibration will help you to have improved mental clarity.

It has a lovely energy that helps you to substitute negativity with love, peace and joy. This is also a strong healing stone, as they will help those who are listless and who are feeling low and in need of extra energy.

Color: opalescent light blue

Meaning: Healing, Stress Reduction, Courage, Self Esteem, Self Love

Peruvian opal is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru hence the name but it is also found in Oregon and Nevada.

Blue Peruvian Opal is mystically known as a stone of courage and ingenuity. It is said to improve self-esteem and self-love. It is also said to be an aid to creativity and communication of all types. It is reputed to help one find a confidant. Peruvian blue opal is also said to help with stress reduction, fatigue, and weight loss. Peruvian opal is associated primarily with the throat chakra.

Color: dark green

Meaning: Protection, Love, Commitment, Cleansing

Chrome diopside contains chromium, an element that provides its rich green color.

In the physical world they are excellent aids in protecting your loved ones, your possessions, and your physical security. They are very useful in protecting houses and homes, property, and valuables.

In the spiritual world, the Guardian crystals have several special uses. They first serve to guard your beliefs against doubt. Diopside is also said to be related to love, commitment, and the inner heart. It is traditionally said to be helpful for healing trauma, partly by bringing cleansing tears. Sometimes it’s even called the “crying stone” because of this. It can help get in touch with the feminine side, which can help heal aggression and stubbornness.

Color: brownish yellow

Meaning: Intelligence, Creativity, Enhances Self-expression, Overcoming Depression

Citrine belongs to the quartz family. The yellow color of this gemstone is due to the presence of iron in the crystal structure. Named for its bright citrus color, citrine can range from pale yellow to a deep brownish gold.

Natural Citrine enhances physical stamina and energy, supports the endocrine system, and encourages proper metabolism. Citrine activates nerve impulses, strengthening intelligence and the intellectual faculties of concentration and wisdom. Citrine opens the higher mind to accept joy in one’s life, releasing anger and negative feelings, deep-seated fears and destructive tendencies. An excellent crystal for overcoming depression, Citrine reduces the sensitivity to criticism and inspires creativity and self-expression. It raises self-esteem, and by letting go of the past, allows one to move forward optimistically, enjoying new experiences and explorations.

Color: brownish orange

Meaning: Prosperity, Ambition, Drive, Confidence, Creativity, Courage

Carnelian is a type of chalcedony with a semi-opaque to translucent reddish-orange color. Its color comes from its iron oxide content and stones may present a uniform color or be faintly banded.

Carnelian attracts prosperity, new resources and good luck. Invokes ambition, drive and determination. Carnelian is both an energy booster and an energy stabilizer. Although it does increase the energy flow in any space (or for any body), carnelian does it in a happy and calm kind of way. It is a joyful stone that feels very secure in its essence and transmits the same warmth, protection and inner security to its surroundings.

The energy of carnelian resembles a peaceful, warm afternoon filled with genuine happiness. Its joyful energy has a nourishing and protective quality to it. Carnelian has courage, confidence, and creativity at its core; all these qualities are combined in a calm and grounded kind of way.

Color: rainbow of colors

Meaning: Spirituality, Self-confidence, Physical Strength, Victory

Cubic Zirconia is a lab created gemstone. These gemstones are economical alternatives to natural gemstones. They are a brighter stone generally with deeper colors. How they are faceted creates more depth and sparkle. We use these in our jewelry to add a bright pop of color. They come in a wide variety of colors.