March has two gemstones, the aquamarine and the bloodstone. These are such contrasting gemstones, one very masculine, the other so feminine.
I am writing about the bloodstone today. Bloodstone is a chalcedony and is also called heliotrope. Chacedony is part of the quartz family and is a microcrystalline stone. Bloodstone is a dark green and opaque stone and is coloured both by traces of iron silicates and with patches of red jasper. In medieval times, it was believed that the red spots in bloodstone were spots of Christ’s blood.
This striking stone is used in a lot of jewellery for men, such as in watch fobs, seals and signet rings.
You will see it used in antique Scottish jewellery, along with carnelian, onyx, jaspers and similar stones.
Next week, I will talk about aquamarines.
navette jewellery 