Jewel A Celebration of Earth’s Treasures

The lure of precious stones and gems is universal – it is common to every age and every culture. From the moment a sparkling mineral first caught the eye of a caveman, humans have been fascinated by the wonders of the earth beneath their feet, and have marvelled at the different ways that stones and crystals react with the light, at their varied properties and uses, and at the way that they appear miraculously transformed when cut and polished. This appeal goes far beyond visual beauty – throughout history, mysterious powers have been ascribed to certain gems and minerals. Healers deemed some gems to have medicinal qualities, while astrologers and alchemists utilized others; the sacred texts of major religions mentioned precious stones, and jewels frequently featured in ritual practices. Some Chinese emperors, for example, were buried in jade suits, in the belief that this stone conferred a form of immortality; similarly, the precious gems and metals used in the complex burial rites of Egyptian pharaohs were designed to ease their passage into the afterlife.