What is Cubic Zirconia? ( CZ ) CZ's look very similar to diamonds and are usually hard to distinguish the difference with the naked eye. CZ's have many of the characteristics of diamonds but at a fraction of the cost. CZ's have slightly less brilliance (liveliness and sparkle) than diamonds, while having more fire (flashes of rainbow colors). CZ's have a scientific hardness rating of 8.5 (vs. Diamond 10) on the Mohs' scale, thus can scratch glass (hardness 6~7). CZ's are about 75% heavier than diamonds and come in a variety of colors, like diamonds. High Quality CZ's are machine cut to exacting tolerances that duplicate the diamond-cutting process. Main sources of CZ's are United States, Switzerland, Thailand and China. Larimar In 1974 an American Peace Corp worker and a Dominican geologist discovered the gem on the Caribbean Isand of Hispanola. The nomenclature “Larimar” is a combination of the geologist daughter’s name “Larisa” and “Mar”, the Spanish word for the blue sea. Like the diamond and emerald only 3% of all the stones mined are of gemstone quality. On the hardness scale of gem, (MOH), the Larimar rates around 7 and the diamond rates 10, 10 being the hardest. Until now this valuable new discovery remained available only to those who have visited the Caribbean. Presently, increased interest and scarcity have made this gem very desirable and valuable! GEMSTONES USED AS THERAPY Gemstones are used to focus on energies and help individuals get in touch with the forces that surround them. Gemstones are not the forces themselves, they are a personal reflection of those energies already present in the individual. The most common way to practice gemstone therapy is to wear gemstones and gemstone beads around your neck, although now wearing them in rings, bracelets and anklets is also assumed to strengthening these properties. When wearing gemstones, it is best that they are surrounded by precious metals such as gold and silver or natural cord. Cheap metals often reduce or even deplete the therapeutic effect of the gemstone.

GEMSTONES Agate: Balances, inspiration, perceptiveness Amazonite: Success, Joy, Harmony Amber: Purification, Spirituality, Cleansing Aventurine: Independence, Leadership, Motivation Amethyst: Stability, intuition, peace Aquamarine: Courage, preparedness, self-expression Bloodstone: Intense healing, Renewal, Strength Carnelain: Precision, Action, Stimulation Citrine: Optimism, joy, mental awakening Coral: Diplomacy, quiet emotions, visualization Diamond: courage, healing, spirtuality Emerald: Love, sensitivity, loyalty Fluorite: Order, discernment, concentration Garnet: Stability, devotion, commitment Hematite: Order, Insight, regeneration Howlite: Awareness, patience, observation Jade: Fortune, longevity, accomplishment Jasper: Insite, awareness, protection Lapis Lazuli: Knowledge, wisdome, perfection Moonstone: Introspection, reflection, tenderness Mother Of Pearl: Mental clarity, adaptability, cooperation Obsidian: Deflecting negativity, protection, healing Onyx: Self control, decision making, intuition Opal: Hope, health, wealth Pearl: Purity, faith, sincerity Peridot: Healing, friendliness, understanding Rose Quartz: Love, calming, gentleness Ruby: Spiritual wisdon, wealth, love Sapphire: Beauty, prosperity, intuition Smoky Quartz: Clearing the mind, cooperation, grounding Tiger Eye: Optimism, peacefulness, clarity Topaz:True love, trust success Tourmaline: Energizing, soul-searching, releasing Turquoise: Cleansing, protection, valor

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