The most complete information guide about Athens, Greece
Organic
gemstone properties
Organic gems are formed by the biological processes of living
organisms found on land and underwater. The main organic gems
from animals are pearl, ivory, shell (mother-of-pearl) and coral.
Those derived from plants are amber and jet. For more information
on amber and jet see our gemstone properties page. Other organic
gems and collectibles include tagua nuts (vegetable ivory) and
fossils like shark teeth and dinosaur eggs.
Mother-of-pearl
Mother-of-pearl
is nacre, the smooth calcium carbonate lining of iridescent luster
found in various shells. Nacres is the material from which pearls
are made. Although not a gemstone, its healing properties are
a peaceful healing energy from the sea. Relaxes, soothes emotions,
sensitivity and stress. Mother of pearl represents money and wealth.
Coral
Coral
consists of the branching skeletons of animals (marine polyps)
which live in colonies planted on the seabed at depths varying
from tens to hundreds of meters in warmish to very warm seas.
Their dense limestone skeletons cluster together and build up
over thousands of years into coral reefs and coral islands.
Coral
comes in white, red, pink, blue, golden and black colors. All
corals have a delicate graining of stripes or spots in their structure.
Coral is said to promote general physical and mental well-being
and to be of particular assistance to those suffering from anemia,
bladder conditions, colic and whooping cough. It has been used
as a form of protective magic for children for hundreds of years.
Coral's healing properties are mostly associated with women, young
children and the elderly. For women it is said to increase fertility
and regulate menstruation. For young children, it is recommended
to ease teething and to prevent epilepsy. For the elderly, it
is used as a cure for arthritis.
Black coral beads, in particular, are also known as "yusr",
which could be loosely translated as "blessing", which
is believed to be granted to the holder of these mystical beads,
thanks to their intrinsic spiritual powers.
Ivory
Ivory
is the hard white dentine from the tusks of elephants and some
other animals like walruses and sperm whales. Ivory has a creamy
color which yellows with time, excellent texture and is elastic.
Because of its great popularity, ivory has led to the slaughter
of hundreds of thousands of African elephants (the major source
of ivory because of the size of the tusks). This led to an international
treaty in 1989 banning ivory trade. In 1997, restrictions were
eased to allow some stock to be traded.
Today, many substitutes are used like bone, horn, vegetable ivory
(tagua nut) and plastic. Genuine ivory can still be found as vintage
beads at very high prices. Ivory is said to protect the physical
body from injury.
Organic
materials
Particularly for komboloi, other organic materials used are wood,
bone, horn, nuts, seeds and pits. There is a group of komboloi
lovers who claim that komboloi should only be made with organic
materials (materials that used to be alive) and not with gemstones
or other minerals.
Kukui nut
The
Kukui is the state tree of Hawaii. The indigenous kukui, better
known as the candlenut tree, is the symbol of the `Aha Kupuna,
the council of elders, because the Hawaiian word "Kukui"
means enlightened. Hard-shelled kukui nuts take such a brilliant
luster that they resemble polished gemstones.
Kukui tree seeds are very rich in oil. The valuable oil expressed
from seeds is used as a light source and as a mild cathartic.
Seeds were strung together and burned like a candle. Hawaiians
also extracted the oil for many other uses: to shine and waterproof
wooden bowls, to mix with charcoal to make black canoe paint,
to burn as torches and to burn in stone lamps for light. Today
the oil is used in many beauty products made in Hawaii including
tropical sun tanning oils.
Rudraksha seeds
Rudraksha
trees grow throughout Java and the lower altitudes of Tibet. It
is believed that after God Siva awoke from one thousand years
of meditation and shed tears of worldly compassion, the tears
were crystallized into the seeds which gave birth to the Rudraksha
tree (Elaeocarpus Ganitrus).
Their seeds are used widely in Hindu malas (prayer beads). The
surface of the seed is rough, and it is segmented into five sections.
Seeds with a differing number of segments are sought after. Rudraksha
come in a variety of colors and sizes. The most common is a dark
reddish brown.
Ebony,
teak, olive, sandal- and other wood
Wood
is one of the traditional materials used in komboloi and early
worry beads. Most wood transfers the properties and symbolism
of the tree onto the bead. Sandalwood is known for its natural
fragrance. The olive tree represents knowledge and wisdom.
Care
Organic materials are soft and porous. They scratch easily and
absorb cosmetics, perfume and chemicals like hair spray. They
should not be dipped in chemical cleaners but rather wiped clean
with a moist cloth. It is unwise to store them for lengthy periods
of time in a closed container because dry air may cause the gems
to crack.