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ShelRae Designs

ABOUT
SHELRAE

Stones
101
 

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MODERN Birthstones

 Chart by SCLadyDiJewelry

Stones 101

Found just the right piece to celebrate your style? Learn more about its stones, their properties, folklore and distinguishing characteristics. 

Agate -

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Babylonians used agate to ward off storms, while the       Egyptians believed it grounded the wearer to the earth. It is the ultimate stone of stability.

  • Luxury Description: "Every piece of our agate is a geological masterpiece, displaying microscopic layers of chalcedony that form hypnotic bands of concentric color. We favor the rare 'Dendritic' and 'Blue Lace' varieties, celebrating the raw, organic patterns that tell a 50-million-year story of volcanic activity. The stone's subtle translucency invites quiet contemplation.

Amethyst - • Birthstone: February

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: The ancient Greeks believed amethyst prevented intoxication, wearing it to keep a clear head. It has long been associated with royal bloodlines and the Crown Jewels.

  • Luxury Description: The royal purples of our amethyst range from the palest lavender to the deepest Siberian violet. We source only the most richly saturated crystals, exhibiting the secondary flashes of ruby and blue that signal the highest grade. Clean, eye-clean, and cut with mathematical precision, our amethyst offers a dramatic, powerful statement—a gemstone that commands attention and speaks of spiritual clarity, all while maintaining your sobriety ;).

Apatite 

  • Birthstone: often associated with those born under Gemini (May 21 – June 20) and Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) due to its connection with communication and expansion. It is also considered an alternative stone for Pisces.

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: apatite has been treasured across cultures as a stone of manifestation and truth. Ancient seafarers believed apatite aligned them with the ocean's currents, offering safe passage across turbulent waters. In metaphysical traditions, it is known as the "Stone of the Future" or the "Inspiration Stone," believed to stimulate the mind, enhance creativity, and encourage ambition. It is also revered for its ability to clear confusion and foster honest, open communication between the heart and the mind.

  • Luxury Description: Our collection celebrates the rarest and most coveted variety: the Neon Blue Apatite, whose electric, cyan brilliance evokes the luminous waters of the Maldives at twilight. This is a gem of astonishing clarity and vivid saturation, often displaying a subtle pleochroism that shifts from rich teal to brilliant aquamarine as it catches the light. Unlike its more common green and yellow counterparts, our apatite is hand-selected for its pure, unadulterated color—free from gray or brown modifiers—and its exceptional transparency, which allows light to penetrate and dance within its crystalline structure.

Aqua Marine - • Birthstone: March

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Roman fishermen called aquamarine 'water of the sea,' using it to protect them from storms. It is the traditional gift for 19th wedding anniversaries and is believed to reawaken love.

  • Luxury Description: "Distilled from the essence of the Caribbean Sea, our aquamarine is the poetry of the ocean made solid. We select only the rarest 'Santa Maria' tones—a deeply saturated, sky-blue hue. Its remarkable clarity and silken luster evoke tranquility and grace, making it the ultimate symbol of serene sophistication and marital bliss.

Citrine - • Birthstone: November (alongside Topaz)

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Known as the 'Merchant's Stone,' citrine has been carried for centuries as a talisman for prosperity and joy. Ancient Greeks carved it into amulets to guard against evil thoughts.

  • Luxury Description: Bathed in the warm embrace of the sun, our citrine is the ultimate expression of golden radiance. We reject pale stones, selecting only the most saturated 'Madeira' hues—a deep, fiery amber that promises warmth and vitality. Its clarity is paramount; we demand a gem so clean it appears to hold a captive flame within its facets, a beacon of optimism set in polished gold.

Flourite

  • Folklore and mystical properties: It is known as the 'Genius Stone,' in crystal traditions and modern symbolic lore, it represents the transformation of chaotic thoughts into structured, calm, and objective reasoning. In 1852, Fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence. Many fluorite samples exhibit fluorescence under Ultraviolet light! 

  • Luxury Description: A hidden treasure of the mineral world, our fluorite captivates with its surreal bands of violet, blue, and emerald. Unlike traditional gems, we embrace the natural veining and zoning that make each slice unique. Its glassy luster and delicate translucency offer a subtle, painterly aesthetic for the discerning collector who values the abstract beauty of unpolished nature."

  •  Birthstone: October (alongside Tourmaline)

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Ancient Andean civilizations believed Peruvian Opal was the 'Stone of the Gods,' gifted to humanity to heal emotional wounds and foster peace.

  • Luxury Description: Revealing a rare and mystical beauty, our Peruvian Opal glows with a serene seafoam green found nowhere else on earth. Unlike its fiery counterparts, this opal offers a tranquil opalescence—a soft, milky translucency that feels both ancient and ethereal. We cabochon-cut some of these stones to preserve their smooth, sensual curves, creating jewelry that feels like a soothing touch of the Pacific Ocean against the skin.

Garnet - • Birthstone: January

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Noah used a garnet lantern to navigate the dark Ark. Warriors wore garnets as protective talismans, believing they shielded the wearer from wounds. Those in love may combine garnet with rose quartz for a boost of vitality in their unconditional love. 

  • Luxury Description: "Deep as a pomegranate seed and rich with the fires of the earth, our garnet is the guardian of the soul. We focus on the rare, vivid 'Mandarin' spessartite and the blood-red 'Pyrope' varieties. With a refractive index that creates extraordinary brilliance, our garnets are cut to maximize their fire, resulting in a gem that is darkly romantic, undeniably powerful, and perfect for the modern warrior."

Larimar

Found in only one square kilometer on the planet- a volcanic island in the Domican Republic- it was thought to come from the ocean it resembles, rather than the volcano which produces it. Also called the Atlantis Stone, and the Dolphin Stone, a rare form of pectolite, is found in blues, white, and blue-green, only in this locale.


The name, Larimar, is a combination of a little girl’s name, Larissa (the daughter of one of the discoverers), and “mar”, which means sea. It is renowned for its color, which mimics the sea and sky, and for its healing powers.


Novices, beware of fake Larimar. Once you have studied, even briefly, the beauty and mystery of true Larimar, the imposters will be obvious. If in doubt, ask.

Murano glass - Born in the fiery furnaces of the Venetian lagoon, our Murano glass is not merely a material—it is a legacy of 13th-century master artisans. Each bead is hand-sculpted using centuries-old techniques, where molten silica is twisted with gold leaf and vibrant mineral oxides to capture the shimmering movement of the sea. No two pieces are identical, making each jewel a unique work of wearable art—a fragment of Venetian history that glows with an internal, ethereal light.

Pearls

 

Tahitian Pearls - Grown in the pristine lagoons of French Polynesia by the large black-lipped oyster (Pinctada margaritifera), they defy traditional white pearl aesthetics by shimmering with iridescent overtones like peacock green, aubergine, and blue. “Black” pearls symbolize mystery, protection, wisdom, and a quiet strength.  

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Unlike many dark freshwater or Akoya pearls on the market, their vivid palette comes straight from the oyster's biological shell pigmentation.  Each pearl takes 18 to 24 months to form, building a thick, durable layer of nacre.  An oyster generally yields only a single pearl, and strict sorting means only a fraction meet high jewelry standards. 

Black pearls are sometimes known in Chinese folklore as "dragon tears." According to legend, powerful dragons, protectors of knowledge and wealth, would shed happy tears upon seeing deeds of great compassion or bravery among people.

Biwa Pearls - Biwa pearls are unique freshwater cultured pearls originally grown in Lake Biwa, Japan. Today, these elongated, narrow, or baroque-shaped freshwater pearls are mostly grown in China.  

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The irregular shape of each Biwa pearl ensures that every necklace, bracelet, and earring set is completely one of a kind. Beloved for their organic luster, these pearls offer a striking alternative to traditional round styles, embracing a more natural, non-uniform aesthetic. Following the rise of baroque pearls, Biwa pearls present a fresh perspective on contemporary pearl jewelry—and ours are held to the highest quality standards. In Japanese tradition, Biwa pearls symbolize deep tranquility, emotional purity, and inner peace.

Twin Pearls - Twin pearls (also called double pearls) are rare organic formations where two pearl nuclei fuse together inside a mollusk, growing into a single connected or conjoined double-pearl structure. They are often used as a talisman for important partners, family, or close friends — representing someone who is always by your side. A twin pearl can serve as a meaningful gift for a loved one, symbolizing loyalty and faithfulness. Pearls are the birthstone for June and are closely linked to Gemini, the sign of the twins. This connection makes pearls (and twin pearls, in particular) a fitting symbol for Gemini, representing duality, friendship, and loyalty.

Cultured pearls - Cultured pearls are the result of a remarkable partnership between nature and human artistry. They represent a legacy of innovation that transformed the future of gemstones, turning a natural wonder into an enduring symbol of sophistication . For over a century, the mastery of pearl cultivation has been a testament to the harmonious relationship between humans and nature .

 

In the hands of a master jeweler, a cultured pearl is elevated beyond its origins. It becomes a canvas for contemporary design, preserving the organic beauty of the pearl while reimagining it for the modern wearer. This philosophy honors a storied past while embracing a future of quiet strength and timeless elegance 

Peridot - • Birthstone: August

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: The 'Gem of the Sun,' peridot was believed by Hawaiians to be the tears of the volcano goddess Pele. It is often found in meteorites, making it one of the few gems to come from outer space.

  • Luxury Description: Vibrant and electric, our peridot is a shock of chartreuse and olive-green brilliance. We reject brownish undertones, selecting only gems with that signature yellowish-green flash that positively glows in both daylight and candlelight. Its 'evening emerald' hue pairs exquisitely with yellow gold, creating a jewel that is both ancient in origin and utterly contemporary in its fresh, zesty appeal.

Quartz - Ancient druids believed quartz was made of eternal ice sent from the heavens. In Japanese folklore, it represents the breath of the white dragon. We celebrate clear quartz as the 'Master Healer'—a stone of pure, crystalline energy. Our specimens are selected for their absolute water-like clarity and absence of veiling. Set in precious metal, this stone acts as a prism, magnifying the energy of the wearer and offering a canvas of minimalist, contemporary elegance.

 

Rose quartz- stone of unconditional love. Pair with garnet for its deep love, protection, and strength to maintain your fortitude while remaining vulnerable. Love strongly, love softly! 

Swarovski crystals - Precision meets poetry in our Swarovski crystals. While not a naturally mined stone, these crystals represent the zenith of human optical engineering, created with a unique lead-crystal formula that achieves unrivaled light refraction. Our cutters wield diamond-tipped tools to carve 57 precise facets into each crystal, unlocking a prismatic fire that rivals the brilliance of diamonds. It is a gem of flawless clarity, chosen for its ability to capture and scatter the full spectrum of light with unwavering perfection.

Topaz - The yellow/orange varieties are recognized as a traditional birthstone for November. However, is naturally colorless, pale blue, or yellow.   To wear our topaz is to carry a fragment of the sun itself—a talisman of joy, strength, and luminous elegance that commands attention from every angle.

 

• Birthstone: November (alongside Citrine) In ancient Egypt, topaz was believed to be colored by the golden rays of the sun god Ra, making it a sacred stone of divine light and protection. During the Middle Ages, topaz was used to break magic spells and ward off sudden death. It has long been associated with the 23rd wedding anniversary, symbolizing enduring love and fidelity. Mystically, it is known as a stone of manifestation—believed to attract abundance, success, and emotional warmth to the wearer.

Tourmaline - Birthstone: October (alongside Opal)

  • Folklore & Mystical Properties: Egyptian legend claims tourmaline passed through a rainbow during its journey from the earth's core, absorbing all its colors. It is revered as a stone of inspiration and artistic expression. 

  • Luxury Description: Tourmaline is nature's own kaleidoscope. Our collection focuses on its extraordinary pleochroism—shifting from deep verdant green to rich crimson when viewed from different angles. We source only the finest 'watermelon' varieties and neon Paraíba hues, utilizing inverted settings that allow light to dance through its elongated crystalline structure, revealing a depth of color that is nothing short of hypnotic.

Venetian glass - Channeling the romance of the Grand Canal, our Venetian glass is handcrafted in the small workshops of Murano Island. It is distinguished by its exceptional clarity and the signature 'avventurina' effect—tiny copper particles suspended within the glass that sparkle like a starry night sky. This is glass that transcends its composition, offering the depth and luminosity of a gemstone, steeped in the opulence of the Renaissance.

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