The earth has always been a source of treasures, each more unique and surprising than the last. Centuries spent by various civilisations travelling the continents have brought to light ornamental stones, each one magnificent and unique. Alex Benlo mainly uses ornamental gemstones in its pieces. To be considered a gemstone, a mineral must meet several criteria: hardness, brilliance, transparency, colour and, last but not least, rarity.
Pure Quartz is colourless and transparent, but most often it is a milky white which is more or less translucent. Rose Quartz owes its pink colour to very fine rutile inclusions. Quartz is one of the hardest gemstones on the planet. Quartz can be found in a number of places, particularly within the earth's crust, 18% of which is formed of quartz.
The term "quartz" was used in the Middles ages to apply to all crystals. It was Georgius Agricola who restricted the term to rock crystal. Throughout history, many cultures have made use of quartz. The Romans ascribed to it the property of renewal, and the ancient Egyptians included it in the tombs of their dead to guide them in the afterlife.
Throughout civilisation, Rose Quartz has always been linked to the heart. The vast majority of ancient civilisations associated Rose Quartz with their goddesses of love.
In Greek mythology, an often-told tale is the unfortunate story of the lovers Aphrodite and Adonis: a wild boar, sent by the jealous husband Ares, fatally wounded the handsome Adonis. Aphrodite, in her rush to save him, scratched herself on a thorn bush, and her blood mixed with that of Adonis. The blood of the lovers crystallised, thereby creating Rose Quartz.
The name "Jade" in fact refers to three distinct minerals which do, however, share a similar appearance: jadeite, nephrite and kosmochlor. However, Jade, essentially containing jadeite, is considered the purest form of Jade, as it is the most hard-wearing, and therefore the most precious. This Imperial stone is mainly found in Burma, but is also mined in Kazakhstan.
Jade has been historically used in Asia, and particularly in China where it was the favoured stone of the emperors; it was introduced to Mediterranean civilisations in the 16th century by the Portuguese who imported it from China.
This fascinating stone was used to fashion arms and surgical tools and was, of course, used as ornamentation (for jewellery and other items). This stone boasts curative properties which have been prized since late antiquity in both China and South America.
Jade is mentioned in many works, which suggest it has always been a symbol of love and virtue, but also a way of displaying social status. Jade is prized as a noble stone, providing protection and bringing luck.
Belonging to the quartz family of silicate minerals, the tectosilicate tiger's eye is a type of macrocrystalline quartz. Most Tiger's Eye stones come from South Africa, from the deposits in Griekwastad, close to the Kalahari. It is also mined in other sites in countries such as Australia, Namibia, Burma, China, India, Brazil and the USA.
In Roman times, legionnaires would wear a Tiger's Eye amulet to protect them against sword attacks during battle.
Tiger's Eye provides a protective shield, keeping all kinds of threats and danger at bay. Deflecting negativity back to its sender, Tiger's Eye is a talisman against the evil eye, fostering courage and energy. It repels harmful intentions and prevents night terrors, helping the spirit to find clarity and serenity.
Agate is a chalcedony known for its distinctive bands of colour.
Agate has long been prized as a talisman and as a jewel. It is believed to be able to quench thirst and ward off fever. Persian magicians would use it to drive back storms. Agate is generally formed at low temperatures, which is why it is mainly found in cavities within basalt rocks. Moss Agate stone is known for its ability to foster harmony between nature and man, but it is also prized for its soothing and reinvigorating qualities.
Rutilated Quartz is a transparent or milky rock crystal with needles of golden, red or black rutile criss-crossing within it. The rutile was trapped within the transparent quartz as it crystallised. Rutilated Quartz is a rare mineral.
This stone is found mainly in Madagascar, Brazil and India.
Rutilated Quartz is a fascinating stone, offering a host of positive properties. It is believed to be able to open up the spirit (particularly during meditation), allowing a higher spiritual dimension to be reached. This stone, as beautiful as it is unique, is reputed to remove obstacles preventing intellectual development.