If the moon ever cried into midnight aqua, the milky hue would best describe the amazonite colour. Amazonite or the Amazon stone is a striking colour that exhales culmination of blue-green waters over milky sand to set the most romantic ambience for lovers to take flight. The strongest name association is believed to be derived from the Amazon river though no deposits have been found in the vicinity of the great river. Another tale claims that the Amazons (fabled female warriors) gave these gems to the men who visited them. Irrespective of the origin of its name, Amazonite has been widely used as an ornamental and enhancing stone since ancient times. Many healing and mystical beliefs are associated with it. Amazonite is one of the birthstones associated with December month.

Amazonite is a mineral gemstone, a variety of microlene feldspar. It is a mineral limited occurrence. Expansively divided into Colorado (blue-green) and Russian (greener) category, Amazonite varies in colour from shades of green to a beautiful blue-green and may also display fine streaks of white. Amazonite of a saturated, consistently distributed colour would be the best option. The creamy blue-green gem exposes its beauty best in daylight hence makes for an impressive outdoor jewellery stone. Mostly opaque, it is habitually cut in cabochons with a convex and polished frontage and beads and satiates most jewellery accents. Recent studies propose that the gentle blue-green colour results from minuscule quantities of lead and water in feldspar. Amazonite is a beautiful but delicate stone. Protect it from scratches and blows especially when set in a ring. Note that for its greener shades Amazonite is often confused with Jade. It has been mined in Minas Gerais (Brazil), Colorado, Quebec and the Ural Mountains of Russia. The stone is best cleaned using warm water, a mild soap and soft cloth. Avoid contact with heat acid and store the soft stone separately to minimize bruising.

A relatively little known stone Amazonite enjoys a proud history. Articles made from this waxy blue stone were found in ancient Egypt. It’s claimed to be one of the stones worn on the breastplate of ancieant chieftains. It was well known by the Peruvians. Diverse communities venerated it for its associated beliefs. Some reckoned it as the ‘hope’ stone. It is believed to offer luck in realizing your dreams. It helps one attune to spiritual dimensions. Adorning Amazonite jewelry is said to aid those wishing to develop clairvoyant abilities. It may be witnessed as a companion to Tarot and I-Ching readers. The blue-green stone allegedly improves ones ability to laugh heartily. I strongly advocate it to be gifted to husbands tormented from their wife’s credit card bills! Little wonder its strong reverence is deemed in its assistance in making married life more blissful. Amazonite also breaks an ill-fated streak in the games of chance. Wearing amazonite boosts your skin texture. If historical lure fails to indulge you then its current status might facilitate. Charlize Theron ranked as the sexiest woman internationally has one of the Amazonite variety named after her as ‘Star of Charlize’. She is the first South African to win an Oscar for best actress and is amongst the highest paid Hollywood actress’ and flaunts her Amazonite jewelry with enviable elan.