Jewels and the woman: The romance, magic and art of feminine adornmentOstier, Marianne
History
Jewels and the woman: The romance, magic and art of feminine adornment
Ostier, Marianne
Jewelry
The season of spring, with the first flowering of the reborn year, is
considered especially appropriate for the amethyst, the green diamond,
the chrysoberyl, the spinel, the pink topaz, the olivine, and the
emerald. The bright sun of summer, that bells the fruit and spreads
the foliage, is best for zircon, garnet, ruby, and fire opal. Spinel,
chrysoberyl, and pink topaz still hold their charm. As the languors of
summer tang toward the crispness of autumn, it grows time for sapphire,
hyacinth, oriental chrysolite, tourmaline, jacinth, and topaz. Then
with the challenge of winter come turquoise, white sapphire, rock
crystal, quartz, moonstone, pearl, and the gleaming diamond. Of course,
the brilliant solitaire, the diamond of the engagement ring, is an
appropriate stone in any season.
_The Days of the Week_
The days of the week are more intricately bound in gemmed symbol. If you
know the day on which you were born, you can garner all the good fortune
that comes with the proper stone. Each day of the week, along with the
stone, bears other significances and powers.
_Sunday_
The golden-yellow day of King Sol, the sun, is marked with the yellow
jacinth. If one wears this, we are told, one has the power of a lion on
that day—especially when Leo, the lion in the heavens, takes the summer
season with the sun.
But also this is a token of secrecy in the man—it ensures discretion,
always advisable, often essential, in a lover—while in the woman it
betokens generosity, always desired but not always appreciated by a lover.
_Monday_
The serene day of the moon is the day for pearls. Pearls should be
bestowed on a Monday. The color white is bound with them and with the
day, for the snow-white blanket of peacefulness. A man might wear a
pearl in a tie clasp, bar, or in a tie pin, which is coming back into
favor. The pearl is a token, in a man, of friendship, of integrity, of a
religious feeling; and in a woman of contemplation, purity, affability.
_Tuesday_
Tuesday is a more active day. Tiw is the Nordic god of war, and his name
is used to translate the Latin for Mars’ day. Hence its stone is the
blood-red ruby. This is a fitting day to hold in memory those who have
died valiantly in battle. But it is likewise a day to be on one’s guard,
for while the star ruby marks nobility and power of command in the man,
it may also spill over in excess to bloody vengeance. And in the woman,
while the ruby of this day adorns a proper pride, it may descend to a
pettier obstinacy. At its best, the ruby is resplendent on a Tuesday.
_Wednesday_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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