I had never heard of labradorite until a couple of years
ago, and it was love at first sight.
Stones that flash rainbow colors, like opals, moonstone, and labradorite,
have a special appeal to my senses and seem almost mesmerizing when you gaze
into their depths. And then, when
you get that ray of sunlight on the stone—oh, my!
History
The first discovery of labradorite, a feldspar mineral, was
in 1770 at Paul’s Island, near the town of Nain on the Labrador Peninsula in
Canada. It has also been
found in Norway and the former USSR.
It occurs in large crystal masses, and the play of colors that it
displays is called labradorescence, or schiller effect.
Eskimo legend has it that the Northern Lights were once
imprisoned within the stones, and a wandering Eskimo warrior freed them with a
blow of his spear. However, some
of the lights remained trapped in the stones, which accounts for their lovely
glow.
Along with its popularity in jewelry, labradorite is also
used as an ornamental stone in clock faces, table and countertops, and even
facing for buildings.
Mystical Properties
Labradorite is thought to bring good luck and provide relief
from depression, anxiety, and despair.
It brings clarity of thought to the wearer, and replaces negative
thoughts and feelings with enthusiasm, self-confidence, inspiration, and
harmony. It also aids one who is
experiencing conflict and change by giving perseverance, strength, and enhanced
intuition.
Healing Properties
For those of us who are getting older and suffering from
aches and pains in our joints from rheumatism or arthritis—or just the wear and
tear of getting older—it’s labradorite to the rescue! If you want to take advantage of the stone’s healing
properties, you should carry it as a touchstone or wear it in a piece of
jewelry.
Care of Your Gemstone
Labradorite is a fairly soft stone, with a Mohs hardness of
6.0. It also has cleavage lines
within the stone. These are not
cracks or defects, but it is essential that your stone not receive any hits or
knocks. You should keep your
lovely stone away from bright light and heat. It should be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush,
rinsed and patted dry. If its
surface becomes dull and cloudy, it should be put in mineral water and placed
in the sun for a few days. Your
labradorite jewelry should be stored away from other jewelry pieces and hard objects in separate
jewelry pouches.
Have a special New Year's eve party or event to attend? Then you'll need some extra bling to help you sparkle and light up your own wardrobe. And what better way to sparkle than with some bling jewelry! You don't have to break the bank either. Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry on Etsy has plenty of selections that you can choose from. Here are just a few.
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