Ipanema Bracelet (#049)

Like a bouquet of flowers...makes you smile every time...

• Amazonite.
  
• Green Jade.
• Mother of Pearl.
• Natural Puka Shells.
• Pink Coral.
• Purple Fluorite.
• Rose Quartz.
• Turquoise.
• Sterling Silver clasp.
• One-of-a-kind.
• Designed & handmade in California.
• Inspired by a beach in Brazil.

Amazonite For the last 5,000+ years, Amazonite has served many purposes, making its appearance during the Bronze Age in Ancient Egyptian culture as a source of positive energy used to override evil & negativity, which was an important task when making the transition to the afterlife. It was so popular in Ancient Egypt that it was used in jewelry, amulets, funerary masks, & tomb decorations, as was the case with Tutankhamun's famous tomb, where an Amazonite ring & other decorations were found. There are connections between Amazonite & the cult of Osiris, since 'The Judgement of Osiris,' which is the 7th chapter in the Book of the Dead, was carved into slabs of Amazonite. Some scholars believe that the appeal of the cult of Osiris was inherent in the concept of an otherworldly afterlife. The Ancient Greeks also loved Amazonite, & like the Egyptians, used it to make jewelry. The Greeks linked it to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage, & inspiration. As a result, the stone came to represent good luck & prosperity. Much later during the Middle Ages, Amazonite was still a prized stone, & this time it was used to repel against evil spirits & sorcery. We are not sure where Amazonite was first discovered, but some link it to the Amazon River in Brazil, while others say it might be related to the famed Amazon tribe of women warriors. As a result of its historical applications, Amazonite is associated with promoting universal love & harmony, aiding in releasing toxic emotions, helping to overcome fear of judgment & confrontation, setting strong boundaries, & moving beyond past traumas. Believed to be connected to the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, Amazonite is thought to aid in clear communication & analytical thinking. In some regions of the world, Amazonite is the birthstone for March, & it is also connected to the zodiac sign of Virgo.

Green Jade Long associated with longevity, wealth, and abundance, green jade was used to make chimeras in Ancient China that protected the dead from evil spirits. Jadeite jewelry has been found in ruins from the Jomon period in Japan, which dates back 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. A symbol of power and wealth, jade was declared Japan's national stone in 2016. Connected to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra, green jade is connected with our ability to give & receive love, compassion, & balance. Related to the zodiac signs of Taurus, Libra, & Pisces, green jade is also the spiritual birthstone for March. Jade is believed to bring good fortune and luck to Taurus. Jade is said to complement Libra's quest for balance and justice & help Pisces temper their impulsiveness and encourage patience.

Mother of Pearl A stress-relieving stone, Mother of Pearl has been used for centuries to signify heightened intuition, wisdom, imagination, sensitivity, & adaptability. Because it is linked to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra, it is believed to help strengthen the heart & immune system. Some believe it opens the 6th (Third Eye) Chakra & 7th (Crown) Chakra, associating it with wisdom. Mother of Pearl is connected with the zodiac sign of Pisces.

Natural Puka Shells People created the earliest-known jewelry from natural shells. There is evidence that people in modern-day Algeria, Israel, & Morocco drilled holes into marine shells to make beads 100,000 years ago. It is in these same areas of North Africa & the Middle East that shells came to symbolize life. In ancient mythology, the Goddess of Love & Fertility, Venus, is often depicted as rising from the sea in a clamshell. Perhaps you've seen Botticelli's painting from 1485?

Pink Coral Throughout history, Pink Coral has signified feminine fertility. Pink Coral represents love & harmony, & much like Red Coral, it is rare, only found in areas around the Mediterranean & the Sea of Japan.

Purple Fluorite Ancient Egyptians used Fluorite to make decorative beads, scarabs, & statues of gods. We have also found Fluorite objects in the ruins of Pompeii, a sophisticated Roman city that was tragically destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Purple Fluorite is said to cleanse & stabilize the aura. It is associated with the absorption & neutralization of negative energy & stress. Fluorite is linked to the 6th Chakra, or Third Eye Chakra, which signifies increasing visions & aiding in spiritual balance. Fluorite is aligned with the zodiac signs of Pisces & Capricorn, believed to promote impartiality for unbiased reasoning.

Turquoise Ancient Egyptian tombs have provided the earliest evidence of Turquoise gemstones used in jewelry, dating back to 3000 BCE. King Tutankhamun’s iconic burial mask is an example of the Egyptians' extravagant love for the gem. The oldest Turquoise mines are located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. One in particular is situated near an ancient temple dedicated to Hathor, the Greek goddess of love & joy who was worshiped as a protector in the desert & as the patron saint of mining. Perhaps this is why the Egyptians named Turquoise "mefkat," which means “joy” & “delight.” Ancient Aztecs valued Turquoise for its perceived power of protection & used it to decorate ceremonial masks, knives, & shields. Also believing that Turquoise was a source of protection, Persians adorned their necks, turbans, daggers, & horses’ bridles with it. The Persians named Turqouise "pirouzeh," which means “victory.” Later on, when Turkish traders introduced this “Persian blue” stone to Europe via the Silk Road in the 13th century, this influenced the gemstone’s western name. The word “turquoise” comes from the French phrase "pierre tourques," which means “Turkish stone.” Meanwhile, pre-Columbian Native Americans mined the Turquoise stone throughout areas that are now the southwestern United States. Native American Shamans used it in sacred ceremonies to communicate with the spirit of the sky. Apache Native Americans thought that attaching turquoise to bows improved accuracy. Turquoise is linked to the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, & is said to help improve communication & public speaking. Turquoise is the birthstone of December & is associated with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.