subject: It Is Easy To Believe In Magic When Looking Into The Iridescent Depths Of The Black Moonstone [print this page] Labradorite was first discovered in Canada and was subsequently named after Labrador, the region where it was discovered, although some of the most beautiful examples of carved versions of the stone come from the Far East, where the mineral has been prized and traded since its discovery.
Finland and India are the locations of some of the finest stones.
Labradorite has been popular since the 18th century and has also been called black moonstone. Once it has been polished it displays a similar iridescence to moonstone but the base background colour is generally grey.
It has been associated with several birth signs, including Leo, Pisces, Scorpio, Aquarius and Sagittarius. It has also been associated to the planet Pluto and with the crown, solar plexus and third eye chakras.
This mythical stone of Atlantis has become known as a stone of healing and as a good luck charm and was worn in 18th century France and England as necklaces, brooches and bracelets. Sometimes it was used as the "L" in mottos such as "good luck" in 18th Century jewellery pieces.
It is also a winter gem and allegedly a favourite of the gods because it showed all the colours of the universe. The gemstone is also supposed to awaken the senses of clairvoyance, insight, creativity and knowledge. The stone's extraordinary, shifting and luminous iridescence showing from red to yellow to greens and blues across the spectrum as the stone is moved around makes this easy to believe.
Mining can be open cast or deep mining and to bring out its lustre adherences are broken off with a small hammer or chisel and it is then polished in a tumbler before being smoothed out with very fine sandpaper and polished with a clean, soft cloth and cerium oxide. In labradorite necklaces and pendants or in labradorite bracelets the stone is usually found in the cabochon, or smooth, treatment although rings are often facet cut. It looks particularly attractive set in silver.
While it is generally not one of the more expensive gemstones its appeal lies in its iridescence and that it is not one of those semi-precious stones that seem to be ubiquitous in jewellery, like rose quartz and the various agates.
For anyone who knows a Leo, Pisces, Scorpio, Aquarius or Sagittarius and is looking for a distinctive and unusual piece of jewellery to give them as a gift that carries a message of good luck a labradorite necklace, a labradorite pendant or a labradorite bracelet would be the perfect choice.
