Discover the wonder of gemstones
Coveted collection pieces from OLE LYNGGAARD COPENHAGEN tend to intertwine with our passion for rare gemstones of incredible lustre. Our high-quality standards naturally entail an on-going search for those special stones in irresistible tones. All precious stones are carefully reclaimed from caves and mountains or underneath deep blue seas across the globe. They may share a shade or nuance, but each individual stone is absolutely one of a kind, making every single piece of fine jewellery perfectly unique.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a popular mineral gemstone named after the Latin word for seawater. The stone is available in colours varying from pale translucent blue to a dark opaque green. Aquamarines are prone to slight inclusions, which makes retrieving a very large high-quality aquamarine something of a rarity. Inclusions are not to be considered defects in the stone. Aquamarine is said to calm waves, thus keeping sailors safe at sea. Today, the stone symbolizes eternal youth and happiness. Aquamarines are primarily sourced from South America and occasionally also from Africa and India.
Tourmalines
The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese term turmali which was the name given to all coloured crystals on the island of Sri Lanka when the stones were first retrieved as early as the late 1600s. Tourmaline exists in all the colours of the rainbow, however pink, red, green, blue, and multi-coloured tourmalines are the most well-known. A pink-reddish tourmaline is referred to as a rubellite, whereas chrome tourmaline is of an intense green colour. Tourmaline is a fairly soft stone, and visible inclusions are a common characteristic of the light-coloured tourmalines. Initially, the gemstone was praised by alchemists because of its pyro-electric effect – why it was believed to be related to the philosopher’s stone. Tourmalines are sourced from South America and Africa.
Rutile Quartz
Quartz with glittering inclusions of crystal threads is referred to as rutile quartz or rutilated quartz. The colour of rutile quartz ranges from almost transparent over brown, to red and golden yellow. Rutile, as often referred to as “Venus’ hair” or “angel hair”, appears inside the stone, and their size and structure will vary from clusters of delicate threads to a few crystals as wide as needles. Contrary to other precious stones the inclusions make this particular quartz desirable. Golden rutile quartz is said to amplify a person’s thoughts and the ability to manifest one’s desires in life. Rutile quartz is sourced from South America.
SMOKY QUARTZ
The colour of smoky quartz varies from pale, smoky grey to deep greyish brown and even black. The stone ranges in clarity from almost complete transparency to almost opaque. Smoky quartz is known as a stone of power and is attributed the power to absorb and neutralise negative energy. Smokey quartz is sourced from South America.
ONYX
Black onyx is perhaps the most famous variety of this beautiful precious stone, but it is not the most common. Onyx colours range from white to almost every conceivable colour. The name of the stone derives from the Greek word “Onyx”, meaning fingernail. According to Greek mythology, Eros mischievously cut off Aphrodite’s fingernail with an arrowhead while she slept, and the gods turned the nail into stone. The stone is believed to protect its wearer from negativity from the outside world. Onyx is sourced from India.
Amethyst
Amethyst belongs to the quartz family. Since Ancient Greece, the delicate hues varying from pinkish lavender to deep purple has made amethyst a treasured gemstone. Today, the most exclusive colour is medium purple with red secondary hues. Amethyst is said to provide the wearer with balance, calm, patience, and peace. It was once considered more precious than diamonds. Amethyst is sourced from South America.
Moonstones
The delicate beauty and the glowing appearance of moonstone makes this precious stone coveted across the globe. Moonstone exists in a large variety of colours, from silvery white to light peachy blush to nuances of grey. The poetic name refers to the almost unearthly sheen of “moonlight” in the stone. As an amulet, moonstone is said to bring good luck, to protect travellers, reunite quarrelling lovers, and show its wearer the path to inner strength and wisdom. Legend has it that if a moonstone is put in the mouth during a full moon, you can see your future. Moonstones are sourced primarily from India.
ROSE QUARTZ
This quartz stone ranges from pale to medium pink and is somewhat transparent, although some rose quartz appears milkier and less translucent. Rose quartz is often referred to as the love stone and is a popular precious stone for jewellery expressing unconditional love for a special someone or for family. Rose quartz is said to bring harmony, love and peace to the person wearing it. Rose quartz is sourced from India and South America.
Blue Topaz
The word topaz is said to originate from Topazos, a mythological island in the Red Sea, where the first topazes allegedly were reclaimed. Natural topaz is most often colourless or brown, and as a natural product the popular blue topaz is actually very rare. Almost all blue topaz has been through a process of colour treatment, and although this remarkably coloured gemstone is of very exclusive appearance, topaz is in fact an abundant material in nature. The cherished London blue topaz varies from the steel-bluish tone to a petrol-blue, and some London blue species even have a slightly greenish tone when viewed from certain angles. Topaz is believed to bring success and good fortune. Blue topaz is sourced from South America and Africa.
TURQUOISE
Turquoise is an ancient gemstone with finds of turquoise beads dating back to year 5000 B.C. The name derives from the French “Turques”, most likely because the Turks were the first to import turquoise stone to Europe from mines in Persia. With its opaque appearance and no sparkle or particular sheen to speak of, this gemstone has a natural air of bohemian beauty. Turquoise ranges from blue to green in colour. The most prized colour is an even, intense medium blue. Generally pure saturated blue shades are the most valuable. Turquoise is semi-translucent to opaque. It might have veins of matrix running through it (matrix is a remnant of its surrounding rock). Turquoise is attributed the power to bring good health and good fortune. It is said that the person who owns a turquoise stone will never want for a friend. Turquoise should not be exposed to oils, lotions, perfumes, etc. Frequent exposure to sunlight or heat will also put the turquoise at risk of losing its natural shine. Turquoise is sourced from the United States.
MALACHITE
Malachite is a green copper carbonate mineral. The name malachite probably originates in the Greek term malakos, meaning ‘soft’, as the stone is relatively soft. Despite the softness of the stone surface, it does retain a beautiful polish. Malachite has distinctive stripes in varying shades of green, making it very interesting to behold. It typically occurs in nature in large formations of grape-shaped elements. In ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, where the colour green represented vegetation and life, malachite was extremely coveted in solid stones for jewellery and amulets as well as powdered form for eye shadow. Symbolically, malachite is said to absorb negative energies and polluting elements. The stone encourages communication and emotional freedom, while teaching empathy and responsibility for thoughts and actions. Lastly, it is a practical companion for traveling, as malachite is said to protect, to overcome fear of flying, and to diminish jetlag. Malachite is sourced from Africa.
SERPENTINE
The name of this precious stone derives from Latin and is known to the modern world from the word serpent, a synonym for snake. Serpentine earned its name due to the green colour, the patterned appearance and the slippery feel resembling the colour and skin of a snake. Opaque or translucent, serpentine may vary from a deep olive green to clear yellowish green, and dark brownish green. Some serpentine is covered in camouflage-like spots, while other stone representatives possess a more even surface and a waxy lustre without any pattern. The stone is not too hard and therefore excellent for carving and polishing. The stone is believed to assist with healing problems of heart and lungs and is supposedly excellent for cellular regeneration. Serpentine is sourced from India.
Amber
Often referred to as “the gold of the North” the word amber traces back to ancient Greek and means beaming sun. Amber is fossilised tree resin, since ancient times coveted for its amazing colour hues and exotic beauty. Developing over a span of at least 1 million years, finding inclusions of plants or small animals inside a piece of amber is not uncommon. Translucent or opaque, amber exists in a vast range of different burned colours, from pale yellow and golden honey to orange and reddish brown. For centuries the gemstone has been used in natural medicine for its alleged healing properties and as a popular ingredient in perfumes. Amber is considered a potent healing stone with the ability to diminish stress, release all negative energies and clear the mind of phobias and fears. Amber should not be exposed to oils, lotions, perfumes, etc. Frequent exposure to sunlight or heat will also put the coral at risk of losing its natural shine. Amber is sourced from Europe.
Pearls
Pearls are some of the most coveted gems in the history of the world. Pearls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are produced under very different conditions. OLE LYNGGAARD COPENHAGEN embellishes fine jewellery with several different types of pearls.
South Sea Pearls
South Sea pearls are some of the world’s largest pearls compared to other types of pearl. They are cultured using the Pinctada Maxima oyster, whose natural habitat are the waters of the South Sea. The Pinctada Maxima oyster is of a size considerably bigger than other mollusc family members. This also allows the pearls to grow larger. The growth period is substantially longer for South Sea Pearls compared to smaller pearls. Typically, a minimum of two years is required to obtain the desired pearl size, but some pearls may take as long as four years to cultivate. South Sea Pearls are sourced from Australia.
Mabe Pearls
The term Mabe is pronounced mar-bay and derives from the Japanese ‘mabe-gai’, the word describing the Pteria Penguin oyster, which is often used to produce mabes. A Mabe pearl is a cultured blister pearl, usually quite large in size, varying from 12 to 20 millimetres in diameter. The pearl is produced by attaching a tiny hemispherical nucleus to the inside wall of a mollusc. The growing process takes from six months to two years, much depending on where and in which oyster the pearl is cultivated. Once complete, the half pearls are cut from the oyster shell with a diamond-tipped saw, and the nucleus of the pearl is removed. The inside of the pearl is scraped to remove organic stain before filling the empty shell with resin made of crushed pearl. Finally, a round disc is cut from the remains of the nurturing mollusc and glued to the back of the pearl to complete the nacre exterior.
The Pteria Penguin oyster creates iridescent hemispherical pearls in tones of pale pink, blue, and green. Mabes that are cultivated inside the Pinctada Maxima oyster usually used for South Sea pearls (see the paragraph above) – are white or silver, but they also exist in golden hues.´
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearls are grown in freshwaters – in lakes, rivers, and ponds – primarily in China. Freshwater pearls are naturally smaller in size, why several nucleuses can be implanted in a single pearl farm oyster at a time – in this manner producing more than two dozen pearls. Waiting for freshwater pearls takes patience, as the process is slow to develop. It takes 2-7 years for the pearls to form and be ready to be harvested. Freshwater pearls come in a large palette of pastel colours, sizes, and shapes. Most often they are charmingly irregular. Perfectly round freshwater pearls are rare. Pearls should not be exposed to oils, lotions, perfumes, etc. Frequent exposure to sunlight or heat will also put the pearl at risk of losing its natural shine. Freshwater pearls are sourced from Asia.