Our stone and gold bracelets are our very own version of a sparkling firework of colors - We are wishing all of you a healthy 
and happy New Year 2012!

Why Green Brings Light To Our Hearts - The Emerald

Especially around the winter solstice, the stone of light glows and shines.  The northern hemisphere has remarkable dark days around this time, being one of winters’ characteristics. We have the desire to be festive and decorate our homes with fresh green fir trees with accents or commemorate with a candle ceremony.Phosphorus is the light we need around this time of the year.  
Light and the color green makes people relax and gives a feeling of trust and hope. People daydream because they truly believe that one day their wish will come true. Sparkles of light will make a dreamer calmly smile while he travels through his world.
There is an old saga that says, the archangel of light, Lucifer, once one of the favored angels, wanted to be like God. But when he tried imitating God, he fell from heaven. When he fell, a stone broke from his crown which fell to earth, and it looks like what we know as the Emerald. For this reason some, call this stone the philosopher’s stone or a light that came to earth. The saga also states, this may be why Lucifer has no light for himself in the underworld.
The vital green stayed on earth and replaces the darkness. Many different cultures have their different interpretations of green and the emerald, yet all of them agree on the power of light.

Eastern medicine believes that the fourth chakra represents the heart. Located between the upper three chakras, and the lower three chakras, the heart is said to be the intermediation between heaven and earth.  When a heart is dark, it can only be healed with light. Darkness can be expressed with depression, which sometimes can be seasonal, or even caused by a great loss and other triggers. Hence, old practices believe that an emerald placed on the heart chakra will bring back the light to those who have lost it, or the ones who want to keep the flame of light and happiness glowing.
The emerald keeps us lighthearted and youthful. In ancient Greece similar color assignations were made. The goddess Artemis was closely related with the color green and associated with a spring of everlasting youthfulness. Interestingly, Artemis is both the goddess of hunt and also the patroness of virgins.
It is pleasing to have a precious stone like the emerald as a guide of light, especially around the time of winter. It reminds us of how nature needs a rest to be able to reveal its full beauty in spring time again.

Everyone needs a little rest once in a while – we wish you a wonderful holiday with your family and friends – The Agas and Tamar Team New York. Have a look at our beautiful stones of light and perhaps surprise one of your loved ones with one of them…

Sources:
Andreas Wenath, Gralstein der Stein der Weisen, Verlag Zeitenwende 2011
P.M. History Collection No.1
Octavian Buhociu, Die rumänische Volkskultur und Mythologie, Komission fuer Geistesgeschichte des oestlichen Europa, Wuerzburg

Turquoise- Stone of the month of December

Our interpretation of next years' trend: Natural turquoise wrapped in pure gold

A stone of protection, fortune and friendship, as old legends describe it. Indeed, this stone resembles the freshness of the ocean and endless freedom of a blue sky. Turkish salesmen brought turquoise to Europe, and therefore in Germany turquoises were named "Türkische Steine". In France people adapted this name, and simply called the stones "Pierres turquoise".

Around the 13^th century turquoise was used as a lucky charm to protect riders and their horses. It was important that the charm is a gift of someone else, to enable the stone to evoke its exceptional powers.

In Early Middle Ages, many Doctors carried a special essence or powder of the stone with them, because it was said to help against scorpion bites or even rare incidences like pain caused by daemons. Still today, people believe that a turquoise stone helps against swollen or tired eyes, and perhaps brings long desired clarity.

The same clarity seemed to be important for Persians, since turquoise was their ancient version of a weather forecast. According to the deepness of its color a turquoise presented on different days, weather was calculated. Nowadays we know, that the turquoise changes its color based on body temperature and cosmetics, or perfumes with alcoholic ingredients.

Simple chemical reactions might be clear to understand, however some occurrences may only be explained with magic…Feathers, jade and turquoise were among the most treasured objects in Mesoamerica. Aztecs for instances, believed that feathers were shadows of their deities, representing power, wealth and fertility.

In a nutshell, this stone has influenced and inspired so many different cultures, that in the end they all have something in common.

We are well prepared for the Spring/Summer 2012 upcoming trends! Aquatic colors, hues of mint, seafoam and turquoise are keys for the next season. With knowing the history of the December stone turquoise, we even feel much greater appreciation for the merging of raw turquoise and delightful floating feathers.

The Team of Agas and Tamar New York will help incorporate some turquoise history on your new designs.

Happy December!

From left: Spring/Summer 2012 Ready-to-wear Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Louis Vuitton

Forecast: stylesight.com, Forecast Realted Report: Runway Flash S/S 12 > Seafoam Shades, viewed December 2, 2011

Pictures: style.com, Ready-to wear 2012 Runway Collections, viewed December2, 2011

Raymond J.L Walter, Die Kraft der Edelsteine, Basserman, 1989 Niderhausen, Ts. Page 52 and 53

Patsztory, Esther. Aztec Art. New York: Abrams, 1983, Matos Moctezuma, Eduardo, and Fellipe Solis Olquin, eds. Aztecs. London: Royal Academy of Arts, 2002 description and function of Aztec gold work- via facts on file, Ancient and Medieval History Online- viewed December 2, 2011