Stones have long been worn, carried and placed around homes for protection. From ancient Egyptian amulets to the holed pebbles of British folklore, people have turned to these objects to guard against illness, misfortune and supernatural threats. But which stones were used, and why were they believed to hold protective power? The Origins of Protective Stone Magic Historical protective charms took many forms. Some were carved into religious symbols, while others were engraved

Trade names have been used in the gemstone industry for centuries. Some were created to describe a stone's colour or appearance, others highlighted the location where it was discovered, and many were simply intended to make a gemstone more appealing to buyers. More recently, modern marketing and metaphysical communities have introduced new names inspired by legends, mythology or spiritual beliefs. In geology, minerals are officially recognised and classified by the Internatio