All AuraStella jewelry is made of 92.5% fine Sterling Silver. Many of the pieces are embellished with semiprecious stones. 92.5% is the highest grade silver available. This jewelry has international flair, for it's exclusively designed by AuraStella and handcrafted by international artisans and silversmiths worldwide. This guide will help you identify quality in silver jewelry and accessories.

Most high quality silver items are stamped with a quality mark. This mark designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and under federal law, items sold as Sterling Silver must be stamped with this mark. This mark signifies that what you are purchasing is truly fine grade
Silver.

Along with the 92.5% quality silver, AuraStella prides itself on the artisanship of its product. A strong dedication for innovation and an ongoing drive for excellence is AuraStella's hallmark.

Sterling Silver has been used for centuries for jewelry and household accessories because of its combination of beauty and durability. The word "Sterling" first came from convergent sources back in the thirteenth century. In France, it meant little star, and in England it meant strong, firm and immovable. The combination of the two meanings is perfect for Sterling. It represents a glistening, sturdy product.

All AuraStella jewelry is exclusively designed by AuraStella in conjunction with world- wide designers and manufactured to the highest standards.Each piece is unique, handcrafted and manufactured in .925 Sterling Silver and perhaps accented with 14 karat gold, and/or semi-precious gemstones, brass or copper. 99.9% pure Silver is too soft for producing large functional objects. In Sterling, the Silver is combined or, "alloyed" with copper to give it strength. All semi-precious gemstones are placed in their settings by hand and soldered. AuraStella jewelry is handcrafted by international artisans and Silversmiths.

Some pieces of AuraStella jewelry offer semi-precious gemstones. Below is a quick reference
guide to help you identify these stones and increase awareness of their features and benefits.
"The suggested mentions of the different stones and their historical references are not
necessarily AuraStella's beliefs, but rather a culmination of a variety of reference guides and
are meant for Fun!"

Agate
Ranging in color and transparency, agates are crystallized quartz and represent stability in life.
It is known to ground and balance energy and has healing qualities. This stone is beautiful and
rich in its layers.

Amber
This rich honey brown stone allows happiness through various gateways of energy. It is said to
stimulate the mind and reduce agitation. Amber is a fossilized resin of trees that are now-extinct.
This resin has taken several million years to be classified as Amber.

Amethyst
Violet to dark purple, Amethyst is customarily associated with increased nobility, spiritual
awareness, meditative and psychic abilities and inner peace. It is the most spiritual of the
stones and serves as the medicine woman or high priestess of the mineral clan.

Carnelian
Its color is reddish-orange or brown. Carnelian's power is to enhance energy flow, creativity,
and individuality. Carnelian is an earth-oriented, nature-loving stone. It teaches us to come
into harmony with the laws of nature and with the turning of the seasons.

Chalcedony
The most popular color in Chalcedony is a wax-like luster pale blue. It also comes in a variety
of other colors. This stone stimulates creativity and promotes calm and peace. It is made up of
fine crystallized fibrous quartz and is said to promote eye health.

Coral
This rich stone is especially fragile. These are fossils from the sea and come in colors such as
red, rose, orange, blue, white, and black. Coral is said to give wisdom and build an emotional
foundation. It promotes brilliancy and gladness.

Citrine
Golden yellow Citrine is an energizer, furthering prosperity, generosity and creative power.
Citrine's golden color imparts the warmth and love of the sun, bathing all in its life-giving
glow. Citrine is one the most powerful and giving of all the stones.

Garnet
Red Garnet has been linked to romantic love and passion. This stone grants us positive
thoughts and inspiration as part of its general energizing affect. Red Garnet is also associated
with career success, social popularity and self-confidence.

Jade
With its beauty and wide ranging expressiveness, Jade has held a special attractiveness
for thousands of years. It has been treasured as a royal gemstone since the early Neolithic
Age. The Chinese aristocrats concluded that Jade had 11 virtues including benevolence, fidelity,
etiquette, wisdom, sincerity, ethics and behavior as some of the most important. The Mayans revered
Jade as the “Sovereign of Harmony.”

Jasper
Various colors range from brick red to brownish red, this stone is usually multi-colored. Jasper
is opaque and is said to bring joy into life. This stone has also been attributed to healing.

Kyanite
Also called Disthene, the name Kyanite is derived from the Green word “Kyanos” meaning “blue.”
Kyanite is used by alternative healers as a tool for meditation and relaxation as well as to foster
tranquility and have a positive effect on dreams.

Labrodorite
Historically worn as a good luck charm, Labrodorite is one of the “Gems of Winter” because it
displays many colors and tins of the universe and typifies the sun as the gem of light. As the “Temple
of the Stars” it symbolizes the moon advancing without restraint. It is said to energize the body and enhance
productivity and stimulate acuity and reduce anxiety and stress.

Larvikite
Often times referred to as “Black Moonstone,” Larvikite is known as a protective and grounding
stone that stimulates vision and enhances psychic abilities, providing clarity while repelling negative
energy by teaching patience.

Moonstone
This gem has variable light color ranges and its clarity ranges from transparent to translucent.
It usually has a soft milky look and is believed to protect women and children. Moonstone is
said to balance yin and yang and in India is regarded as a sacred stone.

Mother of Pearl
This unique gemstone created by a living creature was discovered as far back as 500-600 AD, and was
often used in art.  Many tribes and cultures valued the oyster far more than the pearl it produced.
Many believe that the Mother of Pearl can heal wounds and those that wear it will grow in faith by
enhancing confidence, decision making, intuition, insight, fidelity, loyalty and creativity.  At one
time it was thought that those who actually swallowed a pearl would live to be immortal.

Obsidian
This glassy volcanic rock was discovered by Obsius in Ethiopia (and named after him). In ancient BC times, Obsidian was used to gaining clear insight into problems by stabilizing energies.

Onyx
Onyx is composed of Chalcedony (a variety of quartz) found naturally. Onyx was very popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name comes from the Greek word "onux". Onyx is usually black. Seldom Onyx will be a combination of reddish-brown and white. It is then known as Sardonyx. The fine texture of Onyx makes it ideal for carving.

Opal
The ancient Romans called Opal “cupid paederos, child beautiful as love,” a symbol of hope and purity. In other ancient cultures, Opals were considered the remnants of lightning strikes and the flashes in the stone were thought to be captured lightning.

Pearl
Pearls evolve layer by layer in the matrix of living sea creatures. Pearl is understood to bring about greater purity, honesty, innocence and integrity. The Pearl helps up to concentrate, focuses our energy, and is therefore very useful in prayer and meditation.

Peridot
Its color is green and is said to inspire purification, growth, intuition, healing and rebirth. Stress reduction and relaxation are some of the gifts that Peridot offers. This stone helps us remain strong and resilient.

Petrified Wood
The mystic lore states that Petrified Wood provides a base to stand on and strength to carry on through times of crisis gave it the name of.  It is also known to aid in the elimination of worries and can assist in advancement.

Rhyolite
Rhyolite is sometimes referred to as Rainforest Jasper. It was formed as a result of volcanic activity when "rhyolitic" magma built up enough pressure causing an explosion in the volcano that expelled particles ranging in size from ash to chunks of Rhyolite. The resulting soft browns, grays and mossy greens are reminiscent of a rainforest. The reference to Rainforest Jasper.

Rhyolite is said to represent change, variety and progress. It is also said to light the fire of creativity within the soul and help with self-realization. Rhyolite is believed to balance the emotions and increase self-respect, self-worth and the capacity to love. It occurs primarily in the USA.

Rose Quartz
Considered the most loving of stones, Rose Quartz is said to enhance all forms of love with its clear pink vibrancy. This gentle yet powerful stone is all heart. Rose Quartz infuses its wearer with healing and helps us attract positive, gentle, nurturing love into our lives.

Seftonite/African Bloodstone
Blood stone also known as heliotrope, Greek for “solstice,” refers to its powerful healing power. Known for aiding in the renewal of physical and emotional states, this stone of courage helped to revitalize love relationships and friendships as well as have the capacity to clear scattered thoughts and enhance intuition.

Serpentine
It has numerous holistic benefits; it is known to aid the clearing out of any blocked areas as well as in bringing the charkas into balance and particularly beneficial in cleansing of venom.  It has also been believed to have the power of promoting good luck as well as help people achieve their financial goals and other dreams and desires.

Sodalite
Also known as the “Canadian Blue Stone,” Sodalite is said to promote “logical reasoning” and clear rational thoughts.

Tiger's Eye
Tiger's Eye offers courage, energy and luck. This gemstone is also called cat's-eye and is a wonderful rich combination of yellows and golden browns creating stripes. This is considered a very warm stone and is beneficial for the weak and sick.

Topaz
Topaz increases good fortune, happiness and hope. This stone also seen as a teacher of spiritual love, which tends to induce a feeling of peace in those who appreciate it. Topaz also comes in many colors. Blue is the most popular color Topaz, yet it also comes in
clear, gold, green and pink.

Tourmaline
Tourmaline attributes include the power to enhance flexibility, objectivity, compassion, balance, positive transformation, and strength. It is a stone that reminds us that we are connected to all life and all range of expression. This stone comes in a wide variety of colors.

Turquoise
This stone brings happiness and good fortune. Given as a gift, Turquoise is believed to bestow wealth and joy upon its receiver. It is a sacred stone to many American Indian tribes and is found in deposits around the world. It is opaque in various shades of sky blue to green.

Not Available in the 2010-2011 Line

Aquamarine
This stone is associated with the calming effect of the sea and is traditionally used to soothe, calm and alleviate fears and phobias. It is the color of the smooth seas of the Caribbean and brings serenity and peace to those who keep it near.

Charoite
This gemstone ranges from bright lavender to dark purple. It has swirling patterns of interlocking crystals. Charoite is found only along the Chary River in Russia. This stone represents courage, purification and cleansing of the spirit.

Iodite
The name Iodite is derived from the Greek word "Ios" and it means violet. It is transparent in hues of purple to blue. This stone is known as the Viking's compass and offers guidance, support, and courage.

Lapis
Lapis is a deep azure blue often found with speckling throughout. Traditionally, it is said to increase psychic abilities. This beautiful stone is said to eliminate negative emotions and has been compared throughout history to the stars in the sky.