© tvil.ru/ unknown author
© tvil.ru/ unknown author

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Ural gems: provocative luxury and modest charm

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The Urals are famous for their innumerable wealth. Ural gems occupy a special place. Legends are written about them, fairy tales are told, magical properties are attributed to them. Their provocative luxury and modest charm are known far beyond the borders of Russia.

How it all began

Interestingly, it was not jewelry companies, but ordinary people, who began to extract stones from the earth and cut them. They lived in remote villages among marshes and taiga, built mines 70 meters deep. In the 18th century, they still did not know about the electric flashlight; the technical equipment was primitive. With a risk to life, deep underground, artisans were looking for a vein of sparkling gems. Topazes, beryls, aquamarines, amethysts, chrysolites, and tourmalines were worthy of such a risk.

© moikamni.info/ unknown author
© moikamni.info/ unknown author

In 1831, by accident, emeralds were found in the roots of a tree twisted by a storm. Massive mines were laid in a dense forest among swamps. Since then, the famous Ural emerald has become the glory and pride of the Urals.

© ekabu.ru/ unknown author
© ekabu.ru/ unknown author

Along with precious, semi-precious, and ornamental stones were mined here. You can see the creations of the Ural masters in the Hermitage. One of the most expensive exhibits in the Winter Palace is a malachite rotunda

© hellopiter.ru/ unknown author
© hellopiter.ru/ unknown author

In Versailles, in the Trianon Palace, there is a gift from the Russian Tsar - two half-columns, two tabletops, and a bowl of malachite. After that, malachite became very popular in Europe and played an important role in diplomacy - as gifts during state visits and receptions.

© kommersant.ru/ unknown author
© kommersant.ru/ unknown author

Demantoid helps build a career

One of the most expensive gemstones in the world is the Ural demantoid. This is a green or yellowish stone related to pomegranates. It is a rare gem. The cost of one carat reaches 10.000 dollars. The most expensive are considered demantoids with an admixture of bissolite in the form of golden bunches.

© moikamni.info/ unknown author
© moikamni.info/ unknown author

It is believed that the demantoid helps build a career. He gives his owner such qualities as accuracy, discipline, punctuality. It operates on intellectual processes, enhancing intellectual capacities, increasing memory. The mantle of the demantoid will help to control emotions even in very arduous situations. Crystal has an effect on those who are close to the owner and supposedly makes them respectful.

Products from the Ural gems

Modern Ural craftsmen make jewelry not only from precious but also from semiprecious stones. They are not so luxurious, but each of them is unique - because nature does not like to repeat itself. In addition to decorations from Ural stones, you can also find gemstone decoration on vases, Easter eggs, clocks, writing instruments, chess, liquor sets, and caskets

© ekabu.ru/ unknown author
© ekabu.ru/ unknown author

Stone paintings have a unique energy. To create images, the master usually uses a large number of a wide variety of minerals. The finished product has the properties of all these stones, and the picture fills the house of its owner with positive energy and harmonizes the space. 

© kartinamann.ru/ unknown author
© kartinamann.ru/ unknown author

People just love to attribute magical properties to the stones. Thanks to them, it's believed that you can become healthy, loved, rich, gain power over people, or simply make a successful career. One stone should be worn for 3 days, and the other should not be removed at all. The easiest way is to choose jewelry based on the zodiac sign. But if you need something special - it is better to get the necessary information first. Stones, as a medicine, should be taken with caution. 

© ekabu.ru/ unknown author
© ekabu.ru/ unknown author

You can see the Ural gems in many museums in Russia, but the most complete collection is in the  Museum of Stone-Cutting And Jewelry Art History in Yekaterinburg. The museum has a sales exhibition where you can сhoose a provocative luxury or a modest charm of the Ural gems

Museum of Stone-Cutting and Jewelry Art History, Yekaterinburg
Museum of Stone-Cutting and Jewelry Art History, Yekaterinburg
Lenin Ave, 37, Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovskaya oblast', Russia, 620075

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The author

Natalya Lisovskaya

Natalya Lisovskaya

Hi, I'm Natalya, a journalist from the ancient Siberian city of Tyumen, in the Ural Federal District. I love my Siberian land, its rich history and the harsh and majestic beauty of its nature. I hope you will fall in love with it too, after reading my stories.

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