What's In A Name?

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Ken Rogers - August 16, 2021

A fun fact about gem names.
Amethyst got its name from the Greek word, “Amethystos”, meaning “not drunk”. Over the eons, Amethyst has been a talisman to prevent inebriation, and goblets for drinking wine were made from Amethyst, or Amethyst glass. Wearing Amethyst to prevent drunkenness, might work in Greece, but here in the USA, I don’t think the Highway Patrol would accept this excuse.

I have a theory on why the Greeks thought Amethyst prevented inebriation. Since wine goblets were made of Amethyst (or purple glass), the servants could steal wine by watering down their master’s wine, and since the goblets were the color of wine, the masters couldn’t see the difference.

Ken Rogers - August 3, 2021

Many Agates & Jaspers are named for what they look like (color &/or patterns), where they came from, or the discoverer’s girlfriend.

For some gemstones, I think Comedian George Carlin may have named them. He had a routine, in which he puts forth a name, and then makes another name that sounds prettier. .
Red River Jasper sounds OK, but “Cherry Jasper” sounds so much more beautiful and attractive.
Brecciated Jasper sounds OK, but “Poppy Jasper” sounds so much more beautiful and attractive. And, most people have not heard of the word, “Brecciated”.
Onyx Marble sounds OK, but “Aqua Terra Jasper”, sounds so much more beautiful and attractive.
Serpentine sounds OK (yuk, serpents), but New Jade, sounds so much more beautiful and attractive.
These “Trade Names” are common, and used by throughout the industry, and almost everyone is familiar with them.

Lately, I’ve seen a “Gem Expert” on TV, who renames lower grade gemstones, and makes beautiful jewelry from them. Many lower grade gemstones are very beautiful, but different from their higher grade sisters. He also cuts odd parcels of cuttable stones and gives them his own fanciful names.