Each page in this guide follows the same plan, so that you can compare stones easily. We start with what the stone is: its mineral family, its hardness on the Mohs scale (from 1, the softest, to 10, the hardest) and where it is found. Then comes its history, and the cultural traditions around it, which for some stones stretch back thousands of years. Next we say what crystal traditions associate with the stone, always attributed, and how people use it in practice, in meditation, in jewellery or simply on a shelf.
We take safety seriously. Some of these stones dissolve in water, some contain copper or other elements that should never be swallowed, some fade in sunlight and a few are fragile. Where that matters, it is written plainly on the page, and the care and safety guide gathers it all in one place.
We also say something about sourcing, because the gem trade includes mines with hard conditions for workers. Nothing here is advice to buy, and we do not link to shops.
If you are looking for the stone of a particular month, try the birthstones section or the birthstone finder. For stones linked to a zodiac sign, see crystals by zodiac sign.
The pages below run in a loose order, from the very familiar quartz family to less common stones.