Heliodor

Emanating a sizzling golden sparkle, Heliodor is one of the most adored gemstones for all the connoisseurs of glamorous jewellery. Borrowing its colour from the warmth of sunshine and sparkles from stars, you’ll remain stunned and stuck at the raw appeal of this beautiful gem. With variations flaunting hues ranging from yellow to orange and even golden, this stone makes the most majestic jewellery pieces worn by fashionistas

Origin and supply

The word “Heliodor” is actually made up of two individual Greek words: “Helios,” meaning the Sun and “Doron,” meaning gift. Hence, in some origins, it is considered to be a gift from the Sun. The first discovery of the gem was somewhere in the year 1913 by a German mining company. It is ought to be noted that the gem belongs to same beryl mineral as aquamarine and emerald. There have been occurrences of the stone that have displayed a unique and intriguing yellow-green play of colours.

Even though it harbours a brilliant colour, Heliodor isn’t as rare. In fact, it can be found at a number of places in the world. However, the best and the consistent qualities of the said stone are found and mined in Brazil. There are plenty other places that boast of the beryl mines, like some in South Africa, Madagascar, Namibia, as well as United States of America.

Optical Features

The varying colours of this stone keep it so famed and in demand. Heliodor can be found in a number of varieties, with its hues ranging from green-yellow to lemon-yellow and sometimes even golden-yellow. The agent that affects the colouring in the stone is iron. Among the choices, the golden beryl is the most popular and expensive one, given its high popularity.

When in terms of its rank on the level of hardness, it rates at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It means that it is a strong stone, fit for being chiselled or faceted and encrusted for any kind of jewellery. It can be found in various sizes, from tiny extractions to behemoth solitaires.

Golden beryl is also one of the most vitreous stone displayed in our vast catalogue of gemstones. Upon polishing and faceting, it reflects a dazzling and hypnotizing throw of lights that simply arrests the onlookers.

Astrological and healing importance

There are a number of legends, stories, and relics related with the stone. The property that is deemed the most important is the one it shares with other gemstones of the same beryl family (aquamarine, emerald.) It is believed that Heliodor has incredible protection powers. People claim that it wards off not only the evil spirits, but also malicious people and self-depreciating thoughts. It also aids people to make sound and rational decisions for the benefit of self and others.

Due to its colour, Heliodor is regarded as a pious stone by many tribes. In fact, if translated from Greek, it essentially means “gift from the Sun.” It is believed that it holds the power of the Sun. It is also called the Gemstone of Hope, because of its effects in the removal of despair and despondence. It brings a feeling of renewed hope on the wearers.

There are several other beliefs related with the stone. It is said that it proves to be an excellent meditation stone and it empowers the ability of intuition and forethought. Some people also claim that it heightens luck. The same people regard it to bring physical as well as mental prosperity. It boosts the confidence of the wearer and establishes a balance of happiness and positive energy.

How to clean

This section basically talks about how you need to care for your jewellery adornment. We have established by now that Heliodor is a relatively strong stone in comparison to others. That said, it does not mean that it is also immune to external scratches and abrasions. Even though it rates 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it only means that it is difficult to shatter the stone. However, external tarnish is very prone and easy. Therefore, you need to take care of your jewellery as you’re wearing, with respect that it deserves.

Now, if you want to clean the stone, you can simply rinse it under a steady stream of warm water. If you’re not satisfied, you can soak the stone in a bowl of lukewarm water and add a few drops of dish soap to it. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the underside of the stone and then rinse under cold water. Wipe with a soft towel.

Facts related to the Helenite stone

Here are mentioned some fun little facts about amethyst that you should know:

Flaunting rich yellow hues of a wide range of shades, Heliodor belongs to same beryl family as emerald and aquamarine.
The name Heliodor can be simply translated from Greek into “gift of the Sun” because of its colour.
It ranks 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which makes it a strong stone and difficult to break.
The largest cut of golden beryl is weighed 2,054 carat and it is on display at the Hall of Gems of Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
Some people regard it as the “Stone of Hope” as it brings prosperity to the wearers.