Assignment 3 Discussion

[Prof. Kendra Givens]

In the class forum, tell me which of the gemstones mentioned in this lesson is your favorite. Why are you particularly fascinated by or attached to that stone? Does it have a special meaning for you? Do you have jewelry with that stone in it? 15 points for 150 words!

[Anne-Marie Gagne]

Despite pearl being one of my birthstones, it's actually one of my least favorite gemstones. I just find it very boring though the process of culturing them in mollusks is actually pretty interesting (and I may read up more about that some time). Out of the rest of the gemstones from the lesson, I’ll have to say it’s really close between emeralds and rubies, with emeralds just inching out in front but only because I like the color green more than the color red.

I will say, I do find it very interesting that ruby is the only red corundum and all the other colors are sapphires. I will have to find why that is eventually. Emeralds are more my wheelhouse because they just seem more vibrant in color over any of the red gemstones out there. I also like the fact that, while doing research for my article, that there’s no actual scientific point when a beryl that’s green in color is an emerald or just the cheaper green beryl. It's just up to a person’s discretion when they’re evaluating it. (This is mentioned here on the left side of the page.)

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

I'm going to vote for my (out-of-character) birthstone for this prompt: emerald! I do not have any jewelry with that stone in it as far as I know, but it simply looks gorgeous! The lesson's depiction of emerald manages to be perfectly color-coded for Slytherin with the frame and chain looking silver in color. I should also add that the end-of-year festivities in Slytherin House feature the awarding of the Emerald Cup (this spring is going to be the tenth time the cup is awarded!) But outside of all those things, the historical mystique of the gem (associations with Cleopatra, and even further back in Ancient Egypt) along with its symbols (the combination of progress and security seem like perfect Slytherin associations) all make it a great fit for me!

It is also fascinating to note that the oldest emeralds, from Zambia, are more than half a billion years old - which is a particularly impressive legacy; they can be recognized by a bluish-green sheen (due to having less vanadium than emeralds found elsewhere); it's rare for something that old to survive!

[Emily Spencer]

Though I would have to give a nod to the ‘Slytherin’ gemstone, emerald, my absolute favorite gemstone mentioned in this lesson would have to be pearl. I love it for a multitude of reasons, which I will attempt to explain here.

First off, I love the elegance and ‘fanciness’ of pearls. They are timeless, and can be worn equally well by a 18 year old girl and a 98 year old lady. They are universal, timeless, and speak of ‘money’. In short, they make me feel fancy and rich lol. Seriously, They are versatile, too, and can pair well with a little black dress, a formal gown, and a pair of jeans.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have an affinity for pearls, destined to happen because of my ‘real’ name. I was named after a famous mermaid (as was my twin sister), It’s almost like it calls to me, if that makes any sense at all.

From an ecological standpoint, I also like pearls because unlike other gemstones, you don’t have to pillage the earth to acquire them. No destroying the environment, which I do take pretty seriously. Pearls are Earth-friendly, and that makes them doubly special in my book!

[Albus Togglebog]

As green is one of my favorite colors, the emerald and peridot take the win on this one. When I think of “rocks” or “stone,” the first colors that come to mind are grey and brown, so having a stone with such a bright, unexpected color is quite fascinating to me. If I had to choose between the two, I would likely pick emerald, as its more well known and more valuable. Also, as someone who spends a lot of time in their Muggle double-life, I play a lot of Minecraft. An aspect of this video game is the mining, of course, but also the trading with non-player villagers, using emeralds as currency. This increased my exposure to this gemstone, which in turn affected my appreciation for it.

However, the ruby is also a close contender, as I find its deep red color quite empowering yet soothing. The pearl, on the other hand, doesn’t quite speak to me. Not exactly sure why, but maybe because it looks quite basic: a look that could almost be replicated with cheap materials (I mean so do other gems, like diamonds, but still). Either that, or the fact that it is formed by mollusks, which along with other strange sea creatures, give me goosebumps for some reason.

[Lexa Winslow]

All the gemstones in Lesson 3 were cool to learn about for me- I had previously not known much about Peridot for example. That being said, my favorite gemstone out of the four would have to be Ruby. I happen to have an affinity for Ruby's particular shade of red- a darker, richer red then most lighter orangish reds. Rubies are also the birthstone for my older sister, whom I am quite close to.

Color aside, I seem to be drawn more toward harder gemstones- ones that rank higher on the Mohs scale. Diamonds are my favorite non-black gemstone (I'll always be biased toward black since that's my favorite color) and Rubies are right under Diamonds on the Mohs scale. I also love Sapphires, which are about even with Rubies (I'm sure we'll be talking about them in class soon).

I appreciate what Rubies symbolize too- who doesn't want protection and prosperity in life?