Assignment 2 Discussion

[Prof. Kendra Givens]

In the class forum, tell us 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!

[Olivia Thorneblood]

What is my favorite gemstone from this lesson? Hands down that Amethyst is my absolute favorite. It actually has always been since I was young. Mostly all the jewelry gemstones were a light color and only occasionally a darker nugget was available. Of course, it was difficult to purchase on my meager allowance. Remember, I was not gainfully employed.
I have one special piece with a dark gemstone. It is a ring that I purchased many years ago. Strangely, I cannot bear to go out in public without wearing it. I equate this ring to a talisman. I literally feel like am missing something when I don’t exit the house with it on. I have received many complements on it.
I have some very special pieces of jewelry with this particular gemstone. Most of them have a sentimental attachment because they were given to me a gift by close family members. The rest I purchased myself. I now tend to lean to the darker color of Amethyst.
The simple reason that I am so attached to this stone it because it’s my birthstone. That’s right, I was born in February. Also, two additional close family members were born in February.

[Anne-Marie Gagne]

Like I mentioned in my discussion post for lesson one, amethyst is my favorite gemstone. It was one of the first stones I remember looking up more about when I was a kid and just fell in love with the color of it. Purple became my favorite color because of this gemstone. There wasn’t any special reason I decided back when I was about 7 or 8 that it was my favorite but when I realized it represented birthdays in February soon after, my little kid brain decided that means that it must also represent weddings that happened in that month since my parents got married in February. It doesn’t but I will always think of my parents’ wedding anniversary when I think of or see amethyst and that makes me happy. I have a ring that has an amethyst in it but I also have an amethyst crystal as well. It's the only crystal I have but I’m hoping to be able to afford more (amethyst crystals and other types of crystals) soon.

[Emily Spencer]

By birthright, my favorite gemstone in this lesson should be amethyst. As a February baby, it is, after all, my designated birthstone. Don't get me wrong, I love amethyst, and I even have a special ring with that stone given to me as a baby by my adopted aunt. But that being said, it is still not my favorite of those discussed in Lesson 2.

My favorite would have to be aquamarine. That particular shade of blue is probably one of my favorite shades of blue, period, not just in gemstones. It's feminine without being 'girly' and sophisticated without being 'fussy.' In my opinion at least, it can be equally at home with a pair of comfy jeans and a special dress for a night out on the town.

Another reason I am drawn to aquamarine is its connection to water. I have always been drawn to the water for some reason and find myself at peace there. Even when I cannot make it to the physical water, I can look down at the stone on my hand and be transported there mentally when I need a burst of calming vibes. I have a high-stress job and a teenage daughter; I need all the calm I can get!

[Albus Togglebog]

As I have mentioned in last lesson’s forum page, amethysts are currently one of my favorite gemstones. As I read through this lesson’s discussion page, it seems most people would agree as well. Part of the reason is because it is my birthstone. Being born in February felt quite special, because growing up in a tiny community, I was the only person I knew who was born in February. The other reason is because purple is such a rare color in nature, and is also quite a soothing yet epic color. When anyone asks me my favorite color, I always reply green because I like every color in a different way and I don’t want to ponder on a simple question for too long, but purple is a hue I definitely really enjoy.

Personally, I do not own a lot of jewelry and I actually did not have a lot of contact with any of the gemstones in this lesson, but the closest I did was the amethyst geode my grandparents owned and had on display in their living room. Once a year, when I would visit them, I could not help but stare at it in awe. The first time I saw it, I actually mistook it for some rare, exotic melon that had been cut down the middle (it actually looked kinda delicious).

However, if I did not have the bias of birthstones, all four of the gemstones in the lesson are very pretty, especially the aquamarine. The light blue color makes it seem delicate, and honestly, if I were to choose jewelry, it would likely be in that color.

[Skylar Peyton]

My favorite gemstone from this month is Amethyst. I like beautiful colorful things (especially if it is purple, blue, or red).
So I am fascinated by the deep purple and bluish purple colors of an Amethyst Gemstone. I also like how the quartz that make up the Amethyst gives off a purple color due to impurities in the stone. It's like a reminder that even things that aren't perfect can be beautiful to look at and even more so, to hold in our hands. I also really appreciate where the Amethyst Gemstones can be found. I live in Canada, so to think that those early settlers in ancient Canada used to wear this gemstone is quite an amazing thought. I don't wear jewellry other than a watch due to SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). But if I did wear jewellry, I could imagine having a nice blush purple Amethyst as part of a necklace, bracelet, or ring.

[February Fortescue]

My favorite gemstone, both from this lesson and out of all of them, is the Amethyst. The Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February and it was born in February. The gemstone is purple in color, and deep purple is one of my favorite colors. I also like that it is a 7 on the hardness scale. I also have Pearls and Opals and while I worry about their fragility, I don't the Amethyst.

I own lots of purple itms, and Amethyst jewelry is no different. My parents thought i should have at least one ring that contains my birthstone. Before he died (dad died when he was 37 and I was 12) my dad bought me the most rung. It has 2 Amethysts on top of each other with a small Diamond in between them. The ring has a really lovely looping pattern between the stones. I plan to pass it on as an heirloom to my mother's sister's 2nd great granddaughter, since I have no children.