Amazonite takes us to Brazil, to the banks of the Amazon River, from which it takes its name. Legend has it that this deep blue-green stone was the preferred stone of the Amazonian warriors and that it symbolised their courage. We find amazonite sculpted on many Egyptian ornaments and notably on a ring in the shape of a scarab that belonged to Tutankhamen.

If it is easily confused with Turquoise it is attributed the same virtues : those of calming negative thoughts and bringing harmony, joy and balance. Amazonite is also known to absorb magnetic waves and we are obviously thinking of telephone waves ! At Zag we love amazonite for its subtle and delicate colour which blends happily with apatite in shades of blue. Mounted in rings, on bracelets or earrings, apatites in "cabochon" are flattering and can be worn with any outfit... we think for example of the Vera ring, its matching band and the sleepers... A real set that we love to wear with a jean jacket in a chic and casual look.

Apatite is a fine stone with shades of blue to green. Its multiple veins are inscribed in the material like a landscape seen from the sky. It is said to have positive virtues to help you let go and reconnect with your deep emotions.

At Zag we love it for the diversity of its colors and its deep blue to green. In cabochons on rings or in cheerful pendants, blue apatite looks great on tanned skin or worn in winter. We love to mix it with amethyst, turquoise and lapis lazuli which are also our designer's favourite stones.

Labradorite is a fine stone with multiple reflections ranging from water green to turquoise blue. Its grey and metallic colour and the multitude of reflections that appear on its surface give it a magical and bewitching allure. Discovered in Canada in the Labrador region, from which it takes its name, it was considered by the Inuit tribes as a legendary stone that gave birth to the northern lights. Its deposits are spread all over the world and it is coveted to be mounted on the most beautiful ornaments.

Considered the "protective stone" by excellence, it is said that wearing it protects against negative energies. It also increases the laws of attraction and opens our energies towards others. A stone of harmony and balance, we love to mix it with red Carnelian. Carnelian warms the grey of labradorite on the skin in an ultra chic and sophisticated effect. Don't hesitate to play this winning duo in accumulation in bracelets or rings...

Malachite stone can be traced back to ancient times when it was used for decoration in stone marquetry. The Tsars of Russia were very fond of it and the columns of the cathedral of Saint Petersburg can be admired covered with malachite !

In the same way as lapis lazuli, the pigments become paintings for the illumination of precious books.
Its protective properties have been recognised for centuries and it is said that malachite strengthens our self-confidence and increases our power of persuasion. Balancing the heart chakras, it harmonises our intimate relationships. At Zag our designer is totally fascinated by its thousand shades of green. Like a landscape seen from the sky, we can imagine a winding river or a green earth in its smallest details. It blends wonderfully with tiger's eye in shades of deep brown and brings a touch of color in the evening, mixed with black onyx for a more mysterious look. On all our jewels, the malachite cabochons are all different, so you can prefer a more plain or more contrasting stone. The diversity of the stone makes each piece unique and allows you to wear it as a protective talisman and the assurance of a piece of jewellery made to measure for you !

Tiger's eye is probably the most protective of all stones. During the Ottoman Empire, the tiger's eye brought courage and protection to the warriors who wore it. Of an iridescent brown with yellow ochre reflections, it is named after its resemblance to the eye of a tiger. The Mesopotamian civilizations had thus given it the name of Oculus Belus, Oculus meaning the eye and Belus, recalling the god of fortune, the most powerful of the gods of Babylon. Considered by its rarity as a precious stone in its own right, it became a "semi-precious" stone thanks to the discovery of a deposit in the early 19th century in South Africa. The tiger's eye stone is therefore a protective stone, it returns negative energies to its transmitter. It promotes self-confidence, generosity and ambition. On a physical level, it is beneficial to the joints and seems to be recognised as the ideal stone for regaining energy.

Tiger's eye is one of our designer's favourite stones.
Our ZAG Bijoux men's bracelet collections are often a mix of tiger eye and black onyx beads. We also love the tiger's eye in large cabochon on rings with an ethnic chic look.

Peridot is also called Olivine because of its intense green color. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians used peridot as a magical stone to adorn the finest jewellery. Some frescoes show Cleopatra wearing a necklace of green stones which were probably peridot and not emeralds as one might have thought. This stone is found in different cultures and for the Hawaiians, it represented the tears of a goddess and in the Bible, one of the 12 stones of Aaron's breastplate. Peridot is found in numerous deposits around the world, in Brazil, South Africa, China and Vietnam. It is said to have many physical and spiritual virtues. It seems to strengthen the heart and stimulate blood circulation, but also to improve or even restore self-confidence.

If you look at the calendar, peridot corresponds to the month of August, a stone of full summer. In the ZAG Bijoux collections, peridot is often used in beads or faceted pendants. We often mix it with other colored stones such as rose quartz or tourmaline.

Pyrite is a natural stone with a metallic golden color. It captures light like gold or platinum and was used by some Native American tribes to make mirrors. Pyrite is composed mainly of crystals and is found in abundance in Spain, France, Italy and Slovakia. Its very particular golden color makes it a fascinating stone that invites questions. It is said to have various virtues, but it seems to be a real stimulator for the memory, reinforcing the creative part in everyone. Pyrite is the stone to wear when you are taking exams or if you are in need of creative inspiration.

In our Zag jewellery collections, pyrite is often mounted in cabochons in the centre of pendants or on rings. Its metallic look allows it to be worn mixed with both gold and silver.