Hobbies And Interests
Engagement Rings
Morganite's rosy color suggests romance. The gem resembles pink diamonds but costs considerably less than a diamond of any hue. Like all beryls, Morganite has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it can stand up to the daily wear that engagement jewelry gets. Look for clear Morganite; although it's hard enough to withstand daily wear, a stone with visible cloudiness could have fracture lines that make it fragile.
Fashion Jewelry
Jewelry designers looking for a natural but unusual gem to enhance fashion jewelry turn to Morganite and its pretty pink hues. Morganite responds to heat treatment with color changes, increasing the stone's range of colors. You'll most often see Morganite set in white metals like silver or platinum, but it's also popular in pink gold settings that complement its hue. Like other beryl gems, Morganite has a crystalline structure that lets lapidaries shape the stone into fanciful shapes, although triangles, ovals and hearts predominate.
Birthstone Jewelry
Birthstones may have originated from the description of Aaron's jeweled breastplate in the Bible or from astrologers' divisions of the sky into 12 houses. However murky their history, birthstones are best-sellers in jewelry stores. If you like pink, wear Morganite instead of October's aquamarine or May's emerald; all three gems are beryls. Morganite also stands in for January's birthstone, the garnet, for anyone who prefers pastel pink to garnet's deep red.
Lore and Legends
For those who ascribe metaphysical properties to crystals and gems, Morganite is rumored to bring romance into the wearer's life. Ancient Romans believed beryls of all colors were aphrodisiacs; they especially prized emeralds for this purported power, but they also considered Morganite a romance enhancer. Crystal healing practitioners assign Morganite to the throat chakra and ascribe the power of improving communication skills to it. Wearing these pastel pink gems might not spark any supernatural attraction or give you the gift of gab, but Morganite's attention-getting sparkle and color make the gem a conversation piece.