Up close with the Bloodstone or Heliotrope

When I started researching this post on the alternative birthstone for March, I wasn't very excited. The bloodstone (also known as heliotrope) seemed initially to be more about healing than jewellery. The few examples of bloodstone jewellery I saw were, frankly, hideous. But then I widened my search to "heliotrope" and found a pretty stone that sadly seems to have been forgotten.
The bloodstone is renowned as a powerhouse for restoring and rebuilding the mind and body. All stones have healing effects, but some are more powerful than others. Bloodstone is said to have properties which help to return your spirit to its natural state of joy and vitality.

With an aesthetic as dark and earthy as the legends surrounding it, the healing crystal garnered a reputation of sacred power in the Middle Ages when the bloodstone meaning was linked to the crucifixion of Christ. The legend holds the belief that the blood from Christ's wounds dripped on the dark green earth, which turned it to stone. This ancient legend gave bloodstone its name and also inspired the long held belief in its exceptional wound healing powers.

A gemstone with another name 

The stone is also known as heliotrope. Gardeners among you will know that heliotrope is also a pretty, highly fragranced purple plant.

Bloodstone or heliotrope is a variety of jasper or chalcedony. The "classic" bloodstone is green jasper (chalcedony) with red inclusions of hematite (said to be the drops of Christ's blood).

When you Google heliotrope jewellery, you get some confusing results. Some show the classic bloodstone, like the necklace example below from Etsy. Other image results show you examples of jewellery which is a purple shade - the colour heliotrope, which I suspect is coloured crystal and bears no relation to the actual bloodstone at all.

Most of the jewellery I saw is the sort your granny would have worn in the 40s and 50s. It seems heliotrope, not a particularly expensive or valuable stone, has fallen out of favour.  Here are a couple of glamorous examples:

Image: 1stdibs

Above: sold for $1080, 1950s Schiaparelli Heliotrope Watermelon Tourmaline ensemble, consisting of a necklace, bracelet and clip on earrings. 

Image: Dresserjewelry.net

Above: vintage Weiss fantasy watermelon brooch and earring set. Weiss was a 1940s  jewellery company founded in New York by Albert Weiss and discontinued in the early 70s. Their costume jewellery is much sought after on vintage sites and ebay.

If you were expecting a post about the Aquamarine, which is the best known birthstone for March, fear not, I have you covered. Here's the Is This Mutton guide to aquamarines.

Discover the story behind your birthstone

Peridot, Ruby, Emerald, Topaz, Pearl, Sapphire, Diamond, Garnet, Tanzanite, Opal, Amethyst. 

Is This Mutton has an extensive Pinterest jewellery board, which features more jewellery than can be shown on the blog. 

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