The “Be the Change” pendant is a not-for-profit Community Care project launched by Blue Turtles to raise funds for people affected by catastrophic famine in East Africa. $33 from the sale of every pendant will be donated to aid agencies fighting famine. We are currently supporting Action Against Hunger (ACF International).

The “Be the Change” pendant is the only product that Blue Turtles sells direct to the public.

You can participate in the project by doing one or more of these 3 things:

1. Stock the “Be the Change” pendant in your retail outlet (this is a non-profit item).

2. Distribute flyers in your store to promote the project.

3. Create a link from your website, facebook or twitter to the “Be the Change” web page.

To visit the “Be the Change” page, click here.

Contact us to discuss participating.

The 4 little concave discs in each earring seem to have randomly fallen together, sitting neatly next to each other over here and overlapping over there. The discs themselves are gently hand-beaten, and the overall effect is pleasantly organic.

The Coralie Earrings measure 22 mm in length and hang from a simple and stylish hook. They are, of course, fashioned from 100% quality sterling silver.

To request the Coralie Earrings from your local stockist, ask for item code E-SOL-15.

To find your local stockist, click here.

Chemical Composition: (Mg, Fe)2SiO4, Magnesium Iron Silicate

Hardness: 6.5 – 7

Other Names: Forsterite, Olivine, Chrysolite (Greek for “golden stone”)

Occurrence: USA, Hawaii, Australia, China, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Egypt

Peridot’s relatively long history of contact with Humans began about 2500 years ago, when it was found on the island of Zabargad in the Red Sea. That island has been known by many names over the years, including Topazios, which is why to the ancient world, peridot was referred to as “topaz”, or “topazion”. But in the 18^th Century the mineral we now know as topaz was officially named so, and so the green stone from Zabargad was renamed “peridot”, perhaps after the Arabic word for gem, “faridat”.

The “correct” pronunciation of peridot is peri – “doe”, as in a female deer.

About the Mineral:

Peridot belongs to the Olivine group of minerals. Olivine is a common mineral that is said to make up close to 50% of the Earth’s upper mantle. There are beaches in Hawaii where the sand is almost entirely composed of olivine granules. Not only common to Earth, olivine has also been found on the Moon and Mars, and even as granules embedded in the matrix of meteors (these are known as Pallasites). Recently, NASA scientists observed crystals of olivine raining down on a distant infant star. It is the more rare, transparent, gem quality olivine that is referred to as peridot.

Its Chemistry:

Olivine is in fact a mineral series, which forms in ultramafic (magnesium and iron rich) igneous rock. A “mineral series” occurs when two different elements can substitute for each other in the composition of a mineral, without affecting the mineral’s crystal structure. In the case of olivine, its composition can vary from pure iron silicate (Fe2SiO4) to pure magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4), or more commonly, a mix of both magnesium and iron in varying amounts. This is known as magnesium iron silicate (Mg, Fe2SiO4). Where both magnesium and iron are present but iron is more prevalent, the mineral is referred to as fayalite. When magnesium is more prevalent, it is called forsterite. Generally peridot falls into the category of forsterite. A composition of 12% to 15% iron with traces of nickel and chromium produce the finest colours of peridot.

Peridot will crystallize at high temperatures when its host rock is still in molten form. Erupting volcanoes have been known to spurt solid granules of olivine mixed in with the molten lava.

Its Colour:

Peridot ranges in shades of green from olive to mint to an intense and warm golden green. It is occassionally also yellow to brown.

Modern Uses:

Peridot is, of course, best known as a gemstone. But olivine has industrial uses as well. In its magnesium-rich form, it is used in refractory sand and brick because of its great resistance to heat.

It may even have a role to play in combating climate change. Magnesium-rich olivine is being considered as a candidate for a process called Mineral Sequestration, whereby C02 reacts with olivine and water to remove the carbon from the atmosphere and trap it in harmless minerals, like serpentine, magnesite and silica.

Its Metaphysical Properties:

The breastplate worn by the Israelite high priest who served in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem featured 12 stones, and one of those stones, “Tarshish”, is believed to have been a peridot.

Peridot’s energy is one of harmony, self-confidence and abundance. Everybody gets his or her fair share, but there’s a clear message here that we need to take responsibility for ourselves. It effectively prepares us to achieve what is already rightly ours.

Stimulating the 3^rd and 4^th chakras, peridot it is said to help align ones heart with ones will. To put it another way, it can help one to manifest the heart’s desire – as long as one is already being true to oneself.

It is considered to have a warm and friendly energy that radiates positivity and wellbeing, and can restore self-esteem, confidence and courage. It inspires a sense of self-contentedness.

It helps us to be aware of the patterns in our lives that don’t serve us well, and empowers us to make amends and move forward. It is in becoming aware of the patterns that have limited us that we are able to make the adjustments necessary to begin manifesting the life we want. When we remove the barriers, the Universe responds.

Peridot is attributed with creating a protective shield around the body, though it won’t protect one from oneself. Assuming one is already balanced and cleansed, peridot will afford protection from outer influences.

Other qualities attributed to peridot include its ability to help us find things that we’ve lost. It is also said to help one to communicate with beings from the nature spirit realm.

Physically, peridot is said to help in the healing of the heart, intestinal tract, lungs, spleen, and eyes. Some have even claimed that it will slow the aging process and stimulate contractions during the birthing process.

Peridot relates to the astrological signs of Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius, and vibrates to the numbers 5, 6 and 7.

Einstein was remarkable not only for his huge intellect (he is considered one of the most prolific intellects in human history), but for his spirituality and the enigma of his almost other-worldly simplicity. In the words of his colleague, nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer, “He was almost wholly without sophistication and wholly without worldliness . . . There was always with him a wonderful purity at once childlike and profoundly stubborn.”

We live in a time when many of us are no longer open to what cannot be proved beyond doubt with empirical evidence. There’s no place for miracles or magic within such a worldview, which is why we can take heart in the musings of a highly qualified scientist such as Einstein, who once said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

Einstein’s quote about the power of imagination is truly profound, as it alludes to the power that he perceived the human mind to have – the power to shape our own outcomes!

Thank you, Albert Einstein, for your contributions to both science and human potential.

Einstein’s quote is available inscribed on earrings E-3-55, pendant P-6-55, ring R-4-55 and key ring KC-2-55

Request a full Poetic Pieces catalogue here.

It’s here!

You can now purchase a “Be the Change” pendant and make a difference for East Africa.

The “Be the Change” pendant is a Community Care project launched by Blue Turtles to raise funds for people affected by catastrophic famine in East Africa. $33 from the sale of every pendant will be donated to aid agencies fighting famine. We are currently supporting Action Against Hunger (ACF International).

Visit our Be the Change page, and please share this page with everybody you can, because every pendant purchased means a donation to save lives.

Be the change, and make a difference!

As the weather warms up and the sun shines brighter, it’s the perfect time for wearing something from our stunning Wildflower Collection.

Beautiful and vibrant, the Wildflower collection comprises of real flowers, grown under the warm Mexican sun. They’re picked and dried, then finally arranged into little bouquets by a group of Mexican women who chatter amongst them selves, with tweezers in hand.

The tiny bouquets are preserved in place with a clear resin, and set with sterling silver.

These beautiful little pieces tell a lovely and unique story, and radiate colour and sunshine!

You can now request a Wildflower catalogue to be sent to you. To contact us, click here.

Silver is the whitest of all metals, yet a simple and natural chemical reaction can render it jet-black.

Here, two leaves of beautifully hammered silver, one highly polished to white and the other anodized to black, dangle freely one in front of the other.

We offer you a choice of 2 sizes in the Black Forest earrings.

Version 1 measures 26mm in length from the bottom of its hook to the lowest point and 6 mm across at its widest point.

Version 2 measures 32 mm in length from the bottom of the hook to the lowest point, and 10 mm across at their widest point.

To purchase a pair of Black Forest Earrings, ask your stockist for E-BLK-MQ, and specify either version 1 or 2.

Chemical Composition: (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4 O10(OH)8 – Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide.

Crystal System: Monoclinic

Hardness: 2 – 2.5

Other Names and Spellings: Serefina, Seraphanite, Seraphenite, Clinochlore

Occurrence: Found near the Lake Baikal region of eastern Siberia, Russia

About the Mineral:

Seraphinite is a silicate belonging to the Chlorite class of minerals, and contains inclusions of silver coloured mica. It was discovered in the 19^th Century in Russia, and is known in geological circles as Clinochlore (from the Greek words, “Clino”, meaning “incline” – referring to its monoclinic crystal system – and “chloros”, meaning “green”).

Seraphinite forms when iron and magnesium silicate minerals go through the process of either metamorphic or hydrothermal change, or a combination of both. High temperature or pressure can cause existing minerals to change form and recrystallize, a phenomenon known as metamorphism. Alternatively, the flow of mineral-rich hot water (hydrothermal activity) can result in a build-up of minerals in solution that, upon cooling, will crystallize.

Its Colour:

Though shades of brown, white and even yellow and red have been known to occur, seraphinite is generally found in shades of dark and light green, interspersed with flecks of silver. These silvery flecks are in fact inclusions of mica, and it is common for these inclusions to resemble many feathery silver wings. It is partly this phenomenon that inspired seraphinite’s name, in deference to the angelic seraphim.

Its Metaphysical Properties:

Seraphinite is considered as one of the most exalted healing stones on Earth for this age. Chlorite, even as an inclusion in other minerals, has always been prized for its healing properties, but even more so in this form. Healers believe that seraphinite is the most effective stone for cellular regeneration, as well as clearing the body and blood of toxins. As such, it has a positive impact on the health of both liver and kidneys. Even disease and illness relating to past lives may be addressed by seraphinite.

It is attributed with bringing relief from colds, and also with promoting effective weight loss.

The powerful healing qualities of seraphinite extend to emotional and mental healing as well. Seraphinite plays a double role in both helping us to be centred in, and energizing our chakras. Though its green colour suggests it is particularly suited to heart chakra work, it is by no means limited to the heart, and it is said that placing seraphinite on the crown will bring about the alignment of all the chakras.

Seraphinite provides strong protection for the heart whilst promoting centeredness, and provides the energy to release old emotional patterns whilst either establishing or coping with new ones. It helps create order and wholeness where once there was disarray.

For those on the Spiritual path, this highly evolved stone prepares a supportive environment for ones own spiritual evolution.

It is said to link the physical realm with the highest angelic realms and to realign ones physical body with ones’ higher will and purpose.

Its energy is described as clearly feminine, and helps to sharpen ones intuition and awareness.

It is also used as a tool of manifestation and transformation.

Seraphinite relates to the astrological sign of Taurus, and the elements of Air and Earth.

Pendant SP-1-4. Click to enlarge

Henry David Thoreau was an American author and poet who lived from 1817 to 1862. He was very passionate about natural history and wrote about the joys of a simple life, epitomized by living close to nature.

His works, particularly Walden, influenced the evolution of the Environmentalist movement.

He also developed his philosophy on civil disobedience, which proved to be an inspiration for later greats such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, both of whom themselves, incidentally, relentlessly and famously pursued their own dreams!

Thoreau’s motivating admonishment urges us to strive for what our hearts desire. It’s all too easy, with the pressures and stresses we experience, to lose sight of what we really want. Don’t let it be so! Be confident! Follow your dreams! Live the life you have imagined!

Thank you, Henry Thoreau.

Thoreau’s inspiring words are but one of a cast of many quotes from the inspiring Poetic Pieces Collection. Thoreau is available as bracelet B-1-4, earrings E-2B-4, pendant SP-1-4 (pictured above, with crystal beads) or key ring KC-2-4

Request a full Poetic Pieces catalogue here.

But what happens if nobody in your vicinity currently stocks Blue Turtles?

If you know of a store where our jewellery will fit in well, put us in touch with them. And if they place an order, we’ll give you a voucher worth $150 to spend on Blue Turtles jewellery.

The important thing is that the store you recommend doesn’t stock us yet, and doesn’t clash with any of our existing stockists.

But remember that we have 4 collections, and some of our existing stockists don’t carry all 4, so if you see there’s an opportunity to introduce any of our 4 collections to a stockist in your area, let them know about us, and make sure you tell us about them!

Remember, if they start stocking Blue Turtles after you recommend them, you get a voucher worth $150.

Contact us with your recommendations here.