In South Asian cultures, particularly within Vedic traditions, the nine planetary gemstones known as Navaratna hold profound significance. Each stone—ruby, pearl, red coral, emerald, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, hessonite, and cat's eye chrysoberyl—corresponds to a celestial body thought to influence human destiny. Jyotish (Vedic astrology) practitioners often prescribe specific gemstones based on an individual's birth chart to strengthen positive planetary influences or mitigate negative ones. Beyond astrological applications, gems feature prominently in South Asian wedding traditions, with specific stones believed to ensure marital harmony. Notable examples include the historic Koh-i-Noor diamond and the Timur Ruby, both once centerpieces of royal treasuries representing power and divine favor.
Jade holds unparalleled cultural significance throughout East Asia, particularly in China where it has been revered for over 9,000 years. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, jade embodies Confucian virtues—wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty, and courage—and has traditionally been valued above gold and silver. Chinese emperors were buried in jade suits believed to preserve the body and soul. In Japan, different gemstones are associated with Buddhist concepts; crystal symbolizes purity and enlightenment, while onyx represents protection. Korean culture features amber as a stone of healing and connection to ancestors. Across East Asia, gemstones are not merely decorative but serve as physical manifestations of philosophical ideals, with carefully chosen stones incorporated into daily life as reminders of aspirational virtues.
Native American tribes across North America have distinct traditions surrounding various gemstones. Turquoise stands as perhaps the most iconic, particularly among Southwestern tribes like the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni, who consider it a piece of the sky fallen to earth and a bridge between heaven and ground. It's incorporated into protective jewelry, ceremonial objects, and healing rituals. The Apache believed turquoise attached to bows improved a hunter's accuracy. Other significant stones include obsidian, used for ceremonial tools and scrying by various tribes; jet, associated with protective properties particularly among Pacific Northwest peoples; and pipestone (catlinite), sacred for pipe-making among Plains tribes due to its red color symbolizing blood—the life force connecting all living beings.
European history intertwines gemstones with royal power and religious authority. Crown jewels across various monarchies feature specific stones believed to confer legitimacy and divine blessing upon rulers. The British Imperial State Crown, for example, contains the "Black Prince's Ruby" (actually a spinel) and the "Stuart Sapphire," each with centuries of historical significance. Religious traditions incorporated gemstones as visible manifestations of divine concepts—the twelve stones of the High Priest's breastplate in Judeo-Christian tradition each represented a tribe of Israel. Medieval European lapidaries (treatises on gemstones) assigned moral qualities and healing properties to different gems, influencing their use in medicine. Birthstone traditions, though commercialized in modern times, originated from these European religious and mystical associations.
Africa's diverse cultures have rich gemstone traditions often overlooked in global narratives. In Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, opals feature prominently in religious artifacts, believed to contain all colors and thus represent divine completeness. Many West African cultures, particularly among Yoruba traditions, use amber as a connection to ancestral wisdom. In South Africa, tiger's eye stone is traditionally associated with protection and clear sight, while various communities throughout the continent use red garnet in protective amulets. The immense mineral wealth of Africa—producing significant percentages of the world's diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires—has created complex modern relationships with these stones. Contemporary African jewelry designers increasingly reclaim these cultural associations, incorporating traditional symbolism into modern designs that honor pre-colonial gemstone traditions.