Bloodstone Signet Ring
Bloodstone is an opaque deep, dark green coloured stone with interesting flecks of orangey-red in it (said to resemble spots of blood – hence the name) caused by inclusions of iron rich minerals. It has been used in jewellery for centuries and is one of few gems that are native to our shores, being found in Scotland. It is often seen in traditional Scottish pebble jewellery which was particularly popular in the 19th century when it was worn by Queen Victoria to reflect her love of the country. The stone was mentioned by Pliny in his Natural History where he describes its alleged ability to render a person invisible, an attribute repeated by Boccaccio in one of the stories in The Decameron. Today it is widely found with the best material coming from India as well as Brazil, China, Australia and the USA.