Gemstones

A large number number of gemstones were known to many cultures during the medieval period. Which gemstones were known in which time and place is harder to ascertain. Such small precious goods could travel vast distances via trading, a trade which had been widespread in the time of the ancient Myceneans (2000BC?), so it is only via the evidence of archeological finds and writings of gemstones that we can be sure which stones reached which cultures. Trade goods were more likely to reach prosperous outwards looking cultures than ones undergoing war, famine or internal unrest.

Books on gemstones, called lapidaries, were published throughout period. Many names occur for the same gemstones in medieval literature, making it difficult to identify the gemstone named. The same name may also be applied to several similar looking gemstones, e.g. carbuncle could refer to ruby or garnet.

Expensive gemstones (these are the four traditional precious gemstones):

• diamond
• ruby
• sapphire
• emerald

Moderately expensive:

• amethyst (bigger discoveries in the modern period have brought the price down, making it a good value choice for the modern reenactor)
• garnet
• pearl

Cheap:

• rock crystal
• agate

Out-of-period gemstones (or gemstones which were so excessively rare as to not have names in medieval Europe):

• black opal
• jade (not available in Europe, rare in the Middle East, common in China)
• tiger eye (http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/gemstones.html)
• labradorite
• tourmaline

Also fake gemstones (e.g. Cabochons - coloured glass jewels backed with metal foil) existed in medieval times, as a cheaper way to make things more ostentatious. They are more likely to be used in uses such as garments and belts, than on something like the crown jewels. Just remember that in some times glitz was popular, with more being better, but in others obvious use of fake gems would mark one as a cheap try-hard, and a few fine pieces of real gems might be preferred. Enamel could also be used to create brightly coloured blobs that pass for gems at a distance.

Other items were also used in the same manner as gemstones - glass, ivory, very small mirrors.

For the lower classes cheaper alternatives than gemstones existed for jewelry - bone beads, cheap stone, wooden or cheap glass beads and similar items.

References:

• Cariadoc's "On gemstones"
• Lois Sherer, "30,000 years of beads". (Available from many places including Melbourne University Library}