As the heat of the summer draws to a close, elements of our daily lives will change in order to keep up with the shifting seasons. Naturally, we emulate nature’s changes, so the activities we do, the things we eat and the clothes and accessories we wear will shift during this time period to echo our surroundings.
The Start of a New Season
The point at which we notice the shift between summer and autumn can be determined astronomically. In Australia, the autumnal equinox occurs around March 20th or 21st, at which point we begin to notice several changes. This marks the transition from summer to autumn, with the hours of daylight and darkness becoming more balanced. Temperatures become cooler, birds begin to migrate and notably, the leaves change colour. The shift of leaves from their lush summer greens to the autumnal browns and oranges creates a gorgeous display in both natural and urban areas, which is often what is loved most about the autumn months.
Refreshing Your Looks
It has always been popular to change the colour palette of your clothing and jewellery to fit in with the natural tones that occur in autumn. Warm orange, brown and red tones are a fitting choice for this time of year, and we begin to see an abundance of these stunning colours both in nature and in items sold in shops by the time the leaves start to fall.
Seasonal shifts can provide a perfect opportunity to experiment with new styles and colours, in order to refresh your look and embrace your creativity. Layering your clothing is an interesting way to incorporate your existing clothing into new looks and likewise, you may be drawn to different styles of jewellery. It is important to consider your jewellery in context of your outfits: with more layers being worn, you may want to experiment with more chunky or statement jewellery styles, which will ensure that they still stand out amongst your layered clothing. Whereas summer provides a perfect opportunity to embrace dainty and delicate styles, which look gorgeous against skin, the cooler months are a chance to be more bold and daring.
Autumnal Gemstone Choices: Carnelian, Smokey Quartz, Rutilated Quartz and Amber
When considering which crystals and gemstones to wear, the opportunities are endless, no matter the time of year. If you are looking to embrace the warm autumnal tones, there are a multitude of crystals and gemstones that are perfectly suited to this season.
Carnelian is a popular and eye-catching gemstone because of its stunning colour, metaphysical properties and interesting historical uses. It is a beautiful reddish-orange to brownish-red variety of the mineral chalcedony, which is a form of quartz. Its colour can vary from translucent to opaque, making it perfect for jewellery, which makes the orange pop. Carnelian has been used extensively throughout history and has been used and highly valued by many ancient civilisations. In ancient Egypt, Carnelian was commonly used to make jewellery and amulets, often associated with protection and vitality. In ancient Greece and Rome, Carnelian was engraved with images and used in signet rings as a symbol of authority and status. It has also been used in various religious and spiritual practices around the world. The orange tones are a great way to embrace autumnal colours and incorporate these into your outfits, in a way that is as bold or as subtle as you like. Metaphysically, Carnelian is believed to boost energy levels, promote creativity, and stimulate passion and ambition. Some people use Carnelian for its supposed ability to enhance physical vitality and drive away negative energies.
Smokey Quartz is another crystal that is great to wear at this time of year, with its smokey brown tones being a perfect pair for the darker colours and warmer clothes that are worn during the autumn months. Smokey Quartz is a variety of the mineral quartz that ranges in colour from light greyish-brown to nearly black. It gets its distinctive hue from natural radiation exposure during the crystal's formation. This unique colour is caused by natural irradiation of aluminium-containing rock crystal. Its neutral and earthy tones make it a popular choice for both men's and women's jewellery and it is commonly seen in both faceted or cabochon styles. It is often considered a grounding and protective stone, believed to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and negative emotions. Some people also use Smokey Quartz for meditation and spiritual growth.
If quartz varieties are what draws you in, Rutilated Quartz is a great one to consider adding to your collection, which has an interesting twist. Rutilated Quartz has needle-like inclusions of golden or reddish-brown rutile crystals, which is an oxide mineral composed of titanium dioxide. These are suspended within the quartz crystal, giving a unique look to the crystal and an almost ethereal quality. The rutile needles can range in colour from golden yellow to reddish-brown, and they often form intricate patterns or clusters that create a stunning visual effect. As the quartz crystal grows, the rutile needles become encapsulated, resulting in the characteristic appearance of rutilated quartz. The precise conditions under which rutilated quartz forms can vary, leading to differences in the size, colour, and density of the rutile inclusions. The golden, red and brown tones all give the quartz a decorative and slightly autumnal effect and are a great way of subtly including these tones in your jewellery without it being the focal point. Rutilated quartz is often associated with manifestation and transformation. It is believed to help clarify intentions, align with one's true purpose, and attract abundance and prosperity into one's life.
Amber is widely regarded as one of the most classic autumnal gemstones, with its gorgeous warm honey tones being absolutely perfect to wear this time of year. Amber ranges most commonly from yellow, golden, and orange to brown and red. Its transparency can also vary, from transparent to translucent or opaque. Amber often has a warm, lustrous glow and may contain natural inclusions such as insects, plant matter, or air bubbles. Amber forms from the resin of ancient trees, particularly conifers, which oozes out and becomes fossilised over millions of years. The process of fossilisation involves the resin hardening and polymerising, often trapping insects, plant material, or other debris within it. Not only is Amber straight from trees, its colour is perfectly reminiscent of falling autumn leaves, or colours of the autumn harvest, including in foods such as pumpkins which are commonly eaten around this time. Amber is believed to have soothing and calming properties, promoting a sense of well-being and balance. Some people use amber for its purported ability to alleviate stress, anxiety, and negative energy.
Bold Patterns: Tiger’s Eye, Tiger Iron, Mookaite and Moroccan Seam Agate
Sticking with the orange and brown tones, both Tiger’s Eye and Tiger Iron are beautiful stones to wear in your jewellery at this time of year. Tiger's eye is a variety of the mineral quartz and forms when quartz undergoes pseudomorphic replacement by fibrous crocidolite (blue asbestos) or other minerals. Over time, the crocidolite fibres are replaced by silica, resulting in the unique banded appearance of a tiger's eye. Reminiscent of the alluring eye of a tiger, this stone has long been appreciated and sought after for its beautiful pattern and silky texture. Protection, courage, and confidence are all qualities believed to be brought by Tiger’s Eye and its use is mostly seen in beads and pendants.
Tiger Iron is a unique and striking rock composed of three distinct minerals: tiger's eye, red jasper, and black hematite. It is known for its rich colours, intricate banding, and eye-catching appearance. Tiger Iron exhibits striking bands of colour and texture, ranging from golden yellows and reddish-browns to deep reds and blacks. The interplay of these colours creates intricate patterns reminiscent of tiger stripes, hence the name "tiger iron." Each specimen of tiger iron is unique, with its own distinct combination of colours and banding. The combination of these three stones in one makes Tiger Iron a powerful stone with regard to its metaphysical properties and it is worn for its grounding and protective qualities. Both Tiger’s Eye and Tiger Iron have a shiny finish and similar striped colouring, but we can see more gold tones in Tiger’s Eye and more red and black tones in Tiger Iron. Both stones are autumnal and beautiful and are a perfect solution for anyone wanting a more decorative or patterned piece.
If intricate patterns are something you are keen on when choosing your jewellery, the unique and colourful variety of jasper found in Western Australia called Mookaite could be the answer to all of your jewellery dreams. The stunning colours and patterns found in Mookaite make it look like a piece of artwork, designed exclusively by our wonderful Earth. Mookaite has a striking array of colours, including shades of red, yellow, orange, brown, and creamy white. These colours are often swirled or banded together in intricate patterns, creating a vibrant and eye-catching appearance. Some people use Mookaite for its ability to promote physical health, emotional balance, and spiritual growth. It is also associated with the root and solar plexus chakras, helping to stimulate and balance these energy centres. It's gorgeous warm autumnal tones make it a great accessory for your changing wardrobe and its bold look makes it great as statement pieces.
Moroccan Seam Agate is another stone characterised by its gorgeous colours and interesting patterns, again making for an ideal statement piece. The colours can vary widely, including shades of white, grey, brown, red, orange, yellow, and blue. These bands often resemble landscapes, scenic views, or abstract art, making each piece of Moroccan seam agate unique. It is formed through the gradual deposition of silica-rich solutions within cavities or fissures in volcanic rocks. Over time, these solutions crystallise and form concentric layers of chalcedony, quartz, and other minerals, resulting in the characteristic banded patterns seen in agate. This stone is found in Morocco and particularly in areas that are known for their volcanic activity and geological formations. The grounding and healing properties brought by Moroccan Seam Agate are other reasons why people are often drawn to it and it is believed to promote stability, inner peace, and emotional healing.
Autumn is a special and magical time of the year and its stunning distinctive colours mark a symbolic time of closure and shift in pace. There is no better time to experiment with warm tones than now, by following Earth’s every move.
