Birthstones The secret powers of our most precious stones By Janet Bruno-Small and Larry Small

Posted by Janet Bruno-Small on

Thirteenth-century Venetian gem dealer, Marco Polo traveled east in search of gems. In the Mongolian empire he entertained the fierce Kubla Khan with his travel stories and in payment was given turquoise, jade, Burmese rubies, and Ceylon sapphires. There he encountered the first paper currency. Amazed that anyone would trade irreplaceable gems for rice paper,