A Guide to Balinese Gemstones

Silver is beautiful on its own, but adding a gemstone takes your jewelry to the next level. In Bali, stones are not just decorations; they are believed to carry energy, healing properties, and spiritual significance.

At Alas Arum Silver & Gold Workshop, we have a treasure chest of cabochons (smooth, polished stones) ready for you to set into your rings and pendants. But how do you choose? Here is a guide to the most popular stones we offer and what they represent.

1. Moonstone (Batu Biduri Laut)

Appearance: Milky white with flashes of blue or rainbow iridescence.
Meaning: Intuition, New Beginnings, Feminine Energy.
Why choose it: Moonstone is the quintessential "Bali vibe" stone. It looks magical against sterling silver and is said to protect travelers—making it the perfect souvenir for your trip.

2. Amethyst (Kecubung)

Appearance: Deep to pale violet purple.
Meaning: Peace, Calmness, Sobriety.
Why choose it: If you are on a wellness retreat in Ubud, Amethyst is your stone. It is believed to clear the mind of negative thoughts and stress. The purple contrast against polished silver is striking and royal.

3. Garnet (Merah Delima)

Appearance: Deep, blood red.
Meaning: Passion, Energy, Vitality.
Why choose it: Garnet is intense. It’s a stone of action and grounding. If you want a ring that feels powerful and bold, this is the one. It looks particularly good in oxidized (blackened) silver settings.

4. Turquoise (Pirus)

Appearance: Bright sky blue to green, often with black veining.
Meaning: Protection, Wisdom, Luck.
Why choose it: Turquoise has been used in amulets for thousands of years. Its bright color screams "tropical holiday" and pairs beautifully with casual beachwear.

5. Onyx (Oniks)

Appearance: Jet black.
Meaning: Strength, Self-Confidence, Absorbing Negativity.
Why choose it: For a modern, unisex look, you can't beat Black Onyx. It is sleek, sophisticated, and matches absolutely everything. It is a favorite for men's signet rings.

How We Set Stones

In our workshop, we teach the Bezel Setting technique. This is the oldest and most secure way to hold a stone.

1. We measure the stone precisely.
2. We create a silver "wall" or strip that wraps tightly around the stone.
3. We solder this wall to the base of your ring.
4. Once the ring is polished and finished, we place the stone inside and push the silver wall over the edge of the stone to lock it in place. No glue is used—only mechanical pressure!

Choosing your stone is often the hardest part of the class because they are all so beautiful. Let your intuition guide you—pick the one that "calls" to you.