HANUT SINGH

Open to visitors, India's beautiful Golden Temple (a/k/a Harmandir Sahib) is one of the country's many sacred sites.

Initial construction of the temple began over four centuries ago; however, many centuries would pass as the structure underwent numerous restorations. India is also the home of featured jewelry designer Hanut Singh.

SIKARA & CO.

Today we explore one of the most incredible specimens of "living" architecture, the Kailas Temple in India.

In the 8th century, various architects--using three different types of chisels--carved out this magnificent rock structure from a volcanic hillside.

Built to honor the god Shiva, the temple took hundreds of years to complete and measures a staggering 109 feet in width, and 164 feet in length.

India is also the ancestral home of Mousumi Shaw, the founder and CEO of jewelry brand Sikara & Co.

GEMSTONE OF THE MONTH | PERIDOT

From the distant past to the present day, the peridot gemstone has fascinated many.  Due to its glowing, avocado-green color, ancient Egyptians called it "the gem of the sun" while the ancient Romans called it "evening emerald."

A derivative of the forsterite-fayalite mineral, the peridot is the only gemstone that does not come in different colors, although they do come in subtle variations of green, from yellow-green to olive-green.

This "idiochromatic" quality is due to the lack of impurities within the mineral the gem originates. This uniform color also gives peridot an interesting characteristic: it looks the same in natural and artificial light.

Like diamonds, peridot form deep below the earth's surface and are a result of extreme heat and pressure. They are found in volcanic rock, as well as meteorites. The gemstones are mined in Norway, Brazil, Australia, the Congo, and Hawaii.  The gemstone is so highly regarded in Hawaii the sands of the beach of Oahu is composed of peridot grains.

It is believed the first recorded peridot mine was located on the island of Zebargad near Egypt. Poisonous snakes were said to have killed mine workers that paralyzed the mine's daily functions. The reigning Pharaoh then had the reptiles killed.

Once work in the mines resumed, however, the mine was kept a secret from outsiders, and the Pharaoh took extreme measures to maintain secrecy. He ordered his guards to kill any unauthorized travelers approaching the island.

Peridots are believed to bestow eloquent speech, emotional security, and sustain marriage to those who own them. Peridot is believed to remove spells, and repel evil spirits. In addition, the gemstone is named in the Book of Exodus representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Some of the world's most famous peridots (each over 200 carats) adorns the Shrine of The Three Kings, a gilded sarcophagus located in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. The shrine is said to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men.

The world's largest peridot (a whopping 311.78 carats) is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
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Photo 1 (top right): Shrine of The Three Kings
Photo 2 (bottom right): Peridot Gemstone