Gemstone jewelry is normally worn by individuals as a fancy jewelry or as an astrological remedy for planetary influences. When using as a remedy prescribed based on astrology the gemstone jewelry is normally worn continuously without removing it to receive the benefits of gems. Gems are best suited for those who want a fast effect and do not want to spend time on prayers and rituals. It is also a better option for those who do not believe in Rudraksha Beadsand cannot follow the several restrictions to be followed by the wearer.

To get maximum effects of the gem certain things should be kept in consideration like

• the time and day of wearing
• weight in carets
• quality of the gem
• gem setting
• the metal used
• the finger worn
• rituals of energizing and purification of the stone

Also as I have mentioned in a previous article it is advisable not to wear Contradictory Gemstones together unless advised by an expert astrologer. The best way of wearing astrological gems is to use it set either in a ring or as a pendant in an open setting on the back so that the gem touches the skin and in a manner that the light falling on the gem should pass through the stone into the body of the wearer. Pendants are best worn over the heart or throat chakra. The best time to wear gemstone jewelry for astrological purpose is in the morning during the bright half of the lunar month normally referred by astrologers as ‘shukla paksha’.

Normally rings are worn on any of the 4 fingers excluding thumb. Each finger is representation of a specific planet. The 4 fingers index, middle, ring and small finger are controlled by Jupiter, Saturn, Sun and Mercury respectively. However, some wear gems of Mars and its friendly Planet gem stones on the thumb as Mars is the ruler of the thumb. Gems which represents those planets are worn in the finger denoting that Planet only. If the planet that rules that gemstone is not related to a particular finger, then the gemstone can be worn on a finger ruled by a friend of that planet. The gem for one planet can also be worn with the gem of another planet if the two planets are friendly. For instance the gems of malefic planets Rahu and Ketu represented by Hessonite and Cat’s Eye should be worn on the middle finger, as these planets that rule these two gemstones, Ketu and Rahu, are Saturn’s friends. The fingers are also related to certain parts of the body. Index finger relates to the stomach or respiratory system. The middle finger relates to the brain, mind, intestines and liver. The ring finger relates to the stomach, blood circulation, kidneys and respiratory system. Little finger represents the legs, feet and the genitals. Other than that like Planets, the fingers in a hand are also representation of the five elements. The thumb represents fire, the index finger represents space, the middle finger represents air, the ring finger represents water and the small finger is representation of earth.

The metal used for making the ring also plays a very effective role in the effectiveness of the gem. Gold is the preferable metal for yellow sapphire, red coral and ruby. Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Cat’s eye, hessonite and emerald should be set in silver or white gold for best results. Pearl should always be set in silver for maximum benefits. Cat’s Eye and Gomedh can also be set on Ashtadhatu which comprises of eight metals as well. However if one cannot afford to use gold then silver is the next best option for them. The auspicious time to wear the gem is during the hora of the planet representing the gem on the day representing the Planet. The Purification and energizing process should be done before wearing the gem. The days of the Planet are Sun on Sunday, Moon on Monday, Mars on Tuesday and Mercury on Wednesday, Jupiter on Thursday, Venus on Friday, Saturn on Saturday.

Regarding which hand to wear the ring there are several opinions. Some say that it is right hand for men and the left for women where as some say it should be right hand for the right handed and left for the left handed. Further it is said that all gems representing Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu should be worn on the left hand and stones representing the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus on the right.To know more about all precious and semiprecious stones visit my Blog The Power of Gemstones.