The necklaces I am most likely to keep for myself in this lifetime. Bloodstone is my birthstone, the stone of March. According to legend, this was a stone that lay at the foot of the cross; hence, the rust-colored "drops of blood" on a dark green background.

Bloodstone eventually became so rare that the birthstone of March was changed to aquamarine, and, after that, too, became rare in the 90s, was changed to blue topaz.

I bought the oval cabochon on the East Coast after a two-week training session in Washington, D.C., in the mid-2000s. The rotating ball below it was purchased from a co-worker at the U.S. Embassy. Both pieces are set in 14-k international standard gold. 

The other necklaces in this photo have matching bead colors, but they are actually of ocean jasper, Mongolian agate, and clown obsidian.

Photo by Neil de Leon