Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Precious Gemstones====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** Magical Item Component, Decoration, Currency, Symbolic Representation * **Owners:** Various [[Witches]] and [[Wizards]], [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], [[Goblins]] (as makers and claimants) * **Maker:** Primarily [[Goblins]] (for high-quality metalwork), [[Witches]] and [[Wizards]] =====Description and Appearance===== Precious gemstones are minerals of high value and often great beauty that feature prominently in the wizarding world. They serve various purposes, from being components in powerful magical artefacts to functioning as symbols of house pride at [[Hogwarts]]. The most frequently mentioned gemstones in the novels are rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. These gems are used in jewellery and to adorn valuable objects, signifying wealth and status. Their colours are also symbolically linked to the four [[Hogwarts]] houses: red rubies for [[Gryffindor]], green emeralds for [[Slytherin]], blue sapphires for [[Ravenclaw]], and yellow/white diamonds for [[Hufflepuff]]. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== While often used for mundane decoration, precious gemstones are integral to several significant magical applications and objects. * **[[House Points]] Counters:** Four giant hourglasses located in the [[Great Hall]] at [[Hogwarts]] use gemstones to magically track the current standings for the [[House Cup]]. Each hourglass is filled with gems corresponding to its house: * **Rubies:** [[Gryffindor]] * **Emeralds:** [[Slytherin]] * **Sapphires:** [[Ravenclaw]] * **Diamonds:** [[Hufflepuff]] * **Magical Artefact Components:** Gemstones are frequently set into powerful magical items, perhaps acting as a focus or enhancement for their enchantments. * The **[[Sword of Gryffindor]]**, a [[Goblin]]-made weapon, is set with large, egg-sized rubies in its hilt. * The **[[Diadem of Ravenclaw]]** was a silver tiara set with a large, oval sapphire. * The **[[Philosopher's Stone]]**, a legendary alchemical substance, was described as a blood-red stone, similar in appearance to a ruby. * **Currency and Wealth:** Gemstones are a form of wizarding wealth, stored alongside [[Galleons]] and other treasures. A pile of what appeared to be uncut jewels was among the treasures stored in the [[Lestrange Vault]] at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]]. * **[[Goblin]] Metallurgy:** [[Goblins]] are master metalsmiths who often incorporate precious stones into their creations, such as the [[Sword of Gryffindor]]. They hold a different view of ownership, believing that payment is for rental and the object, including its gems, rightfully belongs to the maker. =====History===== Gemstones have been a part of wizarding history for centuries, embedded in its culture, economy, and the creation of its most powerful artefacts. Their inclusion in items connected to the founders of [[Hogwarts]], such as [[Godric Gryffindor]]'s sword and [[Rowena Ravenclaw]]'s diadem, shows their long-standing importance. The most significant gemstone-like object in recent history was the [[Philosopher's Stone]], created by the famed alchemist [[Nicolas Flamel]]. This unique, blood-red stone held the power to grant immortality and turn base metal into [[gold]], making it one of the most sought-after objects in the wizarding world until its destruction in 1992. =====Role in the Story===== Precious gemstones play a crucial and recurring symbolic role throughout the series. The house point hourglasses serve as a constant visual barometer of the central rivalry between [[Gryffindor]] and [[Slytherin]]. The rubies of the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] and the sapphire of the [[Diadem of Ravenclaw]] are key features of two objects central to [[Lord Voldemort]]'s downfall. The sword becomes [[Harry Potter]]'s primary weapon against [[Horcruxes]], while the diadem is one of the [[Horcruxes]] he must find and destroy. The [[Philosopher's Stone]] is the focal point of the first book, establishing the fundamental conflict between [[Harry Potter]] and [[Voldemort]] over the concept of mortality. Finally, the jewels in the [[Lestrange Vault]] contribute to the chaotic and dangerous atmosphere during the [[Gringotts]] break-in, multiplying under the [[Gemino Curse]] and threatening to overwhelm the trio. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the original novels, the gemstones for [[Hufflepuff]] in the house point hourglass are explicitly stated to be **diamonds**. However, on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website, this was changed to yellow diamonds or topazes to better align with [[Hufflepuff]]'s house colour of yellow. (Pottermore) * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//, the [[Philosopher's Stone]] is depicted not as a cut gem but as a rough, amber-coloured crystalline object with a glowing red core. (film)
