The twelfth-century Abbot Suger summed up the idea of precious stones in the Middle Ages when he wrote about the “sacred virtues” of the varieties of “many-colored stones” that helped him forget his “external cares.”  Diamonds for their invincible hardness symbolized love and marriage, emeralds could make a person rich but also provoke envy, pearls aided digestion, garnets brought peace and prosperity, and jet (so popular in pilgrimage) insured protection. Discover here our online exhibition of Precious Stones to complement our TEFAF Maastricht display.