A deep green member of the beryl family, the emerald is the rarest of the so-called precious gems. It has been mined since antiquity in both the old and new worlds. Queen Cleopatra of Egypt had mines near Zabara on the red sea coast, and wore emeralds herself or gave them as gifts to friends. In Ancient America, emeralds were treasured by native cultures, particularly by the Inca, who worshiped them as sacred. As a talisman, emerald is said to cure diseases of the eye, to free the body from poison, and to arrest physical decay. It enhances dreams and meditation, and increases spiritual awareness. Its green beauty makes it as prized today as it has always been through history. Perhaps no gem delights the senses like the diamond. This most precious of stones seems to burn with a fire deep within. Crystallized carbon, formed under tremendous pressure over millennia, the diamond is famed for its everlasting hardness. In this capacity, the gem has come to symbolize eternal faithfulness and is the traditional focus of the engagement band. Because early cultures lacked the technology to facet the diamond, the gem has only become popular in the last two centuries. Diamonds are normally colorless, but they are also found in shades including yellow, pink, and blue. In eastern belief, the diamond is said to enhance the full spectrum of energies in the body, mind, and spirit. Within the circle of gems, the diamond defines the standards of beauty, rarity, and preciousness.