Gemstones and crystals are minerals that, due to their rarity, beauty and durability have grown in popularity. While their main use has always been as an adornment in all types of jewellery and other precious objects, they have also become collectible items and central pieces in many games, stories and pop culture overall.
These precious stones have a vast history and were used by different civilisations for different purposes. Archaeological evidence shows that gemstones were at some point in time produced and explored in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, China, India, and Greece. Given how gemstones usually have exotic colours and textures, they were often used in art, as jewellery, as religious or ceremonial objects and as amulets. Their use around the world has always been associated with deep religious rites making these stones a symbol of superstitious beliefs.
Impact on Popular Culture
As a result, gemstones have always had a mystical aspect to them. Their association with wealth and royalty has made them recurrent themes in literature, cinema, video games and even the gambling industry. Currently, these stones can be seen in many online casinos as the inspiration for various slot titles. For example, users can play Gemix online, which will take users into a secrete enchanted crystal mine hidden in a mysterious forest. However, there are plenty of options here as this theme is popular with developers.
When it comes to the gaming industry gemstones and crystals have had two specific uses: as prizes or credits, and as the main objects of the game. Games such as Crystal Caves (1991), the Final Fantasy franchise or GemCraft – Chasing Shadows, released for PC and consoles, feature precious stones as rewards or collectible items players can use to improve their avatars. In Final Fantasy’s case, crystals have always been one of the main aspects of the franchise. Their use and importance have varied from being the source of monsters to allowing characters to cast magic or being the aim of tasks.
In tile-matching puzzle video games, gemstones and crystals play a more central part in the game as they are the main objects. The best example of this is PopCap’s iconic Bejeweled and Crystal Island, in which players must swap gems to make a matching set of three or more gemstones of the same colour.
When it comes to the big screen, gemstones have also been the focus of many stories and adventures. Some of the most popular examples include the 1982 dark fantasy classic The Dark Crystal, which tells the story of Jen, a Gelfling, who needs to restore a powerful broken crystal in order to restore balance to his world. Other popular examples include Romancing the Stone (1984), Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and, more recently, the infinity stones in the Avengers franchise.
While these mystical objects have been present in many cultures for thousands of years now, their popularity isn’t expected to decrease anytime soon. In fact, if history has taught us anything is that these types of stones acquire new symbolism and meanings with each new generation.
