Wearers of eye-clean, unburned astral gemstone talismans can harness the potent astrological powers that protect them from “negative energies,” says gemologist and jewelry designer Richard S. Brown.

            Unlike the popular birthstones which have no relation to astrology, planetary gemology is based upon the ancient oriental “side-real” system of astrology, which for the last 3,000 years has found believers in India, said Brown, also author of Handbook of Planetary Gemology.

            “The soul of the gem industry is completely overlooked in the modern world,” he said. “Gemstones have power. This is ancient wisdom. This is not a concoction, a swirling left or right to simply make the designs fancy,” he added, holding up a blue sapphire pendant.

            Stones must be left untreated, Broun says, citing ancient Sanscrit text which describes the burning of stones as “very disruptive and unnatural.”

            Here’s how astral gemstone talismans work:

            A 65-year-old Indian Brahmin astrologer works on an individual’s birth chart, that is governed by the various planets which include the Sun, the Moon, Saturn and Mars. He then fills out a prescription, from which the stone for a jewelry design is determined. Brown designs subject to the budget and approval of the wearer.

            “We let the pieces sell themselves,” Brown says, adding that it takes up to three weeks to finish each piece. The personalized planetary jewelry design in 21 karat gold does not come cheap, and comes with an explanation of the stones and their relationship to the stars and constellations. Each piece is numbered and initialed.

            “There is absolutely nothing mass volume, or run-of-the mill line about my jewelry,” Brown says. “In my whole life, I could design no more than 400, and these pieces are very hard to make.”