Gemstone Halo Lamp - Water - Aquamarine & Selenite

• The selenite bars glow from within, with soft, fibrous striations visible along their length.
• The aquamarine sits as raw, unpolished chunks, each one a slightly different shade of pale blue.
• The light is cool and white rather than amber, which suits the water theme.
• The black frame and round base keep the outline clean, so the stones stay the focus.
• The glow is ambient and decorative, better for a mood in the corner of a room than for reading by.

The downward-pointing triangle is the traditional alchemical symbol for Water. The lamp is built around it, with the selenite forming the three sides and the aquamarine curving around the ring. Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin for 'sea water', and selenite from Selene, the Greek moon goddess, so both stones carry a watery, lunar association in their names. Selenite's soft light has long suited that mood, and here the pairing is deliberate.

Selenite is a fibrous form of gypsum. Its translucency is why it glows when lit, and its structure is why you see fine parallel lines running through it. Aquamarine is the pale blue variety of beryl, left here in its rough, natural state. The two stones feel different, too: the aquamarine is hard and glassy, while selenite is very soft, at 2 on the Mohs scale, so a fingernail will mark it.

Selenite is water-soluble, so keep this lamp away from damp and humidity. That rules out the bathroom and the kitchen windowsill. Never wash or soak it. Dust it only when dry, using a soft brush or cloth, and handle the bars gently, as they can split along their natural cleavage. The lamp stands on its round black base, so a dry shelf, console or bedside surface works well.

The lamp runs from a fitted cable, which you can see in the photo. Lamps of this kind usually take a small-screw E14 bulb of around 15W, and they typically have an inline switch, but the exact bulb, whether one is included and the plug fitting (UK three-pin or EU two-pin) vary from item to item, so check the listing and the box on arrival. A traditional bulb gives off gentle warmth, so the lamp may feel warm to the touch after a while. That is normal.

It suits someone who likes mineral pieces on display, or anyone setting up a calm corner at home. It also works as a housewarming gift, since it adds a quiet focal point to a room without much fuss.