History Main / GlowingGem

** The plane of Ikoria is filled with magical crystals, some the size of small mountains, which glow when the plane's giant monsters come near them. Humanity has learned to use them as early warning systems -- long as the gems are inert, things are... mostly safe; when they start shining, it's time to grab your weapons.

** In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', the three Silmaril gems were made from the light of the two towering trees that used to light the world before the time of the moon and sun, causing the gems to glow perpetually. The light is so pure that the gems burn any evil being that touches them. One of the gems was eventually made into a star (implied to be the planet Venus; see [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurvandil here]]).
** In ''Literature/TheHobbit'' the Arkenstone of Thráin (a.k.a. the Heart of the Mountain) is described as shining with its own inner light. Some {{Fanon}} holds that it is one of the previously mentioned Silmarils, though this is somewhat tenuous.

* ''Film/Explorers'': The green gem given by the alien had a special glow and sound that accompanies it.

** In ''Literature/TheHobbit'' the Arkenstone of Thrain (a.k.a. the Heart of the Mountain) is described as shining with its own inner light. Some {{Fanon}} holds that it is one of the previously mentioned Silmarils, though this is somewhat tenuous.

** ''Dreamlands'' campaign setting, adventure "Pickman's Student". While exploring the dream version of Elder Yuggoth, the {{PC}}s can encounter 4 dully glowing green gems that some Mi-go are using to restrain a Dark Young of Shub-Niggurath. Later on the {{PC}}s see one of the Mi-go sacrifice the Dark Young with a knife that has a blade made of the glowing gemstone.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}''.: In the ''[=MegaTraveller=] Journal'' magazine #3, article "Races of the Domain: Crenduthaar", Chagas gems are a crystallized mineral salt found on the planet Thaar that can be as large as a human fist. They are blood-red, translucent and contain a pulsing inner light.

** Power Gem is a rock move that uses the gemstone's glow as an attack. Naturally, Staryu and Starmie are able to learn it as can other Pokémon that have gems on their bodies, such as Sableye, Persian, Grumpig and Probopass. Notably, it's one of few Rock-type attacks that aren't physical, and one of very few attacks of the type that have 100% base accuracy.

** The art for [[https://scryfall.com/card/a25/229/prophetic-prism Prophetic Prism]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/10e/314/chromatic-star Chromatic Star]] depicts these artifact gems as emitting rainbow light. It's {{Justified|Trope}} in that they are {{Mana}}-altering artifacts, capable of turning energy into death, holy or elemental {{Mana}}, which is almost always depicted on cards as bright white/gold, black, red, green or blue light.

* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', the giant red gemstone in the lamp chamber of the Cave of Wonders illuminates its altar without any other apparent source of light. This could simply be magic of some kind, considering the nature of the cave.

!!Examples

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''

[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]

** In ''Literature/TheHobbit'' the Arkenstone of Thrain (a.k.a. the Heart of the Mountain) is described as shining with its own inner light. Some {{Fanon}} holds that it is one of the previously mentioned Silmarils though this is somewhat tenuous.

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''

* As the acronym indicates,[[note]]Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation - Technically a laser which produces its own light doesn't fit the description, but "LOSER" never caught on for some strange reason....[[/note]] lasers ''increase'' the amount of light effectively available by making the photons work with, rather than against, each other. The first laser was a(n artificial) ruby.

* In [[Music/PinkFloyd a very famous song]], Roger Waters famously (metaphorically) described his friend Syd Barratt in such a fashion:

!!Examples:

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'':

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':

** ''Magazine/{{Dungeon}}'' magazine:

* In Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'', the giant red gemstone in the lamp chamber of the Cave of Wonders illuminates its altar without any other apparent source of light. This could simply be magic of some kind, considering the nature of the cave.

* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' the art for [[https://scryfall.com/card/a25/229/prophetic-prism Prophetic Prism]] and [[https://scryfall.com/card/10e/314/chromatic-star Chromatic Star]] depicts these artifact gems as emitting rainbow light. It's {{Justified|Trope}} in that they are {{Mana}}-altering artifacts, capable of turning energy into death, holy or elemental {{Mana}}, which is almost always depicted on cards as bright white/gold, black, red, green or blue light.

* In Marvel comics there's a subterranean Valley of Diamonds that literally shines blindingly. Daredevil takes a few as restitution for Mole Man grave robbing to use as shining markers on the graves of his victims.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:'' The Infinity Stones are six glowing gems of various colors.

* In ''[[Literature/SherlockHolmes The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle]]'', the titular gemstone is described as "a brilliantly scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric point".

* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' the art for [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=366262 Prophetic Prism]] and [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=135279 Chromatic Star]] depicts these artifact gems as this. It's {{Justified|Trope}} in that they are {{Mana}}-altering artifacts, capable of turning energy into death, holy or elemental Mana, which is almost always depicted on cards as bright white/gold, black, red, green or blue light.

* ''Arduin'' RPG. ''The Compleat Arduin Book 2: Resources'':

** The Greater Demon Zyrax, the Dark Oracle has an artifact: a large magickal ring carved from a single ruby that glows with its own fire.

Subtrope of FantasticLightSource. Can sometimes overlap with PowerCrystal via PowerGlows.

!!Examples

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Film]]

[[folder: Folklore and Mythology]]
* In the Myth/RussianMythologyAndTales, large gems, specifically the ''byliny'', are commonly attributed with the ability to emit light and are used in that capacity by the bogatyrs to light the way.
* In medieval folklore, it was held that an absolutely perfect ruby would glow from within, like a red-hot coal.
* ''Literature/GestaDanorum'', book VIII: When Thorkill, on his voyage to Utgard-Loki, goes to explore an unknown shore in a region of eternal darkness, he fixes a gleaming jewel to the mast of his ship to mark the way back.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Toys]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

** Power Gem is a rock move that uses the gemstone's glow as an attack. Naturally, Staryu and Starmie are able to learn it as can other Pokémon that have gems on their bodies, such as Sableye, Persian, Grumpig and Probopass.

*** Issue #26 adventure "Nine-Tenths of the Law". In the BackStory, Artanal the Mage cast a Magic Jar spell on a ruby in order to use it to transfer his soul to another person's body. The ruby glows brightly while any person's soul is in it.

*** Issue #26 adventure "Nine-Tenths of the Law". In the BackStory, Artanal the Mage cast a Magic Jar spell on a ruby and used to store his soul. The ruby glows brightly while his soul is in it.

* The Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald, both from the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, frequently glow, particularly when used to give power to someone or something.

* The Chaos Emeralds, and the Master Emerald if it's present and whole, from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' are typically portrayed as this. Not surprising since they're all supposed to be fonts of unimaginable power.

* The Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald, both from the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise, frequently glow, particularly when used to give power to someone or something.