Jewels

Each of the twelve puzzles in The Secret incorporate a different jewel, which is featured in each of the paintings. These correspond to twelve actual jewels, which were purchased by Byron Preiss to serve as rewards for successful treasure hunters. According to the rules of the treasure hunt, the finder of a casque can remove the key sequestered within, and redeem it for the corresponding jewel.

Within the lore of The Secret, each of these jewels (also referred to as “wonderstones” in the text) was brought to the New World by a different tribe of the Fair People, during their migration to North America. The (fictional) provenance of each gem is given in the Litany of the Jewels.

Observations

• Although they are never referred to as such in the text, the twelve jewels also correspond to “birthstones”, gems commonly associated with a particular month of the year.
• In some press interviews conducted during the launch of the book, Byron Preiss is quoted as saying the intrinsic value of the gems corresponds to the difficulty of the individual puzzles.

In-book Lore

As described in the Litany, the jewels are treasured cultural artifacts, each brought to the “New Found Land” by a different tribe of Fair Folk:

But of all the desires of the Fair People, there is one thing for which Man shares the same passion: Jewels. To the Fairies, gold is pretty enough stuff. It reminds them of sunlight dancing on water and of the turning leaves in autumn. (Catch a Leprechaun, they say, and demand of him his golden treasure: you'll sleep a hundred years and wake with dead leaves in your pocket—he keeps his word.)

Likewise, they cherish silver, for it puts them in mind of moonlight and icicles.

But precious stones they value for themselves; perhaps because, like them, gems are earthborn, rare, and beautiful. When it comes to jewelry (and the Fairies are great craftsmen of jewelry)—to rings and pendants, bracelets and necklaces, to broaches and inlaid dagger hilts, coronets and combs—the Fair People can be jealous, greedy, vain, quarrelsome, possessive, treacherous—almost, in a word, human.

When the Thirteen Nations of the Fair People came to the New Found Land, twelve tribes brought with them their chief pride and treasure: a gem from the Old World, a remembrance of their history and tradition.

Here are the “wonderstones”, in order of first mention:

Diamond

Described as

Africa’s Diamond, earth-born star Bright harvest of the midnight rock. (p. 21)

Observations

What is believed to be a diamond can be seen in the lower right-hand corner of Image 2, which is generally associated with the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

While the jewels in other paintings are integrated into larger graphic elements, the diamond in Image 2 is isolated, an image into itself.

Ruby

Described as

The Ruby out of Araby: Scarlet of desert sky at dawn. (p. 21)

Observations

What appears to be a ruby is centrally placed in Image 8, generally associated with Houston, Texas.

Pearl

Described as

From far Cathay, the dragon’s Pearl: Chaste, perfect as the silver moon. (p. 21)

Observations

• A pearl appears to be placed as if on a necklace in Image 1, which is generally associated with San Francisco.
• While the pearl is positioned as it would be on a necklace, no jewelry is apparent. Instead, the pearl hovers at the central figure’s throat.

Amethyst

Described as

Dwarves’ treasure: purple Amethyst,/Imperial star of Germany. (p. 20)

Emerald

Described as

Brilliant as eyes of Celtic folk,/Cold morning green, their Emerald. (p. 20)

Sapphire

Described as

The Hadas of Iberia:/Sapphire, shy as a wild field flower. (p. 20)