Information
INTRODUCING QUARTZ
One of the most important – and abundant – minerals on earth is undoubtedly Quartz.
There are two core types of Quartz macrocrystalline (which includes Amethyst, Blue Quartz and Tiger’s Eye) and cryptocrystalline (including Agate – when mixed with Moganite)
Whatever the type, this stone is extremely versatile – and can be carved, cut and polished into a multitude of shapes and sizes. It has been used for centuries in Jewellery and ornament making, and is now used in many vital industrial applications.
Natural Quartz
COLOUR, CLARITY & CUT
The colour of macrocrystalline Quartz is as wide-ranging as the colour spectrum itself – yet it is clear Quartz which is the most predominantly-found colour, closely followed by a snow white, or slightly cloudy, milky colour. On the other hand, cryptocrystalline Quartz can host multiple colours within a single stone.
Other quartz specimens have their own name – including Amethyst for purple stones, Rose Quartz for pinkish gems, and Smoky Quartz for deep grey or brown stones.
These gems are frequently cut as brilliant rounds due to their unique distribution of colours. This maximises the effect and makes for a truly memorable stone. When the colours are more evenly distributed, other fancy and classic cuts can be used.
QUARTZ GEMSTONE PROPERTIES:
| Chemical Formula: | SiO2, Silicon dioxide |
| Crystal Structure: | a-quartz: trigonal ß-quartz: hexagonal |
| Color: | Colorless, various colors from clear to black |
| Hardness: | 7 on the Mohs scale |
| Refractive Index: | 1.544 – 1.553 |
| Density: | 2.65; 2.59–2.63 in impure forms |
| Cleavage: | Indistinct |
| Transparency: | Transparent to opaque |
| Double Refraction or Birefringence: | 0.009 |
| Luster: | Vitreous, waxy to dull |
| Fluorescence: | Usually none |
VALUE
For the most part, Quartz stones are durable and attractive in equal measures, fairly inexpensive, and readily available in sizes uncommon with other gems.
However some Quartz varieties can be extremely rare intensifying their value dramatically, especially those which are deep in colour.
Visit our dubai online shopping and we can assist you with the right information about the value of Quartz and about any other gold stones.
ORIGINS & IMITATIONS
Quartz stones can be minded from many locations around the globe – with notable deposits being located in Austria, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and the USA – and can reach incredibly large sizes.
The gemstone is one of the first to be grown by man – due to scientific developments which occurred throughout the Second World War. This synthetic manufacture allowed Quartz to be used in a variety of applications such as within radios. Nowadays, manmade Quartz is extensively used throughout the electronic sand manufacturing industries.
NAME, FAME & LEGEND
It is probable that the gem owes its name to the German word ‘Quarz’, which in turn is probably derived from the Polish and Slavic words for ‘hard’.
Leonardo da Vinci – a leading intellectual and artist of the Italian Renaissance – wrote that Amethyst could thoughts of evil and speed up a person’s intelligence.
In earlier days, the gem was a preferred stone within the Christian church; and was consequently nicknamed the “the stone of bishops”. Long a favorite of royals, Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom features amethyst gems, and the stones were lso by Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty.
