The Story Behind the Stone: Crazy for crystal clear… crystal

Good ol’ quartz; the second most abundant mineral on the planet. Only feldspar takes the lead in our earth’s plentiful components. This copious material has been the stuff of jewelry and carving for centuries.

Although celebrated for the profuse variety of colors it has, quartz also comes in pure colorless (called rock crystal) and translucent milky quartz which can be an attractive jewel for modern designers to embrace. Actually, milky quartz is probably the most common variety of crystalline quartz. Interestingly, its milky effect is the result of minute gas, liquid, or both trapped within the crystal, rendering a dreamy cloud-like appearance to the stone.

Both colorless and milky quartz are found in imaginative designers creations. Its interesting, appealing qualities make it ideally suited for selections in both stylish manufactured jewelry lines and couture one-offs. Your customers who prefer the monochromatic and neutral look to their accessories will embrace this ever popular stone with its broad updated vibe.

Award winning trade journalist and gemologist Diana Jarrett is a Registered Master Valuer Appraiser and a member of the Association of Independent Jewellery Valuers (AIJV). She’s a popular speaker at conferences and trade shows. Jarrett writes for trade and consumer publications, online outlets, her blog: Color-n-Ice, and www.jewelrywebsitedesigners.com. Contact her at info@dianajarrett.com, visit her website at www.dianajarrett.com, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (Loupey).