Quartz is a mineral present on most continents, which explains its strong presence in different cultures across the planet.

For example, in ancient Greece, the philosopher Theophrastus thought that quartz was a variety of ice so cold that it could not melt. This would explain the etymology of the word “crystal”, in ancient Greek “krystallos” which means “ice”.

Thus each culture has a different meaning to this mineral. In Japan, it symbolized purity and patience among scholars. Some even believed that quartz was alive and breathed only once every 100 years. According to Scottish and Irish popular beliefs, these small crystals would have such an important power that they could cure cows. Or in Egypt, quartz was used in funeral rituals, especially for the passage of souls.

 

Rough rock crystal

The large family of quartz is divided into two groups: macrocrystallized quartz and microcrystallized quartz.

Names of the various quartz according to their color:

• The rock crystal is colorless
• Amethyst is violet. Until the 18th century, it was considered as a precious stone in the same way as diamond, ruby, emerald or sapphire.
• Citrine is yellow
• Prasiolite is green, its color is often obtained by heat treatment of an amethyst
• Smoky quartz is brown
• Morion is black
• Rose quartz is pink of course.

There is also ametrine, a famous stone known for its bicolor aspect: yellow and purple. The most beautiful and most prized are those from Bolivia.

The more saturated the color, the higher the value of the stone.

 

There are also the so-called “inclusion quartz”! Each inclusion quartz has a different name.

The different inclusion quartz :

• Venus hair quartz: Inclusions of golden rutile needles.

• The tourmaline quartz: inclusions of black tourmaline

• The green aventurine: inclusions of fuchsite.
• The blue aventurine: inclusions of dumortierite
• The brown aventurine: inclusions of hematite
• Falcon’s eye: inclusions of blue crocidolite (non-oxidized crocidolite) Crocidolite corresponds to asbestos.
• Tiger’s eye: inclusions of golden crocidolite (crocidolite in the process of oxidation)
• Bull’s eye: inclusions of reddish crocidolite (oxidized crocidolite)

Some more or less known jewelry set with quartz:

Cartier amethyst and turquoise necklace of Wallis Simpson

Cartier tiara in citrines and diamonds

Hopi ring, the hummingbird in citrines, diamonds and emeralds Boucheron

Name of the microcrystallized quartz according to their color:

• chalcedony: its first color is blue but there are other colors

– agate (zonations of several colors), some agates have characteristic inclusions: The moss agate with its inclusions of green chlorite giving the impression of the presence of moss inside. And dentritic agate with its inclusions of dendrite (manganese oxide) in the form of leaves, some are also called landscape agate.

– chrysoprase (green)

– carnelian (orange)

Carnelian and Diamonds Vintage Toi & Moi Ring

– onyx (black)

Caution! Many chalcedony and chrysoprase are dyed chalcedony. That is, they have been dipped in blue or green dye to improve the color.

• Jasper: It exists in many colors but not in blue! This stone is composed of clay.

Quartz is one of the most common minerals on earth, it is a silicon dioxide.

The main deposits of quartz are in Brazil, Madagascar, Auvergne (for amethysts) and even in the Alps. Alpine quartz is famous since the time of the Romans. They crystallized in what are called “alpine cracks”.

Quartz is also used in other fields than jewelry creation. Indeed, it is often found in the electronics industry. For example, in the design of components for electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, cameras and televisions.

 

If you are interested in jewels with quartz, don’t hesitate to discover what les Pierres de Julie have to offer in the store…

We are also available for any free expertise of your vintage jewelry, for that you can send an email with your photos to contact@lespierresdejulie.com.

Whether you're interested in buying a piece of jewellery or a stone, a free jewelry appraisal or jewelry resale, Pierres de Julie welcomes you to its Parisian boutique in the Village Suisse, a stone's throw from the Ecole Militaire and the Esplanade des Invalides.