Facts About Quartz Gemstones
Posted by Lisa Ramos on
Raw quartz.
If you are looking for an affordable gemstone, a quartz is a great choice. Jewelers around the world design with quartz gemstones because of their beauty, color variety and accessibility. To better understand the quartz gemstone let's take a look at the history behind the quartz, its meaning, the color options and how to care for the stone.
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What is the meaning of a quartz gemstone? Legend believes it dispels negativity and enhances spiritual receptivity. It is considered the preeminent healing crystal due to its ability to magnify or amplify the healing vibrations of other crystals.
What colors do quartz gemstones come in? The quartz gemstone comes in a variety of beautiful colors which include colorless, white, various shades of gray, orange, red, yellow, purple, violet brown, blue, green, pink and black.
Raw purple quartz known as an amethyst.
What is the most expensive quartz gemstone? The most expensive quartz is in the color purple. It is called an amethyst. Learn 10 Interesting Facts About The Amethyst Gemstone.
Where are quartz found in the world? The best quality quartz are found in the United States in Arkansas and in Brazil. Quartz are also found in China, Japan, and Russia (the world's primary producers of quartz). They are also found in Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
What is the largest quartz gemstone found? The discovery of the largest quartz gemstone happened in 1985 at Otjua mine near Karibib in Namibia. It weighs about 14,100 kg and the height and width is around 119 inches.
How much does a quartz gemstone cost? The average cost of a 1 carat quartz is $7.00. A amethyst gemstone starts at $20 - $50 per carat. The highest valued amethysts are referred as a "Siberian quality." This type of amethyst exhibits red and blue flashes on deep purple color.
How durable is a quartz stone? A gemstones durability is based on a scale called the Mohs Hardness Scale developed by Frederich Mohs in 1812. The scale measures the hardness of various minerals from 1 through 10 - one being the softest and ten the hardest. The quartz gemstone measures 7-7.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. A quartz gemstone is harder than glass.
How rare are quartz gemstones? A quartz is one of the most common minerals throughout the world. Therefore making the gemstone attainable and affordable for jewelers to design with.
How should you clean jewelry designed with quartz gemstones? You can clean a quartz piece of jewelry with warm water and mild soap. Always avoid steam cleaning and ultra-sonic cleaners. More jewelry care tips.
"Jewelry is always in style."
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This blog post is written by California Designer, Lisa Ramos who is a member of the International Gem Society (IGS) .