Using Agates In Sterling Silver Jewelry

Agates are one of the most abundant semi-precious gems found on earth

. To anyone with basic knowledge in the field of geology, this comes as no surprise. That"s because agate is a form of quartz or silicon dioxide, the most widely found mineral on the surface of the earth. Many forms of quartz are used in fashion and fine jewelry today. Sterling pendants, earrings and bracelets with amethyst, agate, or jade focal stones have been, and continue to remain popular today. Gemstones in the quartz family are often distinguished from each other by the size of the crystals. Agate is a form of cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline quartz. Its crystals are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye or even moderate magnification. As opposed to this form of quartz, amethysts are a macrocrystalline form of quartz. The crystals in amethyst are quite large and are readily seen by the human eye.

The physical properties of agates are similar to those of the parent mineral "" quartz. Agates typically rate a hardness of 7 to 9 on the Mohs" Scale. Pure quartz crystals are colorless. However, the presence of secondary minerals of impurities add color to agates. The color of the stone is directly dependent on the impurities. For example, iron compounds typically cause the agate to have a reddish brown color. The presence of chromium can try the stone green while copper may make the agate specimen green. As you would expect, stones that have bright colors and interesting patterns are more valuable and sought after for fashion jewelry designs. This demand for colored agates has led some designers to dye stones. However, even when done by experts under highly controlled conditions, dyed specimens can be easily spotted even by the novice gemologist. This is because the dye darkens the veins or preferential flowpaths with the stone, but also bleeds into the adjacent parts of the stone. Therefore, the stone achieves the same color throughout with darker veins.

When used in fashion jewelry such as pendants and earrings, raw agates must first be processed before being fitted into a setting. This process usually involves selecting the best specimens, cleaning them to show off their true colors, and then cutting and polishing the stone. Stones that have a uniform color are typically facet-cut to add sparkle and interest to the stone. On the other hand, Botswana agates, or other specimens with interesting and eye-catching colors and patterns are generally smooth cut to best display their beauty. Since agates are quite hard, they are usually polished to a high shine.

by: Dale Arnold

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