There are many classifications of quartz. What follows are descriptions of some of the quartz types that you will find in our jewellery designs.

The colour purple is traditionally the colour of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs and rulers. Today, amethyst is a lovely and affordable gemstone that is fortunately available in a wide variety of cut and uncut stones that we can all possess and admire

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is a popular gemstone. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek and means "not drunken." This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like colour of some stones that they may have encountered. Its colour is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its colour and beauty. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades.

Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its colour and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster.

However, amethyst is not the same everywhere. Different localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine. Experts can often identify the source mine that a particular amethyst came from. The key to this is the specimen's colour, shape of crystal, inclusions, associations and character of formation.

A Greek legend tells the tale of its origin. The god of wine, Bacchus, was insulted one day by a mere mortal. He swore the next mortal that crossed his path would be attacked by fierce tigres. Along came a beautiful maiden named Amethyst. Goddess Diana turned Amethyst into a beautiful statue of quartz to save her from the tiger's claws. Remorseful, Bacchus wept tears of wine over the stone maiden, creating a lively purple stone.

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Blue quartz, despite its beauty, is actually a clear colourless quartz that has been dyed a pale blue.

Rock crystal is the name given to all clear colourless quartz. It is widely used as a popular ornamental stone and is also used as a gemstone. Although it is one of the lest expensive gemstones, cut rock crystal has been used as imitation diamonds. Rock crystal lacks the fire, colour (of course) and the rarity to be ranked as a fine precious gemstone. None-the-less, rock crystal is in wide use as a gemstone due to its beauty, affordability, availability and ease of cutting.

The largest use for rock crystal is in ornamental carvings. The most well known ornamental carving for rock crystal is the crystal ball of fortune telling fame. While rock crystal is common it is hard to find large crystals of quartz with the clarity and size required for crystal balls that most of us associate with fortune tellers.Rock crystal is used for many ornamental carvings from spheres (crystal balls) to pyramids to obelisks to figurines to eggs to bowls to wands. There are many fine chandeliers that are outfitted with rock crystal ornaments.

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Citrine's colour ranges from a pale yellow to a deep orange. The yellow colour comes from the presence of iron, with a darker colour indicating a higher grade.

Its name comes from the french word citron (lemon).

Care and treatment: Citrine can be easily scratched. Citrine permanently changes colour if left in the sunlight for several hours, hence citrine jewellery should be kept away from prolonged exposure to strong light or heat.

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Rose quartz is one of the most desirable varieties of quartz. The pink to rose red colour completely unique, unlike any other pink mineral species. The colour is caused by iron and titanium impurities.

Rose quartz is used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. Although rose quartz is usually too cloudy to be used as a cut gemstone, a few exceptional pieces are found with enough clarity and colour to make fine gems. Most gemmy rose quartz is used as cabochons where the clarity is not as important as the colour. Rose quartz is also a very attractive ornamental stone and is carved into popular spheres, pyramids, obelisks, figurines and ornate statues.

Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, India, Germany and several localities in the USA. Much rose quartz was extracted from a famous site near Custer, South Dakota, but now, most of the worlds supply of good carvable rose quartz comes from Brazil.

Brazil is also the only source of true well formed crystals of rose quartz. All rose quartz was believed to be only massive, found primarily in the cores of pegmatites. This lack of crystals is somewhat of a curiosity because quartz crystallizes into well formed crystals in all its other macroscopic varieties. So amazing are the rose quartz crystals that the first ones discovered were dismissed as fakes by mineralogists from around the world.

Rock crystal quartz, the most common gem variety of quartz crystal, like all quartz, formed from the two most abundant elements in the earth's crust: silicon and oxygen. For centuries early civilizations believed that these rock crystals were permanently frozen ice. Their thermal conductivity makes it feel cool to the touch, adding to this belief. Regardless of what early people may have believed, historical records show the use of rock crystal for decoration and jewellery for at least 4000 year. Tools and weapons were made from rock crystal long before it was used for decoration and jewellery.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's, metaphysical uses and applications of rock crystal resulted in an increase in its production and processing. The metaphysical market used raw crystal in jewelry, person power and healing devices, and as charms.

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