Quartz is a beautiful, transparent, and durable gemstone with a glorious history dating back thousands of years. Did you know? Rose Quartz beads from 7000 BC have been discovered in Mesopotamia.

In Greek mythology, it was believed that these elegant stones were formed from ice.  Sunglasses crafted from smoky Quartz crystal were used as eye protection thousands of years ago in China . The stone also shares a history with the Celts, who used to mine this stone in the Scottish Highlands. 

It is as if the beauty of Quartz withstood the test of time.

What is Quartz?

Quartz is a semi-precious mineral composed of silicon and oxygen. It is the second most abundant mineral in the earth’s continental crust. The stone finds application in a variety of jewelry designs and crystal healing treatments.

Origin of Quartz

The word ‘Quartz’ is derived from the German word 'Quarz', which further has a Slavic and Polish origin. Quarz means hard, which associates with Quartz crystals’ quality of being incredibly hard and durable . There are shreds of evidence that show the use of Quartz for making tools in the prehistoric era.  In the middle ages, the Europeans used it for building tombs.

What are the types of Quartz?

Although all Quartz crystals have the same chemical composition (SiO₂), they differ in their crystal formations and classes. Quartz crystals are broadly classified into two groups: Macrocrystalline Quartz and Cryptocrystalline Quartz.

Macrocrystalline Quartz crystals have a transparent to translucent appearance. They have larger crystals that the naked eye can easily observe. Examples of macrocrystalline Quartz are amethyst, cat’s eye, citrine, blue Quartz, hawk’s eye, Rose Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Tiger’s eye, rock crystal, and prasiolite.

Cryptocrystalline Quartz has microscopically small crystals, which can be difficult to observe even with magnifying tools. Cryptocrystalline Quartz, intergrown with Moganite, further represents the Chalcedony group of gemstones that includes agate, bloodstone, onyx, jasper, chrysoprase, and carnelian. These crystals are usually opaque or translucent.

Where is Quartz found?

Quartz deposits are found across the world in large quantities. Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Madagascar, Australia, Scotland are known for their high-quality macrocrystalline Quartz crystals. Macrocrystalline Quartz is also found in Mexico, Myanmar, Russia, the United States, Uruguay, Zambia, Finland, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa.

Cryptocrystalline Quartz crystals are commonly found in Australia, Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, India, Mongolia, Tanzania, the USA, Mexico, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Properties of Quartz

Despite being hard, Quartz is an extremely versatile gemstone that can be carved into many shapes and sizes. It is a hexagonal-R (trigonal) crystallographic structure. Well-formed Quartz crystals can reach several meters in length and weigh over a hundred kilograms!

What is the hardness of Quartz?

Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Other gemstones are often compared with Quartz to classify them as hard, soft, or durable.

How is Quartz formed?

Quartz is formed deep inside the Earth’s crust due to the crystallization of Silicon and Oxygen. It is commonly found in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rock deposits and is often a major constituent of Granite. The crystals occur as horizontal hexagonal prisms surrounded by negative and positive rhombohedrons, resulting in a six-sided pyramid.

What are the 4Cs of Quartz?

Color: The prime Quartz crystals, known as rock crystals, are often clear and colorless. Quartz also occurs in a variety of vivid colors such as purple (Amethyst), pink (Rose Quartz), gray, black, and brown (Smoky Quartz). Deep colors are considered highly valuable as compared to the colorless variants.

Cut: Quartz is often cut into round shapes or cabochons to enhance its brilliant color. The crystal is also cut into round, oval, marquise, square, princess cut, and pear shapes for making statement jewelry.

Clarity: Quartz is transparent and possesses a vitreous luster. Inclusions such as carbon dioxide, water, and other trace elements can form a geometrical or layered stone pattern. These inclusions are generally undesirable except when they form a characteristic pattern in the stone, such as in Cat’s eye.  Cryptocrystalline Quartz has a dull, waxy appearance. 

Crystals that are free from inclusions and have a clear, shiny luster are extremely rare.

Carat Weight: Macrocrystalline Quartz occurs in large sizes, while cryptocrystalline Quartz has a small size. Quartz used for jewelry weighs between 3-6 carats. Ornamental Quartz stones have a carat weight between 12-14 carats.

What is Quartz used for?

Industrial Uses: Quartz is used in electrical components, optical lenses, and radio oscillators. It is also used as an abrasive and a building stone. Tiny Quartz crystals find their application in clocks and watch for controlling the radio frequency.

Jewelry: Ornamental jewelry and sculptures made from Quartz are used for decorative purposes. Its magnificent clarity makes it well-suited for diamond imitation jewelry. 14K, 18K, and 21K yellow gold and sterling silver ornaments often incorporate Quartz crystals. Quartz beads make for excellent necklaces, rings, bracelets, and many accessories.

Healing: Clear Quartz crystal is often known as the ‘master healer crystal’ and is used as a power source to combat negativity by crystal healers. It is also believed that the stone can help tune your body’s frequency to a healthier, natural state. Quartz is known to energize both gross and subtle bodies.

Quartz Metaphysical Properties

Crystal healers claim that clear Quartz can amplify your energy and intentions. It is also used to enhance and strengthen the human body’s aura. Rose Quartz can be used to bring inner happiness, love, compassion, and balance emotions. It also functions as a healing stone to deal with emotional grief and trauma.

Amethyst and rutilated Quartz crystals are used as protection from negative energies. Citrine is known to boost your self-confidence and help you take on challenges.

What Chakra is Quartz Associated with?

Clear Quartz is used to cleanse, activate, and align the body’s chakras. Smoky Quartz is associated with the root and plexus chakras, while amphibole Quartz is connected to the third eye chakra. Rose Quartz is known to open the heart chakra to unconditional love.

Quartz Birthstones and Anniversaries

Rose Quartz is known as the birthstone for Taurians. Crystal Quartz or rock crystals are recommended as birthstones for Leos. Amethyst is the birthstone for people born in February, while Citrine is the birthstone for people born in November.

Spiritual healers recommend that Amethyst can be gifted to your partner on the sixth and ninth anniversaries to strengthen your bond. Citrine is considered as the symbol of 11 or 13 years of marriage.

Quartz Gemstone Care

If you have harder gems in your collection, avoid storing them with Quartz as it can lead to scratches and wear. Also, do not store softer gems with Quartz as it can damage the softer stones. Always store your stones in a fabric-lined box that has individual pockets.

You must regularly clean your stones with warm water, mild soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.  Avoid wearing Quartz if you’re doing manual work or handling detergent and chemicals. Do not use steam or ultrasonic cleaners to clean your stones.

How can you tell if Quartz is real?

Certain synthetic, heat-treated Quartz crystals have a dark tip and a white base. If you have a synthetic, dyed crystal, you will observe the accumulation of color in the cracks. Generally, glass is sold off as Quartz. If you want to differentiate between real Quartz and glass, look for trapped bubbles. Glass may have trapped bubbles inside, while such bubbles are not generally observed in Quartz. Quartz is also quite resistant to scratches, so a simple scratch test can also help identify Quartz.

Where to Buy Quartz Gemstone?

Quartz is fairly abundant and can be bought from jewelry and gem shops. Online stores such as GemsforJewels, can help you buy unique, distinctive cuts and colors that you can add to your jewelry collection.

Why GemsforJewels?

GemsforJewels is known for high-quality gemstones at the most affordable prices. We offer a handpicked collection of precious and semi-precious gemstones in the widest variety of shapes and colors. The wide range of options at GemsforJewels can help you find the perfect stone that aligns with your preferences.