Everything You Want to Know About Crystal Jewelry
Crystal jewelry never goes out of fashion. Find out more about these interesting baubles, where they come from and how you can get your hands on some.
Are you as passionate about gemstones as we are? It may surprise you to learn that the oldest gem ever discovered dates back 4.4 billion years! With gemstones being around since humans first set foot on Earth, it should come as no surprise that we find beauty in these tiny objects.
At that point, we decided it would be fun to go over some details you may not know about these beautiful rocks we all admire so much. So let's go over them all together now:
What Is Behind Our Addiction to Crystal Jewelry?
Short answer, yes.
Interestingly, the term 'crystal' derives from Greek 'Krystallos.' This refers to an ancient ice palace where Olympian gods resided - even sunlight could not melt this magnificent creation! Perhaps this explains why crystals are associated with value - fun fact!
Humans have always worn and used crystal jewelry. Since their existence, humans have worn and utilized crystal jewelry. arhitects found beads carved from mammoth ivory in graves located in Sungir, Russia that date back over 60,000 years!
Crystal Jewelry Is Loved Worldwide
Our love for crystal jewelry spans both geographical and timescale boundaries, while millennia ago! Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Your Favorite Crystals
All gemstones and crystals possess their own interesting histories that may surprise some people; just consider their immense age!
Check out the below examples, and you'll get the gist of what we mean:
Swarovski
Swarovski crystals aren't natural gems - instead, they're painstakingly handcrafted by humans in Austria. Daniel Swarovski created his first diamond (lead glass crystal) back in the late 1800s!
Swarovski Crystal Company has long been recognized as an industry standard in producing beautiful lead glass crystals fashioned with precision cutting machines like his.
Gems are composed of various minerals including sand, quartz and others; yet no one knows their exact composition! This has remained a company secret for centuries!
Over five generations, the Swarovski family has continued crafting crystals with the assistance of their factories and employees.
Garnet
For those of you unfamiliar, here are a few interesting facts about Garnet.
It serves as the birthstone for babies born in January and symbolizes couples celebrating their second wedding anniversary.Garnet comes from the Latin 'Garanatus,' meaning'seedlike,' which refers to pomegranate seeds!
Like many of the gems listed here, garnet has been around since antiquity with uses dating as far back as 3000 B.C!
Architects recently discovered beads crafted from garnet in the tomb of a young man - not only is this an incredible historical find but it also demonstrates its longevity as an investment stone.
Marcasite
Marcasite has been around for centuries, even dating back to ancient Inca tombs! Historians report finding examples of marcasite jewelry among them.
Incas apparently used gems like turquoise to craft reflective plates made out of this gem and used these pieces in worship rituals dedicated to Sun Gods.
Native American shamen also utilized marcasite, believing its healing properties to aid their work and accessing deeper into each patient's soul.
Moonstone
Hindu mythology states that moonstone is formed from solidified moonbeams. Additionally, many other cultures also associate this gemstone with moonlight.
Let's face it; the reason is plain to see.
Internal structures in stones shatter any light that hits them, creating what's known as "adularescence."
Subsequently, an intriguing visual effect occurs. This mimics the texture of a bright moon through scattered clouds - what an awesome sight!
Mystic Quartz
This gemstone first made its debut in the late 90's. However, we must stress that technically speaking this gem is coated white quartz - so technically speaking this stone does not qualify as an official gem type but instead serves as enhanced clear quartz.
Mystic quartz gets its jazzy name due to its striking colors that shift mystically, often appearing strange and unusual. These aesthetics typically boast rainbow-themed aesthetics; however, greens, blues and purples tend to dominate its aesthetics.
Amethyst
This gemstone first made its debut in the late 90's. However, we must stress that technically speaking this gem is coated white quartz - so technically speaking this stone does not qualify as an official gem type but instead serves as enhanced clear quartz.
Mystic quartz gets its jazzy name due to its striking colors that shift mystically, often appearing strange and unusual. These aesthetics typically boast rainbow-themed aesthetics; however, greens, blues and purples tend to dominate its aesthetics.
How to Care for Raw Stone Jewelry
It's no surprise that raw stones need cleaning. However, if you store your jewelry away correctly, it'll reduce the amount of dust that'll build upon your precious gems.
Despite this, you'll eventually need to give your crystals a proper clean. Needless to say the rougher the surface, the more difficult it'll be to wash.
This is our advice to you if you're thinking about cleaning your jewelry:
- First, place your precious gems under a weak stream of compressed air.
- Then, if your crystal isn't water-soluble or porous, allow your jewelry to soak in warm water. You should add a dash of mild detergent.
- Then, you can use a soft brush to remove any remaining dirt.
Then voila, your sparkling crystal jewelry should be shinier and brighter than ever!