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by Julie Lee of Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC.
Lavender chalcedony, a
translucent to opaque alternative among purple gemstones.
The new lavender chalcedony from Nevada isn't as new as it
man seem. It was first introduced in the mid 1990's. Called purple-sage agate,
it was cut to feature its frequent tree-patterned dendrite inclusions. The
special effects of the stone were to help it rival other exotic quartzes with
mineral inclusions such as rutile needles and tourmaline crystals.
Recently the stone has returned, but with a new name and a
new look. Now labeled lavender chalcedony, it is being cut to show off its
lilac-purple body color and capitalize on nonstop demand for Namibia's heathery
slate-blue chalcedony. The dendrite inclusions are no longer a feature of the
stones.
Chalcedony, of any color, is named for the ancient seaport
of Chalcedon (now Kadikoy, Turkey). It has a long history in jewelry.
Archaeologists have dug up Babylonian and Assyrian chalcedony cylinder-seals
dating from 2500 to 500BC.
Many cultures have thought chalcedony a powerful talisman.
Greek seafarers in the third or fourth century AD wore chalcedony and carbuncle
amulets to avoid drowning. In the eighteenth century, chalcedony was to
nighttime apparitions what garlic was to vampires. People believed someone
seeing the nocturnal phantoms took in disease or evil humors through their eyes,
but that the alkaline content of chalcedony would remove them.
Chalcedony is abundant; every country has many kinds.
Lavender chalcedony is mined in the US. Among all varieties you will find
semi-transparent to opaque stones. The wide range of colors and markings and low
cost make it a favorite with gem and rock collectors.
The popularity of lavender chalcedony is driven by an
insatiable need for gemstone diversity. The choice for chalcedony is based first
and foremost on its good looks. However, this material is also appealing because
of its chemical properties. It has a reliable hardness around 7 on the Mohs
Hardness Scale and it has enviable toughness because of its high crystal fiber
content.
Jewelry by
Julie's Jewels offer you lavender
chalcedony which is translucent to
opaque, in medium powder lavender hues. These stones have been described as
having a soft, milky luster with a pastel color quality. We currently carry
round, oval, trillion, and antique square shapes in medium dome cabochons.
Julie Lee is a web designer and founder of
Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC. Julie's Jewels is a
Texas based retail jewelry company specializing in high quality, affordable
jewelry pieces created to be treasured for a lifetime.
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