Stone Stories Part III: Rutilated Quartz

This series is intended as a love letter to the inspiration of many of my jewelry designs: rocks. With a little spit and polish, even the most humble stone can become precious. Instead of merely using traditional gemstones, I hunt for stones that in some way are like no other. As I seek to design and create one-of-a-kind adornments, I'm looking for ways to reflect the unique personality of the wearer. For me the value in these materials is their singular beauty. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about the stones I use, why I use them, and (for those who like the science) a little more information on how and where these stones are formed.

Story behind the stone: Rutilated Quartz

Why this stone?

Romantically dubbed Angel hair, or Venus hair, I love rutilated quartz for the dramatic bursts of color within clear quartz. I also love how quartz, one of the most common minerals on earth, is elevated to a highly sought after gem with the addition of these remarkable inclusions. Sometimes it is the imperfections that create the most stunning results.

I suppose this is the moment where I wax poetic, or philosophical, about the parallels between our human frailties and imperfect stones.

But I think you get it. 

We love them because they're interesting and different (both the stones and the humans we're attracted to).

If I were still the type of person who went to fancy parties or New Years' Eve celebrations, these are the stones I'd be draped in to set off that perfect black dress. These stones lend themselves to classically simple designs that make a bold, sophisticated statement. And they look especially amazing paired with yellow or rose gold and blackened silver for a distinctly Art Deco look.

I usually seek out very clean and transparent quartz with well-defined rutiles that don't overcrowd the stone. To me, even a few golden needles within an optic quartz is perfection! I try to keep designs featuring rutilated quartz available in my collections year round. 

This amazing stone is found in a variety of colors, including gold, red, green, blue and black.

Where it is found

The most highly prized specimens are found in Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, and the US, but can be found around the world, wherever quartz crystals are mined. Quality varies depending on where it is found, but the majority of the stones I carry come from Brazil, which has the reputation for high-quality rutilated quartz.

How it is formed

Rutilated quartz is a type of quartz crystal with needle- or hair-like inclusions of the mineral Rutile (titanium dioxide). These rutiles are gold or coppery brown in color, and form in parallel or starburst patterns. This happens when the rutiles are trapped within growing quartz crystal during specific geological processes, such as hydrothermal activities. The inclusion of different minerals causes the color variations in the rutiles. Hot silica-rich fluids flow into cracks and fissures and begin to crystalize around previously deposited rutile mineral, trapping the needle-like structures within the growing quartz crystals. The varying amounts of minerals combined with heat and pressure cause the unique coloration and arrangement of the inclusions present in the quartz. 

You can find more examples of my work featuring rutilated quartz in my Eye Candy collection.