Agate

Agate Owl Box

Agate belongs to the quartz family, and more specifically, to that of microcrystalline quartz whose crystals are not visible to the naked eye. This variety includes various gems more generally grouped under the name of "chalcedony".

Where does the name “Agate” come from?

It would come from the Latin "Achates", a river in Sicily now called Dirillo, where this stone was mined in antiquity.

What are the colors of Agate?

Natural agate is, in the vast majority of cases, gray and devoid of any visible texture. It is only by having recourse to dyeing that the stones take on a liveliness of tone and reveal their texture.
The dyes used are generally inorganic, that is to say they have no animal or vegetable origin, because organic dyes fade in the light and the color obtained is less vivid.

Depending on the substance used, the agate will have a different color: The red dye is obtained using iron oxide, the yellow dye using iron chloride, the brown using either a solution of sugar and heating, or cobalt nitrate, the black dye results from carbon, the green from chrome and the blue from iron.
As the dye modifies the gem, the colored agates must be sold as such in commerce according to the rules of the CIBJO (International Confederation of Jewelery, Jewelry, Goldsmithing of Diamonds, Pearls and Stones) of 2007.

What is the symbolism of Agate?

Today, agate symbolizes toughness, luck and attachment.

Where does it come from?

Until the beginning of the 19th century, the most important agate deposits were located in Idar-Oberstein, in the Rhineland Palatinate (Germany). This site, now closed, produced stones of medium size but of a remarkable color: the agates did not need to be dyed afterwards.

Today, the main deposits are in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and in northern Uruguay. The color of the mined stones is mostly gray and requires dyeing.

How do I maintain my jewel set with an Agate?

As agate is sensitive to high heat and prone to dehydration, it is not recommended to clean its stone using steam or ultrasonic cleaning.
But mounted as a jewel, it is not a fragile stone. Water and washing-up liquid are enough to gently clean your jewellery.