Gem Library

BUYER’S OVERVIEW:
Rutilated Quartz is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone. While Quartz makes up 12% of the earths crust, the availability of Rutilated Quartz is very limited and it can be hard to come by, although good size, clear, natural stones are available. Rutilated Quartz never fails to fascinate with its many fine gold threads of rutile needles intersecting in interesting and random ways throughout the crystal and brought into clear focus by the magnifying effect of the surrounding quartz. Let your gaze fall onto a beautiful piece of Rutilated Quartz and you will surely fall in love with it.

COLOR:
The surrounding Quartz will typically be colorless and the rutile needles will be golden or red in color.

APPEARANCE:
Transparent with eye-visible, needle-like crystal inclusions of rutile.

SIZE RANGE:
1 to 20 carats, gems over 1000 carats are known.

TYPICAL CUTTING STYLES:
Transparent: cabochons, beads and carvings.

POSSIBLE ENHANCEMENTS & TREATMENTS:
Rutilated Quartz has no known enhancements.

HARDNESS:
7 on the Mohs scale.

BEST USE OF THE GEMSTONE:
Rutilated Quartz can be used in all types of jewelry.

CARE & CLEANING:
It is best to never expose colored gemstones to cleaning solvents or chemicals of any kind.
Common cleaning methods include:
Ultrasonic: never
Steamer: never
Warm soapy water: safe but do not soak as some surface rutile crystals may allow liquid to enter the gem.
Reaction to Chemicals: can be damaged by acids.
Reaction to Heat: heat may melt the stone’s rutile crystals.
Stability to Light: generally stable after prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV light.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GEMSTONE:
The name Rutilated comes from the Latin word “rutilus” meaning ruddy and Quartz comes from the Saxon word “Querklufterz”, which means cross vein ore. Rutilated Quartz is found all over the world including major deposits in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan and the United States. One of the main components of Rutile is Titanium, a metal used in many high tech alloys found in the aerospace industry and quite unique and valuable in its own right. Over the years, Rutilated quartz has been referred to as Cupid’s darts, Venus hair stone and Fleches d’amour (love arrows), all for good reason, Rutilated Quartz is fascinating to look into, you never know what you will see.



DESIGNATION:
Rutilated Quartz has a long history but no traditions associated with it.

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