Love is a beautiful feeling and certain gemstones help us bring love in our lives. Following story is about one such stone- Rose Quartz written for the Solitaire Asia Pacific magazine Feb-March 2017 issue.

Known as the stone of unconditional love, the rose quartz is said to give off calming energy and a sense of inner peace. It evokes beauty and romance, allowing oneself to be open for love. Also referred to by many as “pink quartz”, its colour ranges from very pale pink to rose red due to the varying amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese. Mostly opaque, the rose quartz’s colour often appears milky, cloudy, or hazy, which deepens the shade and lends a slight adularescence effect, best described as a milky lustre or glow originating from below the surface of the gemstone.

Apart from its use in jewellery, the rose quartz is also a very attractive ornamental stone, and is frequently carved into figurines and ornate statues. With its soothing quality, this tranquil gemstone suits most people’s personalities, said to encourage sensitivity, compassion, and trust. Stripping away all negativity, the stone enhances self-love and self-worth, as one is said to love himself first in order to receive love from others.

First records of the rose quartz date back to 7000 BC in Mesopotamia. Ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Greek civilisations are believed to have used quartz crystals as potent talismans to signify ownership.

The stone is also known for its beautification and anti-ageing powers, as facial masks containing rose quartz have been recovered from Egyptian tombs. Egyptians and Romans believed the stone helped to clear the complexion and prevent wrinkles.

Coming back to 21st Century, the rose quartz was mostly used in semi-precious jewellery due to the stones’ abundant supply. But with Pantone announcing rose quartz as one of two Pantone Colours of the Year 2016, along with the lilac-flavoured Serenity, the jewellery fraternity suddenly took notice. With the whole fashion world leaning towards soft, pastel shades once again, the rose quartz was back on trend. Easy on the eyes, it reminds us of soft winter mornings when set in rose gold, like the pieces in the Rose Dior Pré Catelan collection, where delicate carved rose quartz rose flowers make for charming rings and pendants. Carved rose quartz has been an instant inspiration for many, including the Lily of the Valley floral pendant by Lalique.

Rose quartz is easy to pair with other gemstones, as evidenced by the pink pearl earrings with rose quartz by Yoko London. It also makes for an interesting jewellery when paired with earth colours, such as the stunning Hausmann & Co. ring studded with brown diamonds, or the lustrous earrings from Italian brand Moraglione, where rose quartz cabochons are paired with dark brown mother of pearl cabochons.

With Mohs hardness scale at 7, and due to its opaque colour, rose quartz is mostly cut in cabochons, beads, and drops. Only the few clear ones make it to faceted cuts. While Farah Khan and La Putri explore rose quartz drops for earrings, Tiffany & Co.’s Paloma Picasso features sugar loaf-cut for her famous sugar stack rings.

Although found in Madagascar, India, Germany, South Africa, and several parts of the USA, most of the world’s supply of good quality rose quartz come from Brazil. Native jewellery brand Brumani’s Baobab collection celebrates the home sourced rose quartz with large cabochon centred jewellery pieces surrounded by Brazilian pink tourmalines and diamonds in rose gold.

 

 

Tags: Beauty, Brimani, Dior, Farah Khan, Hausmann & Co, La Putri, Lalique, Love Stone, Moragoline, Pink Gemstone, Romance, rose quartz, Sette, tiffany, Yoko London