Chalcedony in Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Chalcedony is such a nice, smooth stone. To me it has a placid, gentle quality. It is quite versatile and makes wonderful handmade gemstone jewelry. It's actually a group of mycrocrystsalline quartzes in which the crystals are so tiny they appear as a solid mass.

Forms of chalcedony include many varieties of agate, bloodstone, carnelian, jasper, blue chalcedony, sard, sardonyx, onyx and chrysoprase, among others. Because of their link to quartz, even tiger's eye, amethyst, cats eye quartz, and in an indirect way, precious opal are related to chalcedony. The members of the chalcedony group are translucent to opaque and are cut in a variety of ways.

Chalcedony is mined in Turkey and Namibia as well as other places in the world. When we think of chalcedony, we probably think most commonly of blue chalcedony. The best blue chalcedony in the world is mined in the western United States. Chalcedony is also found in a great variety of colors such as lavender, white, yellow, pink, brown and red.

Chalcedony has been used throughout history. It was used in ancient Rome in seals and signet rings. Before ancient Rome it was used by ancient mariners for protection. It was also worn in many cultures as protection from the "evil eye". During the Victorian era it was carved into cameos.

The healing properties of chalcedony are believed to include emotional balance, stamina, energy, friendliness, increased generosity and good will. Blue chalcedony has a gentle energy which balances mind, body, and spirit, while reducing hostility and irritation.

Chalcedony has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on Mohs scale or hardness, with 10 being the hardest.