Handmade Jewelry - Rose Quartz

Pearl and Rose Quartz Necklace

Rose Quartz Earrings

Rose quartz is a sweet gemstone that is not uncommon and most forms are not terribly expensive. Its unique pink color makes it instantly recognizable even among people who are not familiar with gemstones. It is hazy to translucent, rarely clear. Personally I prefer rose quartz that is less clear and more opaque because generally the color is deeper. The more clear rose quartz is more expensive.
 

Rose quartz has long been considered a stone of the heart, of unconditional love, especially self love. As early as 600 B.C. it was used as a token of love and a talisman. It is said to heal emotional wounds, fears, resentments and gives a divine, loving energy to a person's whole being. Rose quartz awakens one's heart to the love within and therefore enables one to give love and receive love from others.
 

Rose quartz is, of course, a form of quartz, the most abundant single mineral in the earth's crust. The color most likely comes from titanium. It is an igenous rock, actually a form of magma, that forms deep within the crust of the earth and is gradually forced upward. It eventually cools and forms into crystals. In contrast, volcanoes and (igenous) volcanic rock is formed when magma erupts causing a volcano and lava flow.
 

Rose quartz is found in many places in the world, although most of the rose quartz we see is from Brazil. It is an excellent gemstone for carving, which the Chinese have been doing for centuries.
 

Rose quartz has a hardness of 7.0 on the Mohs scale, with 10 being the hardest.