“Prasiolite - what kind of stone is this?” - the first question that can be heard from people who are not familiar with this wonderful mineral. It must be said right away that this is a natural stone, not a synthesized one.
Other names for prasiolite are onion or green amethyst . Its color is unique and comes in different shades of green.
History and origin
The history of the stone is very rich. The discoverers of the mineral are considered to be the ancient Greeks, who 2.5 thousand years ago used “onion stone” in making jewelry .
Prasiolite owes its name to its property of losing color intensity when exposed to sunlight. After fading, its gamma is close to the color of leeks.
The Middle Ages retained an aura of mystery around green amethyst. It was believed that the stone has magical properties and is capable of endowing the owner with insight and wisdom .
By the way, a brooch with a green amethyst, received by Catherine II from the Polish king Stanislav II, was the favorite decoration of the great empress.
There is evidence that Catherine did not part with the gift. Esotericists explain Catherine’s success as a politician and strategist precisely with his help.
How to distinguish a natural prasiolite stone from a fake one?
Determining the naturalness of prasiolite is incredibly difficult. It is better to seek professional help. Jewelry craftsmen work exclusively with natural prasiolite. Each decoration is one-of-a-kind. After all, there are few natural stones.
To identify a fake, you should study the proposed product in detail. Similar items cannot be presented. Each of them has exceptional appearance, carving and finishing. It is worth noting that artificial prasiolites are not much inferior to natural ones. They have wonderful characteristics. Experts try to produce samples whose composition formula is close to the original.
Physical properties
Prasiolite is hard (7 on the Mohs scale) but brittle. It does not have the property of pleochromism (the ability to change shade depending on the angle of incidence of light) and does not have luminescence.
The mineral is translucent, but transparent stones are also found .
The chemical formula is identical to other representatives of quartz – SiO2.
Varieties of prasiolite
Artificially created prasiolite is distinguished by a wide variety of shades. The color range of the synthesized gem depends on the color of the original stones (citrine and amethyst are heated to 5000 °C, then irradiated with ultraviolet light).
But even in natural minerals the number of shades is quite large .
The rarest and most unique are lemon-colored stones. It is a collector's item and an incredible value.
Crystals of onion-green and green with a yellowish tint are very popular .
The most common options:
- emerald;
- dark green.
Areas of application of prasiolite stone
Since prasiolite exists in limited quantities, it is used to make unique and exceptional jewelry. They are in great demand and popularity. This led to the discovery of lines for artificially synthesizing stone. Its production has become in-line. Natural mineral is very expensive.
Prasiolite is used to create earrings, pendants, rings and bracelets. An artificial gem can be purchased in almost every jewelry store. He is also attractive.
Jewelry with stone
Due to its rarity, the mineral is highly valued; it is placed on a par with more famous precious stones .
But due to the demand for the mineral, there is also a growing demand for artificially grown crystals, which, of course, cost several times less than natural prasiolite.
Interesting! Green amethyst in jewelry has become a symbol of sincerity, purity of thoughts and tranquility. It helps to find harmony, to reconcile your inner world with the outer.
Care
Green amethyst is fragile and requires delicate care.
Recommendations:
- Store jewelry with it away from direct sunlight. Prasiolite tends to lose color intensity when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
- This is a fragile mineral, so try to protect prasiolite from shocks, falls and other mechanical influences.
- The best way to clean onion stone jewelry is by gentle cleaning in warm, soapy water, followed by polishing with a soft chamois leather.
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Publication from Irina Melnikova Moscow (@melnikart) Aug 22, 2021 at 4:10 PDT
Price
The cost of a natural gem depends on the purity of the stone, its size, color and the frame in which the crystal is enclosed .
Thus, a cut green amethyst of natural origin can cost from $30 per carat. The cost of artificial crystal is much lower, which makes jewelry with it much more affordable.
Prasiolite in silver is not uncommon in jewelry stores; most often stones of soft colors are placed in light frames, while stones with more intense colors are preferred to be set in gold.
Earrings
Suitable for women of all ages. Due to the fact that the gem is set in both gold and silver, you can choose a model to suit any budget.
It is believed that wearing earrings with green amethyst will help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches , as well as avoid mood swings that are typical for women on certain days.
Ring
Rings with prasiolite are recommended to be worn by people with arrhythmia and tachycardia . Wearing such a talisman helps reduce the frequency of attacks.
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Publication from Oksana Luneva Serebro2
