Since the dawn of man, he has been surrounded by unusual stones and minerals that have delighted him with their beauty, fascinated him with their spectacular shapes, and therefore endowed him with magical properties. Rutile quartz was no exception.
The origin of the word ‘quartz’ is unclear, possibly stemming from the Viennese ‘twardy’ (hard). “Rutilus” literally translates as “reddish”. Rutile quartz is ordinary quartz with the thinnest flecks of rutile in the form of filaments. The thinner the threads, the more valuable the stone. On the Mohs hardness scale, rutile quartz has a relative hardness between 6.5 and 7.0.
✅ Deposits
There are deposits in the Americas, Brazil, Madagascar, and Australia. A small subspecies of rutile quartz, such as the “Arrows of the Amur”, may be found in the northern Urals, and Pakistan.
Gem-quality stones are mined in Norway and the Subpolar Urals. The deposits of rutile quartz with an admixture of goethite are concentrated in Kazakhstan.
✅ Varieties and colors
Rutile quartz is unique in its uniqueness, as no two stones can be identical in texture. Nevertheless, the individual minerals have been grouped into subspecies according to their specific characteristics, and they have been given the following names:
- Arrows of Cupid – this is the common people’s name for quartz with black hairs.
- Sagenite – the pattern of this kind of mineral involves a set of geometric figures with sharp angles.
- Colored hairy quartz is a rare variety of quartz that has inclusions of yellow, red, and green colors.
Gem-quality rutile quartz is not very common, so the jewelry with this stone is not cheap. The crystals are cut into cabochons, after which they are used to make bracelets and necklaces. Wedge-cut or stepped-cut stones are used in rings, earrings, and pendants. Jewelers use silver as well as white and yellow gold for the settings.
The average price for a silver rutile quartz piece is:
- earrings – from $150;
- bracelet – $120 – $150;
- rings – $150 – $200;
- beads $150 – $160.
✅ Compatibility with other minerals
Hairy quartz combines well with all types of quartz, coral, rauchtopazes, golden beryl, amazonite, and grossular. The alliance of rutile quartz with topaz, pearls, emeralds, aventurine, alexandrite, sapphire, chrysoberyl, and euclase can harm your well-being and attract trouble.
📌 How to distinguish fakes?
Rutile quartz is not a precious stone but is highly prized by collectors. Imitation quartz made of glass can be found on the gem market. It can be distinguished from the real mineral by only one feature: symmetrically placed hairs in the pattern. The inclusions of natural stones are placed in a more chaotic order.
All other features make it almost impossible to tell rutile quartz from fakes, so you should buy it in a trustworthy shop and ask the seller for a certificate of quality.
📌 How do you choose a black rutilated quartz ring?
You (or your soulmate) will wear this ring for life. It’s not just a piece of jewelry, it’s your companion. So choose wisely.
✅ Choice of metal
If you approach the choice from an aesthetic point of view, you should go more to the wearer’s preference. Consider which color suits him or her best. Silver is a cooler color and gold is a warmer color. Think back to your soul mate’s wardrobe and determine her preferences.
Also, on the practical side, silver tarnishes faster, which means it needs more care.
✅ Profile
The fit of the ring determines the comfort of wearing the jewelry.
Semi-straight fit: A straight line-like fit is particularly suitable for wide pieces of jewelry.
A comfortable fit: This profile allows for easy wearing of the ring, which then sits perfectly on the phalanx, fits snugly, and has a low chance of slipping off.
Smooth profile: This ensures maximum contact of the ring with the skin. If you have a flat finger, you won’t have any problem putting it on, but it will be almost impossible to make it fall off. When choosing a profile we recommend that you leave it to the professionals as it can be difficult to find the right one for you.
