In conjunction with the collection Mogul – Jewels by SYNA on The Story, Amit Kapoor of Saffronart shares a note on Quartz and its properties
Being very simple in its chemical composition and structure, Quartz is one of the most common mineral species found on earth’s crust. It is made up of Silicon and Oxygen (SiO2), both of which are abundant. Under precise conditions, Quartz may form in various colours (as a result of various impurities), including Amethyst (purple), Citrine (orange to yellow), Smoky Quartz (grey-brown), Lemon Quartz (yellow-green), Rose Quartz (pink) and Rock Crystal (colourless), to name a few.
Throughout the world, varieties of quartz have been, since antiquity, the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and gem stone carvings. Quartz is known to have been used as gemstone during Greek times; the ancient Greeks associated the mineral with Bacchus, the god of wine, and believed that wearing an amethyst prevented intoxication.
Unusually, Quartz crystals have piezoelectric properties: which means they develop an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress. A common piezoelectric use of quartz today is as a crystal oscillator. Quartz clocks and wristwatches are familiar devices that use the mineral.
Today, these gem varieties are used extensively in jewelry in a wide array of colours, shapes, and designs. The current collection on The Story called Mogul – Jewels by SYNA includes an extensive variety of the gem species Quartz: a small treasure to own.
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