Prasiolite stone is green quartz. But this became known not so long ago, in the middle of the twentieth century. It got its name much earlier, back in the 9th century BC. "Prazios" in translation from Greek means "leek". Its color really looks like a light green onion plant. And in different parts of the world in those ancient times, the stone was called emerald quartz, Indian emerald, green amethyst, but by the way, it had quite a lot of names.



Quartz is not an expensive stone. But the beauty of the faceted prasiolite sparked a revival around him. Therefore, some sellers tried to pass it off as other stones, more valuable, with a similar greenish tint, for example, for emeralds, tourmalines, beryl and chrysolites... Others, in order to raise the price of prasiolite, came up with different names for it - tourmaline, "emerald quartz", "Indian emerald", etc.

Physical properties of prasiolite

Prasiolite really has quite good characteristics. It is quite hard, its hardness is 7.0 on the Mohs scale, density is 2.65 g / cm³. The crystal has good transparency, has a wide range of green colors - green, pale green, gray-green, emerald green, lemon.

The luster of prasiolite is glassy. The mineral is characterized by increased fragility. Under the influence of sunlight, the stone loses its color and becomes colorless.

Place of Birth

Green Amethyst is a rare stone and therefore further increases its value. Prasiolites are not common, but there are also large crystals among them. Deposits of prasiolites have been found in Russia (Primorsky Krai), Poland, Brazil, USA, India and some other places.

Perhaps a rare encounter with prasiolite is also due to the fact that, under the influence of sunlight, the stone loses its color and becomes colorless, like rock crystal, which is also a kind of quartz.

Artificial prasiolites

If the prasiolites were so interested in jewelry fans, then they had to be created artificially. This is done under the influence of a simple temperature effect. It is not at all easy to distinguish a natural stone from an artificial one, without special equipment. The difference may be the price.

Artificial prasiolites are obtained from cheaper raw materials. They can be colorless and yellow quartz crystals, as well as amethyst. But, as you know, amethyst is one of the most expensive quartz varieties. However, low-grade amethyst crystals are used to create artificial prasiolites. They are calcined up to 500 ° C.

In the production of artificial prasiolites, high technologies are used that bring the crystals to perfection. Artificial crystals often look much better than natural stones, and in jewelry production they quickly pay off.

It is very gratifying that a rare natural stone has a worthy replacement as an ideal artificial crystal. It is upsetting that there are dishonest sellers who offer artificial prasiolite to buy at the price of natural, and natural faceted prasiolite is almost on a par with the well-known expensive gems. Therefore, it is better to buy a stone or jewelry made from it from reliable sellers whom you trust.

Magical properties

If you trust the ancients, then prasiolite will save you from troubles and will attract well-being and happiness to the owner. It is believed to also help strengthen the family.

Healing properties

Lithotherapists recommend the stone to those who have problems with the cardiovascular and nervous system, it also improves overall health, being, as it were, a source of energy. Lithotherapists suggest using a gem for treatment not only as a decoration, but also to infuse water on crystals, which can then be used as drinking water. Such water, lithotherapists promise, will have a positive effect on the psyche.

Water, "charged" with prasiolite, will help to create a person's emotional balance, it is also effective for cosmetic purposes, you can simply wash it with it, which will make the skin clean and elastic. Prasiolite can also alleviate the condition with colds, improve the well-being of the sick person. The stone has a positive effect on the immune system, as well as restores memory.

Prasiolite Jewelry

Jewelry with natural prasiolites is a rare phenomenon, one might say, is of an isolated nature. Such jewelry is made only by large jewelry companies. And jewelry made of artificial stone - rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants - can be seen in many jewelry stores. Their cost is much lower than the cost of products with natural stone.

The best setting for prasiolite will be gold and silver, moreover, for a more saturated green color, gold will be better, and for paler greenish shades - silver. But prasiolite can be combined in jewelry with many other gems. A great partnership is obtained with cubic zirconia and diamonds. It is combined with topaz, tourmaline and all types of quartz.

Products with prasiolite in saturated green shades look favorably on women with reddish hair, as well as on brown-haired women with green eyes. Pale green stones set in silver will suit younger girls. Platinum can also be used as a frame. If the product contains natural stone, then this is already a luxury, which is estimated at a high cost. Such jewelry is usually worn with evening dress for social events.

Faceted prasiolite has a significant price, which is comparable to expensive gems. The cost of a natural cut stone can be from $ 20 to $ 100 or more per carat, and an artificial one is 5 to 10 times less. If it's not just a single crystal, but a piece, add more value to the precious setting.

When buying jewelry with prasiolite in stores that value their reputation, a certificate is attached to the stone, which indicates all the information about the stone, including which mineral was used to create the artificial prasiolite. And the seller of such a store is obliged to bring all this information to the attention of the buyer.

Stone care

The crystal needs careful care and storage. As already mentioned, the gem should be protected from sunlight so that it does not lose its color. It is better to store products with prasiolite separately from other jewelry, since the stone has a fairly high fragility. The crystal can be washed occasionally in warm water and soap and wiped with a soft cloth.

Astrologers' advice

What do astrologers say? If the opinion of astrologers is important to some of you, then they recommend wearing prasiolite for those born under the signs of Pisces, Aries, Sagittarius and Aquarius, although the stone will not oppose all other signs. They also assure that the gem attracts peace and tranquility to the house. The prasiolite stone is considered the guardian of the family.