What is Rutilated Quartz?

If you have seen our rutilated quartz ring in our rings section and you are wondering what rutilated quartz is, we have your answer...

Quartz is the second most common mineral in the world and comes in many varieties. There are several varieties of quartz which are considered to be semi-precious gemstones, rutilated quartz being one of them. Rutile is a mineral which is mostly made up of titanium dioxide. When rutile enters into quartz, it leaves behind beautiful needle-like inclusions which range in color from reddish brown to gold.

Because quartz is harder than rutile, it is difficult to achieve a smooth surface when polishing a piece of rutilated quartz. Quartz with rutile inclusions are found in Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Germany and Switzerland. In many cultures rutilated quartz is believed to an energizing stone which has special healing powers.