Another version of “cherry quartz” called “lavender quartz” is also
being sold as a treated but real quartz. It is an extremely light
purple in color. As far as I can tell, this too is glass.
Linda M
All, I know this is getting monotonous, but thought you’d be
interested in a large advertisement in the Washington DC Post
newspaper, featuring for Mother’s Day, a necklace and earrings of
"cherry and rose quarts beads" from a major department store chain.
Can’t find the darn thing now, but the price tag was nothing like
the real stuff should be. The beads were faceted too. So, be on the
lookout, it’s everywhere.
Pat
Linda, thanks for the info on Lavender Quartz. I figured it was a
dyed stone, but still I assumed it was a quartz. Now at least when I
sell the things I’ve made with it, I can let my customers know that
it is actually Lavender Glass instead.
Betty
Neiman Marcus had some sets “on sale” a few months back that were
advertised as Cherry Quartz, and their price was unbelievable.
Something to the tune of $700 for the necklace alone – one that I
could have reproduced for about $25 (or less!). It was quite the
topic of discussion for some time on the Jewelry Making Forum.
Amazing what advertising/marketing can do…
Betty
For those of you who are regular Orchid readers the issue about
“cherry” or “strawberry” quartz was reported by me the week after
Tucson 2003. Thus it should not have been a surprise to find out
that this material (by whatever name you choose to call it) is
glass.
Steve Green - Rough and Ready Gems - www.briolettes.com your
source for fine natural gem briolettes.
For those of you who are regular Orchid readers the issue about "cherry" or "strawberry" quartz was reported by me the week after Tucson 2003.
There is actually a legitimate, natural, included quartz material
commonly called “strawberry quartz” (which does not mean that there
aren’t also unscrupulous dealers using the same designation for
glass). You can see examples heRe:
Beth
Hi All, Mark Licinni found some special Rose Quartz, that when
treated (irridated) came out cherry red. It was very beautiful. I
looked shortly on the archives of his web site, and found a picture
of some rose quartz treated that came out deep red, almost maroon,
but didn’t find the pictures of the Cherry Red Quartz. I don’t know
how much he sold or to whom, but I know some is out there.
I have some of his green quartz and yellow quartz, but don’t think I
ever bought any of the Red rough. I also have some green Kunzite
that is a very unusual and pretty color of green that he irridated
also.
Love and God Bless
-randy
http://www.rocksmyth.com
I have seen two versions of “cherry Quartz.” One was obviously
glass, as I could see the bubbles without magnification. Yesterday, I
saw some faceted material purchased in India, no bubbles discernible.
Could there be two versions of this “gem” being sold: one glass, the
other irradiated quartz? The person showing me a necklace with these
beads told me she uses only “natural” materials. So are dyed pearls
natural? How about stones altered by chemical, irradiation, dyes?
Alana Clearlake
At one of the GL&W shows that was held here a few months ago, one of
the bead vendors had something called “cherry quartz”. I’m not a
gemologist, but it appeared to me to be dyed opaque crystalline (or
fractured) white quartz. Some of the beads were solid red, but many
of the beads faded across the bead from red to either pink or white.
They looked like crushed ice that’s had red syrup poured over, and
left to sit until the syrup all settled to one side. Pretty, but
overpriced for the appearance. Seems that a 16" strand of 4mm round,
beads was something like $15, and prices went up from there. It
didn’t look like glass, but then again I didn’t look at it under
magnification.
–Kathy Johnson
Feathered Gems Pet Motif Jewelry
http://www.featheredgems.com