Agate Decorations

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Two thousand years ago, or thereabouts, the Romans set up huge sandstone wheels in a mill-type arrangement on a stream at a place in Germany where fine agate was plentiful. Around this agate cutting industry, the little towns if Idar and Oberstien grew until, today the major industry of the area is the procuring and cutting of every type of gemstone in existence. Though some, with a small view of it, consider it a minor gemstone, agate has had a major impact on the economy of many areas of the world. At the present, it is experiencing a faster escalation of value than diamonds. Custom jewelers in high traffic areas are designing around it and setting it in 18Kt gold with diamonds and many other exotic gems. The reason seems to be that, more than ever before, people are recognizing it as a unique gem.'

It is a tough gemstone, a member of the quartz family with a hardness of 7 in the Mohs 1 to 10 scale, but with the type of internal structure that eliminates the brittleness that quartz can have. It takes a perfect polish and, like Jade, can be carved into very fine detail. Because of this, the finest cameos are carved in agate. Agate sometimes forms in flat layers. The art of cameos started in ancient times because of this tendency. When the workman obtained an agate with flat brown and white layers he would carve down through the white layer to expose the brown layer for his background and then, by varying the depth of the translucent white layer, he could create scenes or faces with marvelous life-like qualities.

Agate is a term correctly applied to chalcedony, which is characterized by color distributed in curved bands or layers. The term is also loosely used with a prefix to describe non-banded, patterned material; moss agate or mocha agate (milky-white chalcedony with green, black, or brown inclusions in dendritic patterns), landscape agate, lace agate, or fortification agate (straight hands which intersect).

Man's Earliest Possessions

Agate is believed to have been among man's earliest possessions. Stone Age jewelry, along with spear and arrow tips, have been found in prehistorical grave sights. Egyptians were mining agate as early as 3500 B.C., and early Sumerian inhabitants of Mesopotamia fashioned cylinder seals, signet rings, beads, and other ornamental objects from this versatile stone. Artifacts from 3000-2300 B.C. were created by these earliest lapidaries. The Sumerians were believed to be the first to distinguish precious gems from common minerals and may have been the first to give specific gems extraordinary attributes. The agate was believed to give the wearer special favor with the gods. Although it is evident that the stone was used abundantly, the source of Mesopotamia's agate has never been determined.

Western Literature

The first reference to agate in western literature is also the source of Microcrystalline aggregates the name used in modern times. The Greek writer Theophrastus (372-287 B.C.) referred to beautiful stones which sold at a high price. He further stated that this stone was to be found in the river Achates (or Gagates) in Sicily. In 77 A.D. Pliny the Elder repeats this tale regarding the source of agate in his natural history and goes on to detail all knowledge of the stone to that date. Pliny states, "The achates was in older times highly valued but now it is cheap." He carries on by cataloging the varieties distinguished and gives the names of each.

It occurs in large masses and in various colors, hence its numerous names: iaspisachates [agate-jasper], cerachates [chalcedony], smaragdachates [green agate], haemachates [red agate or agate with red], leucachates [chalcedony], and dendrachates [moss agate]. As to the variety called autachates [possibly amber], as it is burned it gives off a smell like that of myrrh.

Not all gemstone jewelry has to cost a small fortune, take for example those that feature agate. Agate is a form of variegated chalcedony, and has been used in jewelry making for thousands of years. Today, it is as popular as it has ever been, and for good reason. Not only does agate have a very unique and attractive appearance, it is also believed to protect the wearer from misfortune.

The first known example of agate being used to adorn the body was in the Biblical Babylonian age. During that era men and women would wear the stones in the belief that they would ward off evil and storms. Today, there are many different agates available and which are used in necklaces, pendants, and rings.

Examples of the most popular varieties include moss agate, blue lace agate, crazy lace agate, tree agate, dendrite agate, and fire agate. If you are to purchase jewelry that feature this gemstone, it is important to know that what you are getting is the authentic article. The price will be determined in part by the quality and rarity of the stone used. خرید انگشتر عقیق

Agates not only have very distinct markings, they are also relativity easy to work with as they are not as hard on the Mohs scale as other gemstones. They are also easy to care for, they do not become chipped or fractured easily. When searching for a retailer or wholesaler who sells agate jewelry, it is important to find out what exact variety is used and where the stone or stones have been sourced from.