Crystal Quartz, a great Diamond alternative for April's Birthstone
According to the famous 1912 Standardized Birthstone List, made by the National Association of Jewellers (currently Jewelers of America), the diamond is the official birthstone of April. But Crystal Quartz is also recognized as a more affordable alternative for April’s Birthstone, since diamonds may be out of the price range of many, but quartz is also clear, sparkly and found in abundance.
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide) with an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust, after feldspar.
There are many varieties in the quartz family based on colour, due to the presence of impurities they can yield a range of vivid colors. Some common colored varieties include citrine, rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others. But quartz in it’s pure form is colorless and transparent or translucent and it is known as clear quartz or rock crystal.
Crystal Jug, Milan, 16th century, National Museum Warsaw
Crystal Quartz Geode formation exhibited in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
Viking Quartz Visby lens, 11th or 12th century
Crystal Quartz April Birthstone's History
Quartz was first recorded in 300 B.C. by the greek philosopher Theophrastus and was given the name κρύσταλλος (krustallos) derived from the Ancient Greek κρύος (kruos) meaning “icy cold”. The greeks believed the mineral to be a form of supercooled ice or an eternal ice sent by the gods. In Europe and the Middle East the different varieties of quartz were the most commonly used for the various types of jewellery and hardstone carving, including engraved gems and cameo gems, rock crystal vases, and extravagant vessels.
In the modern age, because of it’s piezoelectric properties, quartz started having many electronic applications, the first one beeing in the phonograph pickups. By the 1930s, the electronics industry had become dependent on quartz crystals. So, that paved the way to producing lab made quartz on a large scale. Today, this amazing crystal is everywhere around us: in our cellphones, medical technology, clocks, and even concrete.
In recent years, the popularity of crystal healing has increased the demand for natural quartz crystals, which are now often mined in China, Japan, and Russia, (these countries being the world’s primary producers of quartz). Although Quartz can be found in every country on earth, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Germany, South Africa, and the United Kingdom also mine significant quantities of this mineral.
Clear Crystal Quartz cluster exhibited in Naturalis Muzeum, Leiden
Quartz crystal resonator or tuning-fork used in modern quartz watch
Crystal Quartz's Properties
The best known property of quartz crystal is that it’s piezoelectric. That means that this crystal developes an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress. In other words, quartz crystals develop positive and negative charges on alternate prism edges when they are subjected to pressure or tension, and can produce a natural frequency (i.e., vibration) that is very high, measured in millions of vibrations per second. That is why, properly cut plates of quartz are used for frequency control in radios, televisions, and other electronic communications equipment. In today’s times, almost all the industrial demand for quartz crystal is met with synthetic quartz produced by the hydrothermal process. However, synthetic crystals are less prized for use as gemstones in jewellery.
Another popular use of this piezoelectric property is in the mechanism of quartz watches (hence the name). It is well known that quartz movements keep exceptionally accurate time, losing only seconds over the battery’s life-time. This is thanks to quartz’s ability to release regular electronic impulses at precise frequencies.
Although it has a high hardness of 7 on the Mohs Scale, quartz crystals can still be scratched or damaged by gemstones with a higher hardness, like diamonds, rubies, sapphires or emeralds, as well as other materials.
How valuable is Crystal Quartz?
As we mentioned earlier, clear quartz crystals are significantly more affordable than diamonds. Mainly because of diamond’s speacial properties like: hardness, brilliance and clarity and because diamond deposits are not found as easily as quartz crystals. But that doesn’t mean that clear quartz doesn’t have value. Depending on the size, clarity, incluzions and origins of the quartz, the values may vary between 2-7 pounds per carat.
Transparent rock crystal has been used as an imitation of diamond for centuries, due to the fact they are both colourless. Clear crystal will not be as ‘firey’ as diamond as it does not disperse light to the same degree, however, a well-cut clear crystal can be very brilliant with excellent return of white light.
Faceted rock crystals are still used as diamond imitations today, particularly as “accent stones” in jewellery. Designers may choose to surround a coloured stone with small-sized rock crystals rather than diamonds, offering affordable price-points to the consumer whilst giving a similar look.
Faceted Quartz Crystal Gemstone with excellent return of white light
Quartz believed to be the breath of a White Dragon, ancient Japonese Myth
April Birthstone Mythology, Symbolism and Meaning
The fact that crystal quartz can be found all over the world means that it features in legends from many different cultures. For example, in ancient Japanese mythology it was believed to be the physical form of a white dragon’s breath, a symbol of perfection. And, in the middle ages, European clairvoyants used clear quartz spheres to help them predict the future, this is perhaps where the crystal ball originated.
Crystal Quartz is also the most common material identified as the mystical substance maban in Australian Aboriginal mythology. This being the material from which the shamans and elders supposedly derived their magical powers. It has regularly been found in passage tomb cemeteries in Europe such as Newgrange or Carrowmore in Ireland, dating back to the Neolithic Era. The Irish word for quartz, grianchloch which means “sunstone”, denotes it’s symbolic heritage.
An important note to this April’s birthstone is that it’s a purifying stone, being able to repel negative energies and attract positive ones.
Described as the “Master Healer” or as the “Universal Crystal” , clear quartz is thought to be the most powerful healing crystal there is. It is a strong amplifier and balancer of energy and works on all human levels: it strengthens and stabilises the body’s energy, facilitating healing; it clears the mind from troubled thoughts; and acts like a gateway for spiritual enlightenment.
Mainly because of the crystal’s piezoelectric and piroelectric properties, it is considered as an amplifier, great for depoziting, transfering and transforming energies. It is believed to be the strongest enhancing stone in the mineral kingdom. It’s clear energy acts as an amplifier of the vibrations that are put into it, making it an excellent manifestation tool, great for working with specific intentions.
Each of the seven main chakras is associated with a different colour crystal, clear quartz most benefiting the crown chakra. This chakra is all about higher consciousness, and crystal quartz, by balancing our thoughts and emotions, can help reignite our true identity and open us up to a deeper sense of spirituality.
Buying & Gifting April Birthstone Jewellery
Crystal Quartz is an ideal stone to balance out those fiery souls born under the Aries zodiac sign, and is also a traditional gift for the 10th or 60th marriage anniversary. And with its availability and versatility, every jewellery collection should have a clear quartz piece, because it will look good not matter the outfit.
April Birthstone Ring with Crystal Gemstone in Sterling Silver
April Birthstone Jewellery Set with Crystal Studs and Pendant Necklace
Birthstone Stud Earrings – April– 925 Sterling Silver Crystal Gemstone
April Birthstone Necklace – Crystal Gemstone Charm in Sterling Silver
Looking for the real deal when it comes to gifting April Birthstone Jewellery, as in real diamonds that don’t break the bank? Then, consider our Kindness and Courage Coin Pendants with natural rough diamonds at their center, from our Horatio’s Garden Collection. Besides being a thoughtful and beautiful gift they are also a meaningful purchase because for every piece of jewellery bought from this collection, we will donate 25% of it’s net value to the Horatio’s Garden Charity, to support them on their mission to help people affected by spinal cord injuries.
Kindness and Courage Green Enamel Coin with Diamond
Kindness and Courage Navy Enamel Coin with Diamond
Kindness and Courage Red Enamel Coin with Diamond
Kindness and Courage Light Blue Enamel Coin with Diamond
Kindness and Courage Black Enamel Coin with Diamond
We can conclude that Quartz has been an evolutionary, energetical, and societal building block. And beside it’s metaphisical properties and it’s modern day applications, it is a great affordable alternative as April’s Birthstone Jewellery.
