Most gemstones are prized for their clarity, but Rutilated Quartz are special because of their inclusions. The quartz itself is usually transparent but the rutile inclusions can be red, gold, orange, brown, silver, gray, or, very rarely, green in color.
The beauty of the colors is in the eye of the beholder, but the bright golden yellows and the coppery reds tend to be the most popular and get the better prices.
Like needles, the internal rutile is naturally occurring. To get just a bit technical, rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, and is the most common natural form of TiO₂. Other rarer polymorphs of TiO₂ are known, including anatase, akaogiite, and brookite. Ok, more than you needed to know!
Tourmalated quartz has inclusions of black tourmaline, while rutile topaz is very similar in appearance to Rutilated Quartz. Unlike Rutilated Quartz which has inclusions of the mineral Rutile, the inclusions of Rutile Topaz are not Rutile but rather Limonite.
Rutile Quartz is mined throughout the world with the best examples coming from Australia, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Pakistan, Russia, Spain and the USA.
When people ask me if rutilated quartz is expensive, I say it's very reasonably priced but each one is so unique, it is priceless if you lose it, as you may never find another one just like it.
Come in the store and look at the pieces I have created or find a loose stone you love and I can make that perfect piece for you.
