Emerald green and clear AB crystal (8mm) from Swarovski with an oval multi tone green agate gemstone. This lovely necklace is 20 inches long.
What is Agate?
Brazil, Uruguay, and the Western United States are all sources for raw agate. Traditionally, Germany has been the capital of agate processing, and agate products are shipped from Germany to jewelers and stores all over the world. The distinctive stone is used in jewelry and to make decorative household ornaments such as bookends and coasters. Some religious ornaments are made from agate, such as worry beads and meditation stones carried in many cultures.
Deposits of volcanic rock frequently harbor agate, which is formed when silicates make deposits in cracks and holes in rock. The outer layer of an agate tends to turn dark and crusty, but the layers inside form rich bands of color which can be cut in cross section and polished for use in jewelry. Agate is very similar to onyx, another form of chalcedony which forms in successive layers, but agates tend to have more irregular bands and a wider range of colors.
Some agates are so distinctive that they carry their own names, such as moss agate, a unique form which has feathers of rich mossy green riddling a white agate. Iris agate, another special occurrence of the rock, has a remarkable iridescent sheen. Both forms, along with other varieties, are used in rings, bracelets, and necklaces, and are usually cut large to show off the rich bands of color in the stone. Often, a piece of agate jewelry will have an unusual shape, to accommodate a unique and striking pattern in the stone.
Who is Daniel Swarovski? What are Swarovski crystals?
He invented and patented an innovative crystal cutting machine. Later the company patented many specialized items and created a special polishing system. This company sets the standard for the highest quality crystals available on the market. All of their crystals contain a minimum of 32% lead oxide and are faceted and polished to provide the highest light refraction possible.
Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass and related products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria. The company was founded in 1895 by Armand Kosman and Franz Weis using Daniel Swarovski's expertise at glass-cutting and his family name. It was the 1892 invention and patenting of Swarovski's innovative electric glass-cutting machine which prompted the company to be created. Their first factory for producing carved crystal was built in Wattens, Austria.
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