Knowing and Caring for Your Agate Gemstones

In our series about the care and cleaning of certain gemstones, we have been learning a bit about the unique properties of each stone and how to care for it so it retains its luster and beauty. Today we are going to talk a bit about the gem Agate.

So, what is Agate?  Agate is a micro crystalline variety of silica and is often found near volcanic rocks, although it can be found in other areas.  There are many different types of agate depending on the region and area that is has been found.

This is a beautiful gemstone that comes in various colors like royal blue, emerald green, ruby red, bright yellow, bright white and burnished rust to name just a few.  This stone has been beloved for many years by jewelry lovers because of the bright colors that this gem has created as it was evolving.

Agate is often used in the art and jewelry-making industry because it is very versatile and easy to work with. You can find it in  jewelry pieces as a polished cabochon or as a carved piece (like an animal, cameo or flower). It is rare to find faceted agate stones in jewelry pieces because of the qualities of the stone.

Since they are a porous stone you do not want to get the wet while bathing, showering, swimming, washing your hands or cleaning. To clean Agate, use two soft cloths with one of then dampened slightly with tap water and then immediately dry with the second cloth.

Your settings can be cleaned with a separate cleaner meant for the particular metal but take care not to get any commercial or homemade cleaners on the stone itself. Store your Agate jewelry in a lined jewelry box to keep it perfect and you will be getting compliments on this lovely gemstone for years to come.

by Kaye Lefier, Contributing Editor at ChasingTreasure.com, online store specializing in wooden jewelry boxes and leather jewelry cases. Kaye is an avid Jewelry Collector and writes about Jewelry and Jewelry Trends.