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Quartz-silica gemstones can be classified into 3 varieties: quartz, which is transparent cut from a single crystal; translucent varieties covered by the term 'chalcedony', and opal. Quartz, known to many as "rock crystal", attracted the attention of many ancient cultures with its brilliant transparency and gorgeous tones. The water-clear variety of quartz, rock crystal, was known to the ancient Greeks as "krystallos", from which the name "crystal" is derived. In all ages chalcedony has been the stone most used by the gem engraver, and many colored varieties are still cut and polished as gemstones. Chalcedony can be virtually any color of the rainbow. It is commonly pale blue, yellow, brown or gray with nearly waxlike luster. Ancient cultures prized a wide variety of chalcedony forms, two of the most widely used in the ancient Mediterranean were carnelian and lapis lazuli. Other forms of chalcedony used in the ancient world include agate, onyx, bloodstone, jasper, tigerseye, and aventurine.
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Antique Chalcedony Oval:
Antique Chalcedony Square:
Antique Chalcedony "Old Fashioned" Cut:
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