Rose quartz

Due to its calming rosy pink color,  rose quartz has enjoyed enduring popularity throughout the centuries. Often referred to as a ‘love stone’, rose quartz is said to bring unconditional love, in any form, to those who own it; whether that be through family, friends or romance. Similarly, it is a centrepiece of feng shui as a healing stone for rocky romances or bad breakups. Rose quartz is also renowned as a stone of peace, and consequently it is reputed by many users to ease worry and stress. The soft, dream-like haze of this gem’s translucent surface reflects its soothing nature, which enables it to alleviate negative feelings. Its dreamy aesthetic also hints at another of its many powers; the ability to banish nightmares, and improve dream recall. This in turn is said to help with lucid dreaming. 

Quartz’s name comes from the German language, however, the ancient Greeks referred to quartz with their word for ‘ice cold’ because prominent thinkers of the time believed the mineral to have been created from ice. In reality, modern science has discovered that quartz is formed from silicon dioxide. Measuring 7 on the Mohs scale, rose quartz is a very hard mineral, and therefore it is difficult to damage. This makes it perfect for handling during healing sessions, and for general use and display. Its famous colour is understood to be caused by traces of titanium, iron and manganese within the microscopic crystal structure, or the presence of tiny fibres of pink dumortierite.

A natural gemstone, rose quartz is found deep within Madagascan pegmatites; beautiful igneous rocks created during the crystallisation of magma which are composed from a variety of unusual crystals. In Madagascar, rose quartz is sometimes discovered in gorgeous lavender hues, and rarely, in star rose quartz varieties. Star rose quartz is an asterism, where the angle of rutile needles inside the crystal cause

light to be reflected in a star shape. As a result of this incredible optical effect, star rose quartz is in very high demand.