Chalcedony is the fine-grained, waxy kind of quartz. Agate, onyx, carnelian and chrysoprase are all chalcedony in different colors. Plenty of bead-grade chalcedony is dyed or heated, so a very bright blue or pink is usually dye.
Quartz (microcrystalline silica)
Chalcedony
Calcedonia
- Palette
- White Blue Gray Brown Green Red Multicolor
- Mined in
- Brazil, Mexico, United States, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Australia, Iceland, Turkey, Morocco, Russia, Czech Republic, Austria, Great Britain
- Hardness
- Mohs 6.0–7.0 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- Prehistoric
- Named for
- likely the town of Chalcedon in Asia Minor
- Also sold as
- chalcedony family, cryptocrystalline quartz, waxy quartz
- Intention
- Calm Protection
- Looking for
- Calm Communication Safe travels Compassion and empathy
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Much bead chalcedony is dyed to change its color and some is heated to bring out brightness or stabilized for shine. Natural pieces look waxy and softer in color, so a very bright blue or pink is almost always dyed.
Not in our pieces now
1 MICRON
Chalcedony is built from fibers only 0.1 to 1 micron thick, though some run several millimeters long.
BHIMBETKA
Ground chalcedony supplied green and yellow pigment for prehistoric paintings at the Bhimbetka rock shelters in India.
1375
The German town of Idar-Oberstein has cut agate, banded chalcedony, on an industrial scale since about 1375.
What it is
Chalcedony is the fine-grained, waxy, usually translucent form of quartz, in soft blues, greys, whites and browns. Agate, onyx, carnelian, chrysoprase, jasper and bloodstone are all chalcedony varieties. Much bead-grade chalcedony is dyed or heated to deepen its color, so a very bright blue or pink is nearly always dye.
What gives it its color
Chalcedony is naturally white to gray and takes its other colors from small amounts of other minerals: iron oxides make carnelian orange to red, nickel makes chrysoprase green, and chromium makes chrome chalcedony green. Much bead chalcedony is dyed, and some is heated, to get brighter blues, reds and greens.
Where it comes from
Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul is the largest source by volume, and India's Deccan Traps, Madagascar, Namibia, Turkey, the western United States and Queensland (chrysoprase) are also named.
In history
Toolmakers in Central Australia carried chalcedony many kilometers from quarries about 32,000 years ago, and Minoan craftsmen cut chalcedony seals at Knossos around 1800 BC. Wax does not stick to it, so it stayed a favorite for seal stones, from Roman gems to the first-century objects found at Tillya-tepe in Afghanistan.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, blue chalcedony is the stone people keep for calm talk and kind feelings. It's said to help you trust yourself, speak plainly and feel for other people.
Ancient writers admired green chalcedony cut into cups and cylinders. In older gem lore, a chalcedony charm kept sailors safe at sea and chased off bad night visions.
People wear it as a bracelet or earrings, carry it in a pocket, or keep it in a room where easy conversation matters.
How people wear or keep it: On the wrist, as earrings or at the neck, in a pocket, or in a room that needs calm.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, chalcedony is paired with the throat and third eye chakras, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: on the wrist, as earrings or at the neck, in a pocket. People reach for it when they want calm, communication, safe travels, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraThroat, Third Eye
ZodiacCancer
Also calledchalcedony family, cryptocrystalline quartz, waxy quartz
Care
- Fairly hard, but keep it apart from harder stones such as quartz crystals and gems so it does not get scratched.
- Dyed and heated pieces can fade in strong sun and in long soaks, so keep them out of bright windows and off hot dashboards.
- Wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry it; skip ultrasonic cleaners and harsh cleaners.
- Knocks can chip the edge of a bead, so store it in a pouch of its own.
How to tell what you have
- Natural chalcedony is waxy, translucent and usually muted in blue, gray, white or brown. Check the drill hole and cracks for dye collecting, and be wary of any neon color.
What sets the price
Price follows color: natural chalcedony is mostly muted white, gray, bluish or brown, while bright pink, blue or other vivid colors are often added by dye or heat and are worth less as a natural stone; patterned or banded pieces are judged on their pattern.
Rules and sourcing
Much bead chalcedony is dyed, and some is heated or stabilized, so a very bright blue or pink is almost always added color. The FTC jewelry guides call for disclosing dye, heat or stabilizing.
Questions people ask at our table
What is chalcedony?
It is quartz made of crystals too small to see, which gives it a smooth, waxy look. Agate, onyx, carnelian, chrysoprase and jasper are all names for chalcedony in different colors and patterns.
Is chalcedony dyed?
Very often. Black onyx, bright blue and many agates on the market are dyed, and some carnelian is heated to deepen the red. If the color looks too vivid for a stone, it probably is.
Which of your stones are chalcedony?
Glassy chalcedony, onyx, moss agate, black onyx and green onyx in our pieces are all chalcedony. We do not carry a plain chalcedony bead by that name.
Can chalcedony get wet?
Natural pieces handle water fine, but dyed beads can fade with soaking. Keep it dry when you are not sure what you have.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.