Chalcedony Gemstones

Chalcedony is quartz made of crystals so tiny you cannot see them, even with a loupe. Packed together, they form a waxy, translucent stone that takes a beautiful polish. It is the parent material of a whole family: agate is banded chalcedony, carnelian is orange-red chalcedony, and many of the Aqeeq stones in our shop belong here.

This collection is for chalcedony that does not fall neatly into those named groups. Expect soft lavender blue, smoky grey and milky white stones with an even glow rather than strong stripes. Our selection here is small for now, and it grows as we find stones we like.

What to look for

Good chalcedony has a gentle inner light, almost like moonlight through thin cloud. Hold it up to a window: fine material is evenly translucent, with no chalky spots or cracks. A domed cabochon shows the glow best. Because chalcedony is porous, it is easy to dye, and bright blue or pink stones on the market are often coloured artificially. Natural blue chalcedony tends to be pale and slightly greyish. Our listing states what we know about treatment.

Chalcedony is a modest, wearable stone rather than a traditional astrology gem. People choose it for its calm colour, for everyday silver rings and for pendants and beads.

At 6.5 to 7 on the hardness scale and with a tough, compact structure, chalcedony resists chipping well. It suits a ring worn daily in a bezel or claw setting. Clean it with mild soap and water; avoid bleach and perfume, which can affect dyed or porous material.