Moh-e-Najaf: Quartz with Fine Hairs

Moh-e-Najaf means the hair of Najaf, and the name describes the stone well. It is transparent quartz containing fine needle-like crystals of other minerals, most often rutile, which gives golden or reddish threads, or tourmaline, which gives black ones. Green and silver hairs also occur. In English it is usually called rutilated or tourmalinated quartz.

Like Dur-e-Najaf, it carries a traditional association with Najaf and is valued by many families for that reason. Rutilated quartz is found in several countries, so we only describe origin where we know it.

Judging the hairs

The inclusions are the whole point, so look at them closely. Many buyers prefer dense golden threads that cross the stone in different directions, catching light like fine wire. Others like a few bold black needles against clear quartz. What matters is that the hairs are well spread across the face and that the quartz between them is clear rather than cloudy. Hold the stone to the light and tilt it; good rutile flashes like spun gold.

Imitations exist in glass with fibres added, though they are not common. Natural needles run in straight lines and sit at different depths. Treatment is rare, and each listing states what we know.

Smooth cabochons show the hairs with the least distraction, while faceted stones add sparkle but can make dense inclusions look busy. For a traditional silver ring, an oval cabochon of 8 to 15 carats is a common choice.

At hardness 7, the quartz is durable. Inclusions that reach the surface can be weak points, so a bezel is a sensible choice. Clean with soap and water.