Rose Quartz is also a January birthstone!

 Rose quartz is the type of quartz that exhibits a pale pink to rose-red hue. Curiously, the cause of the colour of rose quartz is still not completely understood – it is believed to be due to iron and titanium impurities. It has also been speculated that the colour is due to a number of different minor impurities present in the rose quartz including manganese and even colloidal gold. Isn’t it fascinating that the rose hue is not explained nowadays? 

Rose quartz belongs to the macro crystalline quartz family which, as the name suggests, has large crystals, mainly transparent to translucent, with a vitreous lustre. Among the macro crystalline quartzes, rose quartz is somewhat unusual due to its unique translucent milky colour. It is because of its endearing colouring that rose quartz is often used for beads, cabochons, carvings and for architectural purposes.

But if you are a faceted gemstone fan, don’t worry! While transparent material is uncommon, we still can find clear and crystallized rose quartz. Brazil is actually the only current source of true well-formed crystals of rose quartz in the world!

Rose quartz is also a gemstone with a rich history in myth and lore. It’s believed to balance the emotions, thus giving inner peace and harmony, and to enhance one's sensitivity to beauty and art. It is also said to calm aggression and resentment while increasing self-esteem and self-confidence, and to enhance one's compassion, patience and forgiveness. It is said to enhance your capacity to love others and yourself. Whether or not any of this is true, I think that is a very personal question and depends on the belief of each person. In any case, I do have rose quartz rocks everywhere at home, just in case…