What stone was popular to the ancient Greeks, the Inca of
Latin America, Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria? –Marcasite of
course. Okay maybe not of course,
but it’s true and kind of fantastic.
If you are one of the people asking what
marcasite is, let me tell you.
(After all spell check does not recognize the word 'marcasite' despite the
fact that it is a beautiful stone used in jewelry, well, almost forever.)
Marcasite is a pyrite, otherwise know as iron disulphined
(FeS2) and it is a beautiful, metallic, black colored stone, faceted and worn as
jewelry. Cut similar to a
rose cut diamond, it typically has a flat bottom and a faceted almost pyramid
shaped top. And it is usually set
is sterling silver, displaying an enchanting mystery and sparkle.
Gaining popularity in the later half of the 18th
century, Marcasite replaced cut steel jewelry as the non diamond sparkle of choice as jewelers
began using exquisite craftsmanship and invention to create the most beautiful and
fantastic designs with this sparkling stone. Its popularity continued well into the Art Deco era where
its sparkle gave wonderful life to the industrial lines of the Art
Deco era.
And here it is in it's natural form.
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