Crush
Scroll on down for the staples of the Crush range! These gemstones are chosen for their vibrant colours first and foremost. Once set in resin the stones remain bright with a shiny, wet look.
Crush can be blended too. If there’s a personalised combo you’re after, just let me know :-)
Amethyst is simply purple quartz. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. I cannot vouch for this! Though I do know it is the traditional birthstone of those born in February.
Apatite can come in many colours and is the name of a group of phosphate minerals with a similar make-up. It is mostly used for its phosphorus content to make fertilizers. Apatite is often mistaken for other minerals this is how it gets its name which is derived from Greek and means to deceive or mislead.
Aquamarine is a blue variety of beryl, the gemstone family that emeralds also belong to. Its very apt name derives from Latin “resembling seawater”.
Carnelian is a form of silica and is part of the chalcedony family, its colour coming from the impurities of iron oxide. It is know to have been used in jewellery going all the way back to the early neolithic period.
Charoite is a wildy, vibrant purple, even more so than amethyst! It ranges from lavender to lilac with swirling patterns and a pearly lustre. It is a rare silicate mineral and was only first made know to the world in 1978.
Chrysoprase (say it like this - kris-oh-praise!) is a form of silica and is part of the chalcedony family. It contains small quantities of nickel flecked through it which is how it gets its Greek name derived from the words “gold’ and “leek”. Its colour is normally apple-green, but varies to from sea green to deep green to leek green!
Fluorite is a mineral that can be found in just about any colour. I work with a pale, minty green fluorite that has flecks of purple running through it. The name is derived from the Latin “flow” due to its use as a flux in iron smelting. Under ultra-violet light fluorite can glow.
Lapis Lazuli from the latin lapis “stone’ and Arabic lazuli “blue”. This rich metamorphic stone is flecked with gold pyrite and grey calcite. It has been used since ancient times (the 7th millennium BC!) to make jewellery, boxes and ornaments. During the Renaissance, lapis was ground and processed to make the pigment ultramarine for use in frescoes.
Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one colour, green! The shade of green depends on the percentage of iron in the crystal structure, so it can range from lime to olive to forest green.
Rose Quartz a pink form of quartz and known as the “love stone” throughout the ages.
Pink Tourmaline is another stone of many shades, often with colours appearing side by side. This crush is a beautiful deep pink with flecks of orange and raspberry through it too.
Serpentine is found in shades of green, grey, yellow, brown, black and white. I work with a nice, bright yellow. The olive green colour and scaly appearance is the basis of the name from the Latin serpentinus, meaning "serpent rock”.