Rose quartz
QuartzJewelryWiki Editorial·2 sources·Reviewed 2026-08-04
The cloudy pink quartz sold as beads, spheres and cabochons. It is almost never transparent, and that is characteristic rather than a defect — the haze comes from microscopic mineral fibres, which are also what produce the star in the rare pieces cut as cabochons.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 7 [1] | — |
| Specific gravity | 2.651 [2] | — |
| Chemical formula | SiO2 Read from the species entry, Quartz. A variety shares its species’ formula. [2] | — |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal [2] | — |
| Common treatments | GIA records that quartz varieties may be irradiated, occasionally coated with metal oxides to create colours rarely seen naturally, and are among the materials dyed since ancient times. [1] | — |
| Care cautions | Hard enough for daily wear, but rose quartz colour can fade with prolonged sun exposure — keep it off a sunny windowsill. [1] | — |
Sources
- International Gem Society — gemstone articles — International Gem Society (IGS, gemstone information articles (gemsociety.org))
- Handbook of Mineralogy — Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America (Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineral Data Publishing)