What is marcasite

It's stacked chain of diamond-shaped sterling silver links, inset with marcasite, are almost chevron-like. More gender-neutral than the other bracelets on this list, the elegant man could get away with this chunky design yet delicate presentation.

Who doesn't love a little dangle? Marcasite earrings will add some shine to your look without blinding passers-by. If you like florals, but not in the classic all-pink girly way, check out the next pick. There's something rock-chic while boho glam about these dark rose shaped earrings. The delicate rose shape contrasts with dark silver and marcasite. It's almost like instead of painting her roses red, the Queen of Hearts painted everything a deep, shimmery silver.

These earrings are statement pieces without being dangly if you don't like ear weight. Round it out with a matching rose pendant and you're good to go! The most important thing when you buy Marcasite jewelry or bling of any type is to trust your jeweler. There are companies that will take advantage of fake stones, though we're not one of them. Make sure you don't get gypped with a fake and do your research like you just did by reading this article.

Adding Marcasite to your jewelry box is an edgy yet elegant way to bring in darker colors. Channel royalty of old and Greek wisdom when you wear these beautiful contrasting pieces. There are more choices on our site than we could list here, along with plenty of other stone types. Check out our selection! Close menu. Italian Adjustables. Gorgeous pendants to enhance your chains. Statement to Simple.

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Faith Collection. Crosses, Widow's Mite, Star of David. Moda Collection. The latest from Italian Runways. About Us. Log in. Close cart. Proceed To Checkout. Your cart is currently empty. Marcasite has been an amazing gem in all jewelry pieces. Here's marcasite throughout the ages. Keyword s : marcasite jewelry Are you looking for jewelry that isn't as loud as diamonds or as expensive? What is Marcasite? It has low cleavage, which means it's harder to work with, it doesn't break apart evenly.

The name Marcasite comes from the Arabic Moorish word for pyrite "marqash? Ancient History of Marcasite What we know about the origins of Marcasite as jewelry comes from the Greeks.

In the Middle Ages, when people had plagues to worry about, Marcasite and Pyrite were medicines. Not a good time to be in medicine!

Marcasite as a Metaphysical Element If you're the kind of person who attributes energies and healing properties to gems, read on. The Popularity of Marcasite Jewelry The Georgian period saw the rise of Marcasite again after it died out in the middle ages. When you look at vintage-inspired Marcasite designs, most imitate this time period.

This is when Marcasite really took off, as many things do when Royalty popularize them. Art Deco Marcasite Structured and geometric forms populated the machine-driven industrial age. Art Deco is famous for its structure and recognizable shapes, unlike intricate pieces of old. Choosing Vintage Marcasite Even though Marcasite is only semi-precious and widely available, people make fakes.

So while scientists may have once thought pyrite played a minimal role in oxygen formation, they have recently discovered quite the opposite. As for the supposed healing powers of gold, well. Let's just say scientists are a tad more skeptical. One last fun fact: fool's gold is said to be coveted by faeries.

It all gets rather confusing, we know. Perhaps the real reason behind the many names lies with the tricky Fey creatures themselves. To the early generations, this stone was invaluable because of this characteristic, especially to the Eskimos and Fuegians.

However, other findings indicate early uses may have also been for mirrors and dye. Civilizations in China, Greece, Egypt and South America used fool's gold for necklaces, rings and the like. It was even rumored to have been worn by Cleopatra. The Incan civilization especially is noted as being the first recorded people to have used fool's gold for jewelry, with archaeological findings dating its use between to It has especially been discovered in burial sites.

After the early civilizations, the mineral's use in jewelry becomes somewhat hazy. That is, until the s. In early Europe, marcasite jewelry once again made a comeback, ironically through a distinction of the classes. When the Sumptuary Laws were put into effect, the idea was to enforce clear differences between higher and lower classes. Women of lower classes were forbidden to wear or purchase diamonds and other such rarities. The result was a great demand for marcasite, which was just as beautiful and much less expensive.

Starting from the late s to the early s, Britain was under the rule of Queen Victoria. Her reign also ignited interest in iron pyrite jewelry, although by this time it was widely used.

After the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in , Queen Victoria mourned his death until she passed away in The regular mourning period for a husband was two years, by the way.

Talk about devotion! She requested her entire court to wear black, and she herself dressed as a widow. Etiquette during times of grief was strict, and to adhere to it the Queen began wearing marcasite jewelry. During her reign, mourning etiquette was all the rage many would fashion jewelry out of the deceased one's hair , and following her new choice in jewelry marcasite once again became a fashionable attire choice.

While Victorian thoughts persisted, society found itself largely pushing against them in the s and s. In swept the Art Deco Movement , which paraded through Europe and America and modernized fashion, including jewelry. Using the new-age machines of the era, it blended vivid color combinations to provide stark contrast. As the fashion centered on new times, natural elements were often used in combination with man-made ones.

One common design included crystals and diamonds to contrast with the "bold whiteness of platinum. Because geometry and hardness were also important in this movement, the faces found on iron pyrite, its sparkling texture and its low cost made marcasite a valuable commodity and cost-efficient alternative for those who couldn't afford diamonds. With the fervor of wartime came an increased demand for sulfur, which was integral in the success of the Industrial Revolution.

Sulfuric acid became the staple chemical for production, and it was and is necessary for almost all produced goods. In fact, it is so significant to industrial production that it has been called the " workhorse chemical of the industrial world. During the War, however, sulfur was in short supply.

As a result, the government turned to other means from which sulfur could be extracted. Today, marcasite jewelry has become a common and accessible commodity. Because of its old-world charm and relatively inexpensive price, it's a common choice in jewelry. Generally, a marcasite stone is set in sterling silver to better show off its shine and can be worn in virtually any environment. It's so popular that it rivals diamonds.

And, really, why shouldn't it? You get almost the same beauty for a fraction of the price. Irony pyrite pieces usually do not hold particular value unless they are ancient relics. However, don't be so quick to move on. Geologists sometimes use it as a marker, as the presence of fool's gold can indicate priceless gems are nearby.

While we don't expect you to undertake mining anytime soon, it's an interesting fact that does make it valuable to geologists and miners. Further, just because a marcasite ring or necklace won't sell for hundreds of dollars doesn't mean it's virtually worthless. Sure, it's not hitting the jackpot, but when you consider other minerals, metals or stones commonly used in jewelry, it's not awful.

Avoid getting the piece wet, as it can loosen the stones and encourage them to fall out of their settings. Even when the piece is being cleaned, it should not be splashed or submerged in water.

Instead, take a soft cloth and gently wipe the piece. The cloth can be dry or damp, but it should remove any tarnish on the outside of the stone. Also, avoid excessive sweating while wearing the jewelry. If you plan to partake in any sports or exert yourself, take it off until you have finished. As an added bonus, the more you wear a piece of jewelry made with iron pyrite, the less likely it is to tarnish. Marcasite jewelry can be easily confused with other stamped steel or stamped sterling.

However, if you know what to watch for you'll be able to spot a vintage piece wherever you travel:. If you are checking for age, take a very close look at the setting. Old pieces were set stone by stone; the maker would literally curl the base metal over each one.

Marcasite jewelry refers to the gemstone but it also means a type of jewelry — setting tiny pieces of pyrite in designs into silver. Marcasite jewelry has a distinct look and is popular in vintage jewelry pieces. Marcasite gemstone. The first known use of marcasite jewelry comes from the Incas civilization. They used marcasite and pyrite for both ornamentation and jewelry. There are large amounts of marcasite jewelry pieces found in their burial chambers and ornamentation stones have been found in abundant quantities all around South America.

Such mirrors are believed to have been used for ritual sun-worship and as ritual means for seeing into the future. The Thracians north of them have created some of the oldest marcasite jewelry pieces in Europe, and the various ancient empires and kingdoms in the Middle East also have a rich history with marcasite jewelry. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra herself is said to have worn marcasite jewelry as a means to accent and preserve her beauty.

In the Victorian Era marcasite jewelry was made famous by Queen Victoria who wore it as a substitute of the much more expensive diamond jewelry. Marcasite jewelry is any jewelry piece made out of the brittle, brassy colored metallic stone called pyrite, a. Marcasite itself is a granular stone with relatively low hardness 6 to 6. That, together with its brittle nature makes it quite unsuitable for most jewelry purposes. Notice the marcasite work in these earrings.

See them here. As a result, most marcasite jewelry actually contains pyrite.