Amazonite: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Amazonite is one of the most popular natural stones in jewellery. The blue-green variety of the feldspar microcline impresses with its fresh colour, soft radiance and natural pattern. Whether in delicate mint green, strong turquoise green or with fine light-coloured veins: Amazonite lends pieces of jewellery a modern, harmonious and natural elegance.

In this guide you will find out, what characterises amazonite, how genuine amazonite can be recognisedhow to care for amazonite jewellery properly and which jewellery with amazonite are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: The symbolic and spiritual meanings of amazonite come from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically provenand do not replace medical advice.

• Amazonite is the blue-green variety of potassium feldspar microcline.
• With a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5 Amazonite is well suited for jewellery, but should be handled with care due to its cleavage.
• Typical are Mint green to turquoise blue, often with light-coloured veins or cloudy structures.
• The characteristic colour is created by trace elements and structural effects in the crystal.
• The following are sufficient for care: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

These key data fit well with the standard mineralogical data for amazonite as a microcline variety; hardness 6-6.5 and good cleavage are typical, which is why it is portable, but somewhat more sensitive than quartz.

Due to its natural pattern and hardness suitable for everyday use, amazonite is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the Birthstone collection.

Amazonite is the blue-green variety of the feldspar microcline and thus belongs to the large feldspar group. The natural stone is mainly formed in magmatic rocks, especially in granite pegmatites. It is characterised by its soft blue-green tones, its often slightly cloudy structure and the typical light-coloured veins that give the stone a lively appearance.

Amazonite is particularly interesting for jewellery because it combines colour, naturalness and elegance. With a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5, amazonite is well suited for jewellery necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Compared to quartz, however, it is somewhat more sensitive to strong impacts, as feldspars have a pronounced fissility. Amazonite is mineralogically a microcline variety; its typical formation in pegmatites as well as its hardness and fissility are described accordingly in gemmological references.

Amazonite is mainly found in colour shades of from delicate green to mint and aqua green to strong turquoise blue is present. Many stones also show fine white areas or veins, which are usually intergrown with albite. It is precisely these natural differences in colour and structure that make each amazonite unique.

Pieces with clear, bright colours and calm, natural markings are particularly appreciated. However, very uniform, unnaturally intense colours or strikingly artificial-looking surfaces should be viewed critically. Treated, stabilised or impregnated materials can occasionally be found in the trade, which is why transparent labelling is important. Amazonite typically shows blue-green colours and is occasionally offered on the market treated or impregnated.

Amazonite has been valued since antiquity as a jewellery and ornamental stone. Even in early cultures, it was used for beads, inlays, amulets and decorative objects. Its soft green-blue colour made it a popular material for jewellery with a natural yet elegant effect.

To this day, amazonite stands for a form of relaxed elegance that can be interpreted in a timeless and modern way. In contemporary jewellery in particular, the stone impresses with its friendly colour effect and its good combinability with stainless steel, silver and gold-coloured elements.

The characteristic colour of amazonite is not simply the result of a single pigment, but of an interplay of trace elements and structural changes in the crystal. Specialist sources attribute the blue-green colour primarily to Lead-related colour centres. Structurally bound water and the influence of natural radiation. This results in the typical mint, green and turquoise colours for which amazonite is known.

It is precisely these mineralogical peculiarities that make amazonite so interesting: Its colour appears soft and natural, but at the same time unmistakable and modern.

If you want to buy amazonite jewellery, you should pay attention to some typical characteristics. Genuine amazonite usually shows a natural, slightly cloudy or zoned colour distribution and often fine light veins or inclusions. Small differences in colour, transparency and structure in particular tend to indicate natural origin rather than a completely uniform surface.

Pay attention to:

• Natural colour effect: soft green to blue tones instead of artificial-looking uniformity.
• Typical structure: cloudy zones, light-coloured veins or fine inclusions.
• Transparency in treatments: Stabilised, impregnated or otherwise treated goods should be clearly labelled.
• Careful polishing: Polished surfaces bring out the colour and pattern particularly well.
• Trustworthy providers: Details of origin and transparent material descriptions are particularly important for high-quality jewellery.

Amazonite is a beautiful natural stone that is suitable for everyday use, but should be treated a little more carefully than very hard quartz stones. The following is sufficient for cleaning lukewarm water with a little mild soap. The piece of jewellery should then be finished with a soft cloth carefully dried.

You should refrain from using aggressive cleaning agents, steam or ultrasound. Due to the typical feldspar fissility, it is also advisable to remove amazonite jewellery during sports, gardening or other high-impact activities. Also intense heatpermanent exposure to intense sunlight and direct contact with Perfume or hairspray should be avoided wherever possible.

Amazonite jewellery is best kept separately in a soft pouch or case so that harder materials do not scratch the surface.