Smoky quartz: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Smoky quartz is the smoky brown to grey-brown variety of crystal quartz and is one of the most popular dark quartz varieties. With its elegant, transparent brown colour, the smoky quartz jewellery stands for relaxed pragmatism, a down-to-earth attitude and a calm, mature charisma.

In this guide you will learn what characterises smoky quartz, how genuine smoky quartz can be recognised, how to care for smoky quartz jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with smoky quartz are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: The symbolic and spiritual meanings of smoky quartz originate from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Smoky quartz is a brown to black variety of quartz.
• The colour is created by natural irradiation and traces of aluminium in the crystal lattice.
• With a Mohs hardness of 7 smoky quartz is robust and well suited for jewellery.
• Typical are smoky grey, brown to almost black colour shades.
• Very dark, almost black smoky quartz is often morion.

Smoky quartz is a favourite because of its calm, elegant colour effect and its good suitability for everyday use, it 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.

Smoky quartz is a brown to grey variety of quartz (SiO₂) and thus belongs to the crystal quartz family. Like all types of quartz, it crystallises in the trigonal-hexagonal system and often forms clear, six-sided prism crystals. With a Mohs hardness of about 7 and a density of approx. 2.6 g/cm³, smoky quartz is hard and robust enough for everyday use as a gemstone - classically in a facet cut or as a round cabochon in gemstone jewellery for men and women. Important deposits can be found in Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, Switzerland and Scotland - where it is also known as "Cairngorm".

Smoky quartz appears in a spectrum of light smoke grey to warm brown and cognac tones to deep dark brown. There is no sharp boundary between colourless quartz and smoky quartz; the transitions can be fluid. Very dark, almost black qualities are traditionally often referred to as morion.

Smoky quartz crystals with clear transparency, harmonious colour distribution and beautiful depth. As the colour can be sensitive to heat, stronger heating can weaken or lighten it completely.

Smoky quartz has been used since antiquity as jewellery and protective stone. In various cultures, it was regarded as a companion in difficult phases of life, symbolising protection from danger and support in coping with grief. Particularly in the Scottish Highlands, the local Cairngorm smoky quartz was a popular gemstone in brooches, pins and traditional men's jewellery. Today, smoky quartz jewellery stands rather for a calm, grounded elegance - ideal for people who prefer subtle, neutral colours but still want to wear a real natural stone statement.

The typical colour of smoky quartz is created by the interplay of traces of aluminium in quartz and natural irradiation. In the process, so-called colour centres in the crystal lattice, which make the stone appear smoky grey to brown. Depending on the intensity of these processes, the colour shade will be lighter or darker.

Smoky quartz is therefore not a mineral in its own right, but a coloured variety of quartz. Its crystals show the typical shapes and properties of quartz, but differ in their natural colour.

If smoky quartz is heated to a high temperature (above approx. 200-300 °C) or exposed to intense UV radiation for a long time, it can lighten considerably or even change to a citrine-like colour. The dark colour can be partially restored by re-irradiation - an effect that is specifically used in gemstone enhancement.

Anyone who wants to buy genuine smoky quartz jewellery should pay attention to a few features:

• Transparency: Smoky quartz is usually transparent to translucent; even dark morion varieties are usually not completely black.

• Colour: from light to dark brown; extremely black quartz crystals are often heavily irradiated and should be viewed critically.

• Surface: Glass lustre, cleanly polished facets or cabochons, without a plastic look.

• Weight & feel: Smoky quartz is pleasantly heavy, cool and "stony" for its size.

COEUR DE LION processed smoky quartz as a natural stone in combination with high-quality 316 L stainless steel, haematite, other natural stones and crystals - e.g. in the precious link smoky quartz bracelet or in jewellery in which smoky quartz is combined with carnelian, rose quartz and sodalite is used.

All pieces of jewellery are made by hand in the Stuttgart manufactory, based on stainless steel elements with a seal of quality, complemented by natural stones, freshwater pearls and crystals.

Smoky quartz is robust, but - like all natural stones - likes to be treated gently. The same applies to your general care instructions for gemstone jewellery:

• Reduce contact with water: Remove jewellery before showering, bathing, sauna, solarium and sport.

• Cosmetics & Perfume: First apply cream, style and perfume – then put on your smoky quartz jewellery.

• Gentle cleaning: After wearing, wipe with a dry, lint-free microfibre cloth to remove sweat and cosmetic residues.

• No aggressive means: Do not use a silver bath, alcohol-based cleaners or ultrasonic devices.

• Storage: Store dry, dark and separately in a COEUR DE LION case or jewellery box to prevent the smoky quartz from scratching harder stones or metals.

This way your smoky quartz bracelet, smoky quartz necklace or earrings with smoky quartz will stay beautiful for a long time.