Description

The ancients called it the stone of the cooling air. The Victorians wore it to find their voice.

Product Highlights:

The Stone: Millions of years of history. Blue Lace Agate is a rare variety of banded chalcedony. Its delicate, sky-blue ribbons are formed as silica-rich groundwater slowly seeps into cavities in volcanic rock, depositing microcrystalline quartz layer by layer. The white and blue lace patterns are a geological record of shifting mineral concentrations over eons. These 12mm beads are substantial and translucent, set with eight ornate, filigree-style vermeil gold beads.
History: Agate is among the oldest stones used for healing and ornament, first discovered by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus along the Achates River. While most agates were used for strength and protection, Blue Lace Agate was historically prized for its rarity. In the 19th century, it became a favorite of lapidaries in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, who mastered the art of carving it into delicate bowls and cameos. It was particularly popular in the Victorian era, where the "language of gems" dictated that blue lace stood for tranquility and a clear message.