A factual guide to aquamarine: the blue beryl behind the sea-coloured stone, how to tell it from blue topaz and glass, the truth about heat treatment, and how to care for it.
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Crystal care, cleaning and jewellery guides. New here? Start with the guide below, then grab the free printable checklist.
A factual guide to labradorite: the grey feldspar that flashes blue, green and gold, what actually causes the labradorescence, how spectrolite and rainbow moonstone fit in, and how to care for it.
A factual guide to sodalite: its royal-blue colour and white veining, the easy test that tells it from lapis lazuli, the colour-changing variety hackmanite, and how to care for this softer stone.
A factual guide to moldavite, the rare green impact glass from the Czech Republic, and the most counterfeited stone on the market: how it formed, how to tell genuine from fake green glass, and how to buy and care for it.
A clear, honest guide to malachite: the banded green copper stone, whether it is toxic, how to tell real from fake and reconstituted pieces, and how to care for this soft, water-sensitive stone.
A factual guide to amazonite: the blue-green microcline feldspar with natural white albite streaks, what gives it its colour, how to tell it from aventurine and turquoise, and how to care for it.
A factual guide to howlite: the soft white stone with grey veining that is the most common dyed imitation of turquoise, how to spot dyed pieces, why it only comes in white naturally, and how to care for it.
A factual guide to hematite: its metallic shine and surprising weight, the simple red streak test that identifies it, why strongly magnetic "hematite" is man-made, and how to care for it.
Can you wear silver and gold together? Absolutely. How to mix metals on purpose - bridge pieces, neutral stones, balanced layering and one tip that stops it looking accidental.
A factual guide to obsidian: what makes it natural volcanic glass rather than a true crystal, the patterned varieties like snowflake and sheen, how to handle its softer nature, and how to tell it from manufactured glass.
A clear, factual guide to aventurine: what gives it that soft sparkle, the colours it comes in, where it is mined, how to care for it safely, and how to tell natural aventurine from man-made glass.
Green stones are the easiest colour to wear with neutrals. How to tell aventurine, jade and malachite apart, pair them with gold or silver, layer necklaces, and dress them up or down.