Differently precious stones

At Agapanthus, semi-precious stones take on special relevance. They sometimes possess a more marked uniqueness than the most prestigious precious stones. Semi-precious gems can exude more personality and increase the originality of the final result. Thanks to the time and care dedicated to the selection of stones whose inclusions enhance their attractiveness, Agapanthus is able to offer exceptional finds that are never commonplace. Inclusions are responsible for almost all optical effects that make the stone come alive. When light hits the surface and enters inside, it interacts with the inclusions, creating peculiar phenomena such as asterism and chatoyancy, giving the stone its indescribable attractiveness. Every so often, the crystals formed inside the stone even give off a metallic glimmer similar to glitter.

Choosing gems requires many hours of time. The first phase is the swift observation of thousands. Then comes a slower, more precise sorting of the ones with a better cut, with a special optical effect. Gradually, the selection narrows by discarding the less interesting. Quantity diminishes and quality increases until the maximum is obtained. Strawberry quartz, for instance, is a clear quartz crystal, a stone found all over the world, but with red inclusions that can make the stone look similar to a strawberry. The quartz looks pink with scattered flecks of bright red. Another example is tourmaline, which can be any colour, but Agapanthus seeks out only the rarest specimens whose colour and shape make for exceptional jewellery that cannot be found elsewhere.