2020-Gems- rutiled quartz

Abstract

A new type of rutilated quartz doublet . Rutilated quartz, which refers to natural quartz with rutile needle inclusions, is very popular in Taiwan’s mineral market. Merchants carve rutilated quartz into spheres rather than pendants or cabochons to get higher prices. The value of such spheres depends on the size of quartz as well as the abundance or appearance of its rutile crystals. Since large and well-formed rutilated quartz is quite rare, it is possible to make those of lower quality into doublets with top covers of glass or synthetic quartz.