Forged Fine Silver Filigree around Black Druzy.

Forged Fine Silver Filigree around Black Druzy.

One of my favorite new materials is called “Druzy Quartz”. You’ve probably seen geodes around and about, and that is the common geological term for any rock that has an internal crystal structure. Specifically to the jewelry industry, the term for cut stones that showcase the crystal structure is “Druzy”. Most available druzy is Druzy Quartz, but Agate and other stones are available as well. In this post, I will be limiting my comments to Druzy Quartz.

Druzy Quartz naturally has a black or white coloration to it’s crystals, as shown. This beautiful material is found all over the world, and is the result of incomplete solidifying of the stone involved. The formation of the crystals produced may be anywhere from very large to very fine formations, or even seem to have ‘bubbles’ of stone underneath the crystal layer. I find the stunning contrast between the silver and black very classic, but sometimes, a bit of color is needed.

Sterling Silver and Titanium Druzy

Sterling Silver and Titanium Druzy


To that end, lapidary artists have figured out how to bond diffusion metal overlays onto the stones. Metals such as Titanium, Niobium and Gold are vaporized and using electric current are deposited on the stone in a permanent bond. When depositing titanium or niobium, it will depend upon what current is used, to determine what the final color will become. Titanium Druzy can be purple, blue, bronze, a combination of colors including an apparently iridescent appearance.

Rose Gold Druzy Filigree set in 14 Karat with a white Sapphire accent.

Rose Gold Druzy Filigree set in 14 Karat with a white Sapphire accent.

In the case of Gold Druzy, all the usual colors of gold can be bonded to the stone, rendering it a stunning accent in high-karat art jewelry. The piece shown here is a rather unusual Rose Gold Druzy which has been set in 14 Karat gold with 18 Karat accents and a White Sapphire. Druzy lends itself to so many applications and settings that I expect it to be continue to inspire and challenge me for many years to come.

If you have any questions about Druzy, or would like to learn more about the pieces showcased, please vist my website.