Named after a city of Minor Asia (khalkédôn), chalcedony is a finely crystallized or fibrous quartz found in volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Although belonging to a gemstone family that occurs in many colors, the chalcedony shades vary from grayish hues through to lavender to intense blue shades. Throughout history, chalcedony has been the preferred stone for gem engravers.
Van Cleef & Arpels mainly chooses Namibian chalcedony for its unique intensity. To guarantee to its clients stones of exceptional color, the Maison selects only stones whose hue is even and intense, with no grayish coloring. The Maison also insists on a high polish, which is difficult to obtain due to the gem’s micro-crystalline structure.
Many legends are told about chalcedony. It is said to stimulate creativity and to prevent irritability and melancholy. It is also believed to promote a sense of calm and peace.
Maintaining your chalcedony:
As with most gemstones chalcedonies should be kept in a fabric-lined box away from other jewelry items in order to avoid scratching and preserve its unique charm.