_edited_j.jpg)
Goldstone is a lovely gemstone, right? Rich and luxurious, and with all those lovely sparkly bits. You will often see Goldstone listed with other gemstones along with its healing properties; but, it isn’t a gemstone at all. It is actually a type of man-made glass.
You can see all Goldstone earrings by clicking here or on any of the images
So, what is it?
Brown Goldstone is glass with tiny copper inclusions which give it that lovely sparkle. It was being made in Persia as early as the 12th Century, but the technique was not perfected in Europe until the end of the 18th Century, by the Miotti family in Venice. The Doge of Venice granted the Miottis the sole licence.
Goldstone also comes in a blue colour, but this is made using cobalt rather than copper. Being a hard glass, Goldstone lends itself to being made into all sorts of interesting shapes. It can also be faceted which gives an already sparkly material even more sparkle!
I love to use both brown and blue Goldstone in my jewellery. I even use it when making my own glass beads, but it is not for the fainthearted. If you are not very careful when shaping the Goldstone glass rods in the hot flame, it can explode! I have a number of holey teeshirts and jogging bottoms which bear the tell-tell signs that I have been trying to work Goldstone again.
Does goldstone have metaphysical properties? Being glass it probably has no more magical properties than a beer bottle. However, it is a very beautiful material and so it can make you feel good! Perhaps that is enough.
Fortunaearrings is a handmade jewellery store featuring a wide range of unique earrings made of gemstones and sterling silver. As well as gemstone earrings which will appeal to the gemstone collector, you will also find a range of earrings made of Venetian glass lampworked at my Devon workshop. See my full handmade jewellery portfolio by clicking the shop link at the top of this page.