I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite new stones: speckled quartz. I first saw this curious and unique material when I was at the Intergem show in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Idar’s rich gem mining and cutting history continue with the addition of this otherwise overlooked variety of quartz.
Found in the iconic and lush rolling hills of western Germany, a true Earth-to-market story, speckled quartz gemstones come from Idar, are cut and polished in Oberstein, and then arrive here in Lafayette, Louisiana, for you to choose from — and are fully traceable along the way.
What is Speckled Quartz?
Unlike its other quartz counterparts, speckled quartz is dense and opaque with a distinct and memorable pattern. One of its unusual features is that each pattern is one of a kind.
Some individual gems have a face-mask green body and bright teal patches. Others have black bodies and multi-colored patches, or they have an army-green body color with distinctly outlined patches. But all have a notable matte finish with high-polish shiny spots.
Reminiscent of an imagined dinosaur egg, these stones come with variations on cabochon cuts, some with a keel line across the top for an edgy punk vibe, and some with the traditional smooth domes cabochon lovers know and love. In any shape, the stones are noteworthy, large, and vibrant.
So, how do you sell these dynamic oddballs? You tell the story!
The Story of Speckled Quartz
Since each gem is unique, showing the customer more than one can help mark the differences that make each one entirely their own.
This is a stone you love, or, you love to hate and having that reaction — whether good or bad — will help guide the conversation of exactly what your customer is looking for.
If they love speckled quartz, highlight the details. It’s easy to wear, highly unusual, and definitely a conversation starter. For customers who want a stone that will photograph easily (social platforms await!), the opacity of this stone makes selfies spirited from every angle.
For everyday wear, speckled quartz is in line with other quartz varieties, coming in at 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. But it also does one even better, having a toughness factor that is higher than average. The opacity of the stone and the pattern will also help hide the wear and tear seen in transparent gems, like scratches and abrasions.
But if it’s Not Love at First Sight…
If your customer is turned off by the playful pattern or the in-your-face spunky nature of speckled quartz, it’s not a losing situation. You now have a starting point for what is “too far” on their personal uniqueness scale.
This opens up an opportunity for you to recommend something a little less eclectic and more traditional — such as maybe a teal sapphire, slightly more unique than a traditional blue sapphire. Or maybe a royal-purple garnet is more their version of unique.
The uncanny good looks of this stone just keep on giving!
Here at Stuller, we want to make sure that our customers have exactly what they are looking for no matter what those needs might be. This stone surely fills the need for something unique and individual.
Shop speckled quartz within the Stuller Notable Gems collection.
Or, if you’re looking for something even odder, our Special Order Gemstones team can help you find that perfect gemstone.
