Natural Smoky Quartz: Complete Guide for Trade, Jewelry, and Collections

This comprehensive guide provides everything you need to know about natural smoky quartz, for trade partners, jewelers, and collectors alike.

Overview

Natural smoky quartz is a variety of quartz characterized by its unique smoky coloration, which results from natural radiation exposure. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, smoky quartz is durable and versatile, making it suitable for a wide range of jewelry applications, from elegant pendants to statement rings. Its warm, neutral tones appeal to a variety of tastes and styles, establishing smoky quartz as a popular choice in both fashion and fine jewelry markets. Understanding its properties, sources, and market dynamics is crucial for anyone involved in its trade or collection.

Physical Properties and Specifications

  • Chemical Composition: SiO₂ (silicon dioxide)

  • Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale

  • Crystal System: Hexagonal

  • Refractive Index: 1.544 - 1.553

  • Specific Gravity: 2.65

  • Pleochroism: Absent

  • Fluorescence: Generally inert

  • Cleavage/Fracture: Conchoidal fracture

Color and Quality Classifications

Available Color Ranges

  • Primary hues: Brown, gray

  • Secondary modifications: Dark brown, light gray, and transparent

  • Tone and saturation ranges: Light to dark tones with varying saturation

  • Premium colors: Deep, rich brown with clarity

  • Commercial grades: Lighter shades and less saturated colors

Clarity Characteristics

  • Typical inclusion types: Liquid inclusions, gas bubbles, and color zoning

  • Clarity grading standards: Eye-clean to included

  • Source-specific features: Unique inclusions that may indicate origin

  • Eye-clean criteria: No visible inclusions to the naked eye

Source Locations and Material

Historic sources

  • Switzerland, Scotland, and Brazil

Current production

  • Significant production is currently from Brazil, Madagascar, and the USA.

Source-specific characteristics

  • Each location imparts distinct characteristics in color and clarity.

Production trends

  • Increasing demand for smoky quartz has led to stable prices, especially for high-quality specimens.