What on Earth Is Rose Quartz?

Rose quartz is a pale pink variety of quartz, famous as the stone of romance and love. There are two varieties: massive, translucent rose quartz and rarer well-formed crystals. Below are its properties, history, lore and traditional meanings.

The Physical Properties of Rose Quartz

The first variety of rose quartz is found in translucent masses made of intergrown anhedral crystals. It's sometimes called star rose quartz, and is usually in quartz cores of pegmatites. Star rose quartz shows asterism, with the reflections of the light forming a six-rayed star when rose quartz is cut as spheres or cabochons. The other variety of rose quartz occurs in well-formed crystals of similar color. These are a late formation in pegmatite pockets, and they're slightly dichroic.

Both varieties have a pale pink to rose red color. On the Mohs hardness scale, rose quartz scores a 7. It's brittle, conchoidal, translucent, with vitreous luster.

The History of Rose Quartz

Rose quartz owes its name to its pinky hue. Its most significant gem localities can be found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Historically, it was first created as jewelry in ancient Rome and Assyria, although rose quartz beads dating all the way back to 7000 BC were found in the Mesopotamian area. At its earliest stage, rose quartz represented a talisman of ownership in the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures. Egyptians used it in beauty rituals. Greeks and Romans were the first to weave rose quartz into their myths as the stone of love, and Ancient Native Americans thought of it the same way.

The Lore of Rose Quartz

According to myth, rose quartz came to be after Aphrodite's bloodstained white quartz, which is what gives rose quartz its pink color. In the tale, the goddess of love rushed to the aid of her lover, Adonis, who was attacked by the god of war Ares, but she caught herself on a briar bush doing so. Ancient peoples believed in the magical powers of rose quartz, using it as talismans and amulets.

The Metaphysical Properties of Rose Quartz

In crystal lore, rose quartz is a symbol of the heart and of beauty. Ancient Egyptians associated it with a soft, beautiful complexion, and today it is a staple of polished rose quartz pieces such as hearts and tumbled stones. These are traditional associations, not effects on the body.

In chakra traditions, rose quartz is linked with the Heart Chakra. It can teach us the true essence and meaning of love, as well as help us open our heart to it. In crystal lore, it is a reminder to love and accept ourselves for who we are.

Rose quartz is a stone of the romantics, or those seeking love. Its gentle pink hue can draw positive emotional energy, helping us accept the natural ebbs and flows in relationships. Add the Stone of Gentle Love to your collection today.