Quartz Gemstone Beads

Frequently asked questions

• Is amethyst the same thing as quartz?

  Yes. Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz — same chemistry (silicon dioxide), same Mohs 7 hardness, same crystal structure. The trace iron in the rough plus natural underground radiation produces the purple color. Citrine, rose, smoky, clear/rock crystal, ametrine, rutilated, and dozens of other named "stones" are all members of the quartz family.
• What's the difference between crystal quartz, clear quartz, and rock crystal?

  They're three names for the same thing — colorless transparent quartz. The conventional bead-trade name is "Crystal Quartz" or "Rock Crystal."
• Is smoky quartz natural?

  The brown-to-black color of smoky quartz is produced by gamma radiation acting on aluminum-bearing clear quartz. That radiation occurs naturally underground — but slowly. Most commercial smoky quartz on the bead market is clear quartz that was irradiated artificially in a lab to speed up the same process. The result is chemically identical to natural smoky quartz; irradiation, when known and disclosed by the supplier — ask before buying if treatment isn't specified.
• Is most "citrine" actually heat-treated amethyst?

  Yes — by some industry estimates, around 90% of commercial citrine is heat-treated amethyst. Natural citrine is pale honey or champagne-colored; the bright orange "Madeira" tones most designers picture when they hear "citrine" are almost always the heat-treated product. Treatment status (natural vs. heat-treated amethyst) should be disclosed — ask if a strand doesn't specify.
• Is "green amethyst" a real stone?

  The green stone marketed as "green amethyst" is prasiolite — heat-treated amethyst that turned green rather than yellow under controlled heat. The FTC does not consider "green amethyst" an acceptable trade name. Use "prasiolite" if accuracy matters.