Frequently asked questions

• Is everything sold as 'jasper' actually jasper?

  Not always — and this matters when matching materials across a collection. True jasper is opaque microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) with mineral inclusions, Mohs 6.5–7. But several popular trade names use 'jasper' loosely: kambaba and ocean jasper are rhyolites (volcanic rock), and dalmatian jasper is a feldspar-rich igneous stone. They wear similarly enough for most jewelry use, but if you're spec-ing on hardness or marketing a piece as quartz-family, check the variety. The specific variety should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified.
• Which jaspers are typically dyed, and how should I care for dyed strands?

  Solid-color jaspers in vivid blues, greens, purples, or reds are often dyed — natural jasper palettes lean toward earth tones (brick red, mustard, forest, cream, gray, black). Picture, ocean, Picasso, mookaite, and red creek jaspers are usually natural; 'sea sediment' and bright color-block jaspers are usually dyed or composite. Treatment should be disclosed — ask before buying if it isn't specified. For dyed strands, skip ultrasonic cleaners and avoid acetone, alcohol, and abrasive polishing compounds during finishing. Wipe with a soft damp cloth, store away from prolonged sunlight, and warn customers against perfume and chlorine contact.
• What jewelry projects does jasper handle well?

  At Mohs 6.5–7, true jasper takes daily wear comfortably — it's a workhorse for bracelets, malas, men's pieces, and statement necklaces where you want opacity and pattern rather than translucence. Larger rounds (10–14mm) and donuts read well as focal beads against leather or chunky chain; 6–8mm rounds work for stacked bracelets and multi-strand designs. Free-form and slice cuts highlight the matrix patterning in landscape jaspers. Jasper pairs cleanly with sterling, antiqued brass, copper, and bone or wood components. For rings, set it bezel rather than prong since edges can chip on impact.
• How do I tell jasper from agate, chalcedony, or onyx?

  All four are chalcedony-family (microcrystalline quartz), so hardness and chemistry overlap. The visual tell is translucence: jasper is opaque with mineral inclusions creating its color and pattern; agate is translucent to semi-translucent with banding; chalcedony is translucent and typically uniform in color; onyx is opaque-to-translucent with parallel straight banding (or solid black in commercial dyed onyx). Hold a bead to a strong light — if light passes through edges, it's likely agate or chalcedony, not jasper. Patterned 'jaspers' that show translucent zones are often more accurately classed as agate, but trade naming follows appearance.
• Why do jaspers from different origins look so different?

  Jasper's color and pattern come from whatever minerals were present when the silica gel formed, so origin drives appearance more than in most stones. Oregon and Idaho produce picture jaspers with landscape-like banding (iron, manganese). Australia is the source for mookaite's cream-to-burgundy palette. Madagascar yields ocean jasper orbicular patterns and bright polychrome material. Russian and Indian jaspers run toward red and brecciated patterns. Brazilian material includes red creek and Polychrome varieties. When matching strands across a production run, buy from the same variety and ideally the same lot — pattern and color shift noticeably batch to batch even within one named variety.