About Agate

The mining of agate in the Nahe River valley in Germany, which was already documented in 1497, gave rise to the cutting-centre of Idar-Oberstein. Originally, the river was used to power the grinding wheels. When the Nahe agate deposit had been exhausted, in the nineteenth century, Idar-Oberstein's cutters started to develop the agate deposits of Brazil, which sparked off exploration and the discovery of Brazil's rich deposits of amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, topaz, and other gemstones.

Dying of Agate: In 1834 the first Brazilian agates came to Idar-Oberstein. The material had the disadvantage that the colours were mostly grey, but also three important advantages:
1. the stones were bigger,
2. the even layered structure were better suitable for carvings,
3. due to their higher porosity it was easier to dye them.

Facts:

• Mineral: Quartz Aggregate
• Hardness: 6.5
• Micro- to cryptocrystalline