Know Your Stone: Smoky Quartz

Smoky quartz has a moody, mysterious beauty that makes it one of the most captivating members of the quartz family. While it isn't a precious stone, its subtle gray-brown hues make it a popular choice for people who love sophisticated, understated jewelry. Read on to learn about smoky quartz's surprising origins, and even the interesting role it played in early eyewear.

Is smoky quartz gray or brown?

It can be both! The color of smoky quartz shifts from a gorgeous soft gray to dark brown. It can be transparent or fully opaque, but our favorite specimens are semi-opaque crystals with gray coloration that almost looks like clouds—or, as the name suggests, smoke.

How does smoky quartz get its color? It's the result of radiation. When rocks surrounding quartz emit gamma radiation, aluminum impurities within the quartz are activated to produce its color. This is actually the same way that amethyst turns purple, except in that case, it's iron in the crystal that is affected by the gamma rays. 

Where does smoky quartz come from?

Quartz usually forms in volcanic areas as igneous rocks cool. Fissures in the rock fill with fluids and gasses that crystalize. Here in Colorado, there's a well-known deposit near Pike's Peak where the smoky quartz is interspersed with pretty green Amazonite. That's where our quartz comes from! 

Visiting Colorado? Check out the Gems & Minerals Hall at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where there's a display with the Smoky Hawk King, the largest specimen of smoky quartz and Amazonite found at the famous Smoky Hawk Claim near Lake George, Colorado. You can also try to find some smoky quartz for yourself! The Colorado Springs region is famous for its abundance of smoky quartz and is a popular destination for amateur rock enthusiasts. 

Quartz: the original sunglasses?

Believe it or not, smoky quartz was used to make glasses in ancient China way back in the 12th century. Contrary to popular belief, the glasses weren't used as sunglasses; they were actually worn by judges to hide their facial expressions from litigants. Makes you wonder what kind of cases they were judging, if they had to go to such extreme measures to hide their reactions!

From ancient judges’ glasses to the famous Pike’s Peak deposits, smoky quartz has always carried a certain mystique. Here at Waystone, we love to make jewelry that has the shadowy drama you get from smoky quartz. Explore our quartz jewelry collection to see how we turn smoky quartz into timeless pieces you can wear every day.