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Ageless and charismatic,this striking gemstone is one of the most extensively used in jewellery art. The name Calcedony/ Chalcedony comes from the ancient port on the Sea of Marmara in Asia Minor where it was believed to be discovered. Calcedony is the cryptocrystalline form of silica. The form of crystals in Chalcedony is so minute that its crystalline structure can’t be seen without using a microscope. Scoring to be one of the most romanced stone by jewellery designers,it is one of the most popular gemstones in the market today. The semi-precious gem is waxy and glistening in form. The pocket-friendly gemstone is mostly recognized for its glossy shades ranging from whites to grey/grey-green and its brown variants. Virtually,Chalcedony occurs in an ample array of semi-precious gemstones. The prominent ones include Agate,Onyx,Carnelian,Chrysoprase,Heliotrope (blood-stone) and Tree Agate. The lovely variations of it have been used in jewellery form as well as for its healing and mystical properties. Some believed it to banish fear,sadness and hysteria while other civilizations have deemed it to prop up tranquility and serenity. The Romans prized Chalcedony for making seals out of it. The Victorians shaped them into an endless assortment of cameos and intaglios. The period of Renaissance magic witnessed its consumption for health and safety. The deposits of the gleaming nuggets are found in almost all parts of the world. The most valued are from India,Burma,Madagascar,Brazil,USA and Mexico. Though a tough gemstone,it must be protected from scratching. No two singles in nature are alike! The gorgeous nuggets might come monetarily cheap but the prints of nature’s disposition make each one unique,arresting and irreplaceable.

(The writer is a city-based researcher specialising in jewellery art and can be contacted at sameeraahaan02@gmail.com)