The Fascinating World of Druzy Gems

If you aren’t familiar with druzy gemstones – also spelled druse and drusy – they’re the encrustations of tiny quartz crystals across the surface of a host stone. Their unusual sparkle and one-of-a-kind nature makes them a popular choice among jewelers and buyers alike. To those who believe in the metaphysical influence of natural crystals on humans, druzy gemstones magnify the properties of their host stone. It amplifies the body’s ability to heal and strengthens the spirit.

What Is Druzy?

There are nearly as many types of druzy as there are minerals, since it attaches to other stones. The way it works is that when water washes over rocks and then dries out, it leaves a film of minerals that form into crystals. Druzy is a sugar-like substance that glitters in sunlight and projects strong color. They can be almost any color imaginable, and are found near water, along shorelines and at the bottom of river beds. If you happen to know the common minerals of an area, you can predict the appearance of druzy and know how to look for it.

As a healing crystal, druzy is thought to be emotionally uplifting. It helps the person wearing it break through energy blocks and connect more fully with their higher power. Physically, druzy is thought to purify the reproductive system, treat infection, and heal mental illness. It influences relaxation and creativity.

Druzy’s Popularity

Druzy is a popular stone primarily because of its beauty. Since it is a layer on disparate stones, it manifests in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, red, orange, brown, cobalt blue, and purple. Druzy sourced from Peru is primarily blue in color, being layered over blue chrysocolla. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, it takes on a pink color from pick calcite. Druzy also comes in assorted sizes and shapes. Some are large enough to be best displayed, some are large enough for focal gems, and others are tiny enough to look better in strands.

Another reason for druzy’s popularity is its low cost. That’s a good quality for a stone to have in the eyes of a jewelry designer. They’re typically much lower in price than other stones, and they’re easy to work with and easy to cut, which also makes them desirable for jewelry.

The Many Faces of Druzy

One popular form of druzy is the agate. Druzy agates are not just blue, or pink, or orange. They’re ten shades of blue like French blue, Caribbean blue, Santorini blue, saltwater blue, and ocean blue. They have an open side, or a crevice that shimmers with crystals. Some are free formed, some in heart shapes, and others pear-shaped. Many sell in strands of 20.

Many larger stones are cut to reveal the crystalline center. The more crystal appearance a stone has, the higher its value, no matter what color it is. Some are cut in slices that show a cross-section of the agate with the crystalline formation. Others are bezel set in sterling silver, vermeil, or black gold.

Artisans use druzy stones in countless creative ways; three-stone with reflective surfaces rings, bulky three-stone chain necklaces, amazing cuff bracelets, modern bangle bracelets, and vintage statement earrings. Druzy slices in many colors and sizes as pendants and earrings make for attention-grabbing pieces. No matter what your style, there is a piece of druzy jewelry for you.

Once you’ve settled on the druzy stone in the right color, shape, and size for you, you’ll want to know how to care for it. For starters, natural gemstones are delicate. You have to be careful not to drop them or knock into something, because the fragile stones can easily crack, or otherwise break. When you want to clean you druzy, only wipe them clean with a soft cloth, and never use sprays, dipping trays, or other methods of harsh cleaning.

Other druzy stone care includes keeping it away from harsh cleaning chemicals. If your druzy is a ring, you should know that chlorine, denatured alcohol, acetone like fingernail polish remover, and even ammonia can dull, and even cause pits in the surface of the gem. Likewise, you shouldn’t wear your druzy in the pool, hot tub, or shower. Common hair products like shampoo, dye, and hairspray and other beauty products like lotions and perfumes can also be damaging.

When you aren’t wearing your druzy jewelry, don’t leave it out in the cold to collect dust or get misplaced. Instead, keep it in a lined jewelry pouch or jewelry box to keep its sparkle.