Moss Agate Rings: The Unique Qualities of Moss Agate Gemstones

The choice of gemstones abounds, but they can also bore. Preferences made by jewelry customers today generally remain essentially definitive. The imagination that one generation lacks seems ingrained in the following. 

Yet look just past the traditional jewelry narrative and new possibilities and applications become seducing. One such combination of piece and stone is the moss agate ring. A stunning stone suffused with beauty and meaning that can make the perfect engagement or partnership ring, or even inlaid wedding band.

What is Moss Agate

Agate is a crystallized form of silica called chalcedony, and moss agate is a specific variety of agate that contains distinct coloring and patterns that mark it out from other types of agate.

The primary agate forms are fire agate, moss agate, chrysoprase, heliotrope, and onyx. They are all formed in the same manner but differ in the infused colors that are present in each variety. It is the mineral makeup of the surrounding rock that renders these colors within the agate stone.

In appearance, all agate stones are translucent or partially translucent, which causes the chalcedony to have what is generally referred to as a "waxy luster." 

Agate can vary in size to a considerable degree. Ranging between under a centimeter to, one recently discovered, over sixty centimeters, the size depends on the saturation of silica percolates in the water running through the rock.

What Colors Can Agate Come in 

Agate colors can be wide and varied but typically fall into several broad categories. If there is a substantial amount of nickel oxide, the stones have a greenish hue, while copper is the predominant mineral if they are bluer in color. 

For red colors of fire agate and rare varieties of moss agate, the color is caused by iron particles, and iron oxide deposits that combine with the silica percolates in the water.  

The distinctly patterned agates of heliotrope and moss agate are also the result of mineral deposits. The blood red or yellow flecks in the deep green of heliotrope result from iron oxide. For moss agate, it is magnesium oxide that creates the thin dark veins running through against the translucent, green, or red backgrounds this stone has. The effect gives the gem the appearance of moss or veined cheeses, such as Danish blue.  

Origins and Properties of Agate 

The name agate derives from a Sicilian river that the ancient Greeks named Achastes. The river, unsurprisingly, gave up large quantities of agate. The agate was highly prized and used to create ornaments or combined with gold and silver to act as bases for goblets or handles. 

In terms of hardness, Agate scores around seven on the Mohs scale, while a diamond scores ten and glass scores just over five for comparison. This scale represents a gemstone's ability to withstand pressure and how scratch resistant the material is. 

What Is Moss Agate as A Birthstone

Today it is jewelers, or "the national association of Jewelers," to be accurate, that appear to dictate what a birthstone is and are ascribed to specific months. Obviously, this has not always been the case, as tradition and precedents were generally followed. Indeed, in ancient times birthstones were associated with zodiac signs as the nature and timing of moths could be fluid. 

Moss agate is not listed as a birthstone today but was originally considered a birthstone when they were assigned to astrological periods instead of individual months. In Greek and Roman culture, the stone was associated with 20th April to 20th May, which is Tauraus. 

However, researching online will throw out several other zodiac signs based on the qualities of the stone (Virgo being misquoted), misunderstanding the Roman Calendar (Aquarius, probably thinking of the 10-month Calendar), or confusing the astrological sign for May (Gemini being mistaken).

Qualities and Meaning of Moss Agate

Gemstones are often associated or imbued with meanings, and moss agate is no different. As with being a birthstone, Moss agate also seems to enjoy a plethora of meanings. 

The most common association, from the Roman period though to the Nineteenth century, was good fortune or serendipity. Pliny the Elder attributed it to its ability to fight off poisons and made "athletes invincible," all round giving the sense that it gave the owner fortune. 

Today, qualities are less dramatic. Moss agate is now associated with such markers as strength by some people, emotional peace and tranquility by others, and even a sign of a new beginning by a few.

The Use of Agate in Jewelry

It is the breadth of characteristics that make moss agate such an exciting and desired stone for jewelry. Bracelets, earrings, pendants, and rings are all commonly used with the gemstone as individual pieces, sets or even complete collections.

Reasonable abundance makes the stone less expensive than some choices, but because of the unique marking and colorings, each stone loans itself to experimental and more startling designs than are usually available with more traditional gemstones. 

The use of precious metals as the stones mount can also be bolder. The patterns and different shades mean you achieve exquisite matches and combinations of agate stone and metal and produce quite stunning effects.

Using Moss Agate for Rings

Rings will always be high on the popularity list of jewelry purchases. There are an inordinate amount of designs and styles to choose from, but much like having hundreds of TV channels, the choice seems to remain staid and limited.  

A moss agate ring is not just another ring or piece of jewelry. It is quite unlike any other stone-mounted ring or inlaid band you will ever come across. The inexpensive price shouldn't deter your consideration of a purchase. The forging of an agate ring is quite something else and makes it high on the list of the new stone and metal combinations for engagement rings and wedding bands. 

Importance of Meaning in Engagement and Wedding Rings

Engagement or wedding rings, although being traditional jewelry pieces stand beyond most types of rings because the implied meaning transcends the jewelry in the giving of the first and the exchange of the latter. 

Relationships and love stories are individual to all couples. The journey that two souls have taken to reach the point of life-long commitments will never be exactly shared by any other. This individuality and uniqueness is now more often than not being shared in the symbols of the union, such as the engagement ring and the wedding bands from moissanite rings.

Why Moss Agate is the Perfect Stone to Represent Union

Marriage, of course, isn't for everyone. There are many couples who have a deep commitment yet don't consider marriage the right step. This doesn't preclude a couple's desire to offer signs of union for their partnership, and rings are probably still the most definitive symbol you can exchange.

Moss Agate, whether as an engagement, partnership, or wedding ring, stands ahead of almost all other stones in being able to represent the uniqueness of the narrative of your relationship. From the means of strength, fortune, and new beginnings can align perfectly with the passing of rings, taking your relationship to a new level, yet within a piece of jewelry that is utterly unique to you as no two stones are the same. 

Conclusion

Agate uniqueness stands it out from most other gemstones. Variety, patterns, and colorings are endless. With the agate stone types, moss agate sits at its zenith, outshining all others in depth of beauty and qualities. 

Beauty and unusual colorings aside, the stone also is imbued with a host of connotations, such as fortune, tranquility, and strength that make it perfect for jewelry. The very personal meanings that the stone can represent lends it to exceptionally perfect for use in rings that symbolize, partnership and love.