Insouciant Studios Gilded Earrings Rutilated Quartz and Black Spinel

Insouciant Studios "Gilded" earrings handmade from genuine, natural faceted black Spinel and gorgeous smooth rondells of rutilated Quartz. These earrings are both subtle and stunning, and elegant mix of soft colors that will move effortlessly from day to night and from jeans to formal wear. 14k gold filled construction and earwires. Very lightweight.

Measurements
Total Length: 2 inches, (5 cm)
Total Width: ~1/4 inch (1 cm)

Materials

Spinel (MgAl2O4) is a magnesium aluminum oxide mineral, with a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. It occurs in a range of colors, from colorless to black, with red, lavender, blue, white and others possible. It has a long history of use as a gemstone. In nature, it is formed by high-temperature metamorphism of carbonates or schists, and is often associated with calcite, dolomite, garnet, corundum, diopside, olivine, and other dense minerals. [Mineralogy, Perkins]

Quartz (SiO2, Silicon Dioxide) is the second most abundant mineral of the Earth's crust. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, an occurs in a variety of colors, from colorless to black. Some of the colors have their own gem names:
Purple: Amethyst
Yellow: Citrine
Yellow and Purple: Ametrine
Green: Prasiolite
White: Milk, snow
Brown/gray/black: Smoke
Pink: Rose
Orange/ Red: Carnelian
[Mineralogy, Perkins]