Marcasite Jewellery

Meaning of Marcasite

The meaning of word marcasite originates from an Arabic term for “fire”. Marcasite is a genuine, natural and a fashionable gemstone. Marcasite Jewellery is commonly used as a substitute for Diamonds for its elegant metallic lustre and sparkling finish.

Marcasite Vs Pyrite

Marcasite gemstones are made from pyrite, a natural mineral which has a metallic sheen and a yellow-gold color. Pyrite is structured cubically and is composed of iron sulfide.  It is stable and  made of hard structure which can be used to cut marcasite gemstones. Pyrite is found in many parts of the world, but only a small fraction is suitable to create marcasite jewellery.

On the other hand, there is also a mineral called marcasite, which is lighter in colour and is very brittle. It has an unstable crystal structure which easily cracks and crumbles when worked.

Till date there is no valid and evident reason that why the term Marcasite is still used for the jewellery stone today, even though it is now clear that the raw material used to cut marcasite gemstones is ‘pyrite’.

History and Popularity of Marcasite Jewellery

Marcasite Jewellery has its roots since the time of Ancient Greeks and was commonly used in the 18th century. During Queen Victoria’s Reign in 19th century, Marcasite Jewellery again saw a rise in its popularity. In Victorian Era, it was a fashion statement in the UK for its elegance as well as its ability to be combined with pearls. Therefore, if you notice today, a lot of Marcasite Jewellery designs are based on beautiful Victorian styles and is commonly referred as Vintage Marcasite Jewellery.

The Energy and Mystery of Marcasite

Many years ago, in ancient times, people believed that marcasite had:

Power to discharge negative energy

Abilities to improve a person’s expressions

A protection shield for those who performed dangerous  jobs