Marcasite in Quartz Wide Band Ring – Size 9
This is the kind of stone that can turn someone into a gemstone collector. At first glance it looks like clear quartz with something metallic caught inside, but look closer and there is an entire mineral formation suspended beneath the surface. A large concentration of marcasite occupies one side of the stone, breaking into smaller metallic inclusions that scatter through the surrounding quartz. Depending on the light, they shift from silvery gray to a muted brassy gold, giving the stone a completely different character from different angles.
Marcasite is an iron sulfide mineral closely related to pyrite, but with a different crystal structure. When it becomes enclosed within quartz, the transparent crystal essentially gives you a window into mineral growth that would normally be hidden inside the stone. That's what I love about specimens like this. You're not just looking at color or pattern, you're looking at two minerals that formed together and preserved a tiny geological landscape inside the quartz.
I kept the setting a little simpler on this one because that concentrated formation deserved the attention. A clean sterling silver bezel follows the long oval shape of the stone, while the wide tapered band carries the more elaborate metalwork. Its heavily textured surface is covered with individually applied silver details, then darkened with patina and polished back so the raised silver stands out against the deeper recesses. The contrast gives the band an ancient, almost excavated quality while the cleaner setting leaves plenty of room for the stone to do what it does best.
Metaphysically, marcasite is traditionally associated with courage, confidence, and grounding, while clear quartz is associated with clarity and amplification.
✧ Gemstone: Marcasite in Quartz
✧ Ring Size: 9; due to the wide band, best suited for approximately a size 8.5–8.75 finger
✧ Band Width: Approximately 13 mm at the front, tapering to 7 mm at the back
✧ Ring Face: Approximately 26 x 14 mm
✧ Setting: Sterling silver bezel
✧ Metal: Sterling silver with an oxidized patina
One-of-a-kind and made with care in my studio.
