Rock Crystal
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ROCK CRYSTAL
This transparent quartz was appreciated by all the ancient civilizations and has never ceased to inspire jewelry creations.
Its name comes from the Greek krystallos meaning “ice”, because of its resemblance to frozen water. In the Western world, rock crystal was particularly prized in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as shown by the abundance of rock crystal objects including bowls, ewers, boats and caskets that can now be admired in museums throughout Europe.
The purity of rock crystal matched the spirit of the Art Deco style, and thus came back into fashion.
Cartier made poetry of this mineral, with round or rectangular brooches and bracelets, often combining it with onyx to create an elegant contrast, or using it to further emphasize the beauty and sparkle of diamonds.
In 1932 Gloria Swanson purchased two extraordinary bracelets from Cartier. They were fashioned from several dozen semi-circles of rock crystal enhanced with diamonds on a supple and elastic platinum mount.
Most of Cartier’s legendary mysterious clocks feature a rock crystal dial. Silicon dioxide. Hardness: 7.
Birthstone of Leo. Symbol of eternity. United States, Brazil, France.
