Apple-green chalcedony coloured by nickel. Softness without being soft.
The aesthetic
Chrysoprase is chalcedony coloured a translucent apple to mint green by traces of nickel, and it is the most valuable of the chalcedonies for that colour alone. The best material is even and slightly cloudy, glowing rather than glassy. Like rose quartz it can fade with long exposure to heat and strong light, so it is a stone that prefers a shelf out of the sun.
The dynamic
Chrysoprase is associated with emotional healing, openness and gentleness, and is often described as a stone for softening after a hard stretch.
Some variations
- lemon chrysoprase
- prase
- chrysoprase cabochons