Goldstone

Goldstone is a man-made glass, not a natural gemstone. It is made by melting glass with copper compounds in an oxygen-poor (reducing) environment, which causes tiny crystals of metallic copper to form throughout the glass. These flat, reflective crystals give goldstone its strong, even glitter, known as aventurescence.

The classic colour is a warm reddish-brown with a coppery sparkle. Blue goldstone, which is made by adding cobalt, has a deep midnight blue colour with a silvery or coppery shimmer; green and purple versions are also made using other colouring agents.

Goldstone is believed to have been developed in 17th-century Venice by the Miotti family of glassmakers, who held an exclusive licence for its manufacture and kept the recipe a family secret. The Italian name "avventurina" (from "a ventura", meaning "by chance") is said to come from the story that it was discovered by accident. The name "aventurine" was later given to natural stones that show a similar sparkle. Popular stories that goldstone was invented by Italian monks or alchemists are not supported by evidence.

Because it is glass, goldstone has no crystal structure and is softer than quartz. It is often sold as "sandstone" or "monk's gold" and is sometimes mistaken for, or sold as, natural aventurine or sunstone. Its sparkles are very uniform in size and evenly spread, and small bubbles can sometimes be seen, which help identify it.

Goldstone at a glance

Caring for goldstone

Goldstone is glass (about 5.5 – 6 on the Mohs scale), so it is softer than most gemstones and can scratch or chip. Clean it with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners and harsh chemicals. Store it separately from harder stones and metal items, wrapped in a soft cloth or in its own compartment, and remove it before activities where it might be knocked.

In folklore

The beliefs below are traditional folklore, included for interest. They are not scientifically proven, and nothing here is medical advice.

Goldstone's sparkle has led to it being called the "stone of ambition", and it is traditionally associated with good luck, success and achieving goals. A popular legend holds that it was created by monks or alchemists attempting to make gold, which led to names such as "monk's gold" and "monkstone", though there is no historical evidence for this story.

Although it is a man-made material, goldstone is popular in crystal healing traditions. It is said to build confidence, ambition and a positive attitude, and to deflect negative energy. Blue goldstone is associated with calm, intuition and the night sky, and is sometimes called the "stone of the stars".

Related stones

Blue goldstone, green goldstone, purple goldstone. Natural stones with a similar sparkle include green aventurine, red aventurine, sunstone (aventurine feldspar) and blue aventurine. Goldstone is often used as an affordable imitation of these stones.

For the technically minded

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