While quartz is the most plentiful mineral on Earth, rutilated quartz, where needles of hematite, titanium or tourmaline are included within the quartz, are much less common. In Pre-Columbian South America, super high-quality golden rutilated quartz, where the rutiles are packed thick and in parallel within the quartz, was considered the stone of royalty. When rutilated quartz of such quality can be found now, beads made of it are valued in the thousands of dollars.

The needles (or rutiles) of these Ave beads are a shimmering, desirable golden color, and the beads are a very nice clarity with glassy polish. The quartz itself has a very slightly grey or smoky hue which is typical. Deep yellow citrine Paters, which pick up on the color of the rutiles in the Ave beads, complete the “golden” theme of this piece.

A classic Holy Family crucifix, cast from an Art Nouveau period original, is paired with a feathered detail Miraculous Medal center. The crucifix and rosary center are both solid Sterling silver. The rosary is constructed with heavy 19ga solid Sterling wire and double ring caps on each bead.

Quartz is a very durable material, and this rosary is very nice to carry along with you to pray throughout the day. Sunny!