Chatoyant Malachite with Chrysocolla Designer Cut Cabochon

This wonderfully patterned Malachite cabachon has fantastic green chatoyance and astounding veins of blue Chrysocolla. I've cut this cabochon with a slightly angled girdle, a medium dome and slightly beveled bottom edges. This large astonishing one-of-a-kind treasure is ready to be set into a high end piece of jewelry or adorn a collector's shelf.

Chatoyant Malachite with Chrysocolla Designer Cut Cabochon
46.1 x 25.4 x 6.2mm
87.22 cts.

Malachite is named for the Greek word for "mallow", a green herb. The light and dark green banded designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique unlike any other stone. The banding is formed from subtle changes in the oxidation states of the surrounding pore waters.

Malachite was considered an appropriate talisman for children. Evil spirits were kept at bay and babies slept soundly if a malachite were attached to the side of the infants cradle. Germans believed that the malachite would protect them against falling; it was thought to warn the wearer of impending disaster by cracking into several pieces prior to the incident. Because of the swirling patterns inherent in the stone, malachite was also popular in Italy as protection against the Evil Eye.

The Egyptians used malachite as early as 4000 B.C. for amulets, jewelry and cosmetics (powdered eye shadow.) - During the Middle Ages, malachite was worn for protection from sorcery and black magic.