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Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral / gemstone variety · Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Rose Quartz

A pink variety of Quartz; its basic name listed in GB/T 16552-2017 Table A.1 is Rose Quartz, and dyeing and irradiation treatments are occasionally seen. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.

Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.

Edited by JuneReviewed by RalphLast updated 2026-10-12Who maintains this page

FAQCare and wear

Questions people ask about Rose Quartz

Every sentence below is followed by the registered fact it rests on; answers add no new facts and promise no outcome.

Q1How can you tell real rose quartz from pink glass or dyed quartz?

Colour and appearance alone do not prove it: according to the parent entry Quartz, a quartz's colour and appearance do not show whether it is natural, and the conclusion should come from a qualified gem laboratory.G&G Summer 2014 · CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 (via parent entry Quartz)In natural massive rose quartz, microscopic fibre inclusions aligned with the crystal give a soft pink colour and a characteristic cloudy translucence, and a correctly oriented cabochon can sometimes show a six-rayed star.GIA Rose Quartz DescriptionIt is described as translucent to nearly transparent.CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer

Q2What makes rose quartz pink?

Tiny fibres: microscopic fibre inclusions aligned with the crystal directions give rose quartz its soft pink colour and cloudy translucence.GIA Rose Quartz DescriptionIts colour is light to medium pink, generally light.GB/T 16553—2017An exceptionally rare transparent pink crystalline quartz is coloured by a different mechanism from massive rose quartz.GIA Rose Quartz Description

Q3Can rose quartz go in water, and how should you clean it?

Warm soapy water is always safe, but ultrasonic and steam cleaners should be avoided.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)Thermal shock should also be avoided.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Q4Does rose quartz fade in the sun?

It may: one source rates display heat, sunlight and artificial light as relatively safe but notes that rose quartz may fade.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)GIA's care notes describe it as generally stable in light and heat.GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)Dyed material may fade.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Q5Is rose quartz ever treated or dyed?

Irradiation may deepen the colour of rose quartz, and it is hard to detect.GB/T 16553—2017Dyed material is also recorded, and it may fade.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer

Q6Where does rose quartz form, and why is it never found as crystals?

Rose quartz forms in massive habit without regular flat crystal faces, typically in pegmatites and also in hydrothermal veins.GIA Rose Quartz DescriptionAs the host quartz cools, microscopic silicate mineral fibres likely crystallize out inside it.GIA Rose Quartz DescriptionThe source gives no absolute age or duration for rose quartz or its fibre growth.GIA Rose Quartz Description

Q7What makes good-quality rose quartz?

According to GIA, rose quartz ranges in colour from very light pink, almost white, to medium-dark pink.GIA Rose Quartz Quality FactorsTiny inclusions make most rose quartz translucent; the finest-quality material is often transparent, which is why it is usually faceted.GIA Rose Quartz Quality Factors

Q8What does rose quartz symbolize, and does it have healing powers?

There is no scientific evidence that rose quartz has healing powers: the UK advertising regulators ASA and CAP state that they have not seen evidence that crystal therapy can treat medical conditions.ASA/CAP guidance (UK)Its recorded cultural role is as a birthstone alternative: the U.K. National Association of Jewellers lists it as an alternative for January.Cultural records

What this page can answer

This page covers

What we cannot conclude

  • Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
  • Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
  • Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.

Material research: formation, causes and history

What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.

How it forms

  • Rose quartz (massive quartz; left)
  • Cabochon (right, schematic)
  • Six-rayed star
How rose quartz forms: a schematic animation, not to scale; the captions are taken from the research record under “Material research” on this page.

If you reuse this animation, please credit LumaLark Wiki and link to this pageLicense: CC BY 4.0

Scene-by-scene transcript (8 scenes, with evidence grades and sources)

The caption of each scene in the animation above, with its evidence grade and sources.

  1. Scene 1What rose quartz is

    Rose quartz is the pink variety of quartz (SiO₂) — a variety, not a separate mineral.

    Sources
  2. Scene 2Setting: pegmatites and veins; massive habit

    Rose quartz never grows with regular flat crystal faces and occurs only in massive habit; pegmatites host it most often, though hydrothermal veins also carry it.

    Scope: A generalization for massive rose quartz; transparent pink crystalline quartz is excluded.

    Scope: General occurrence of the constituent mineral (mineral level): quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins, from epithermal to alpine, and is characteristic of granites and granite pegmatites.

    Evidence grade A
    Sources
  3. Scene 3What a pegmatite is (general definition)

    A pegmatite is an essentially igneous rock, commonly of granitic composition, distinguished from other igneous rocks by its extremely coarse but variable grain size, or by an abundance of crystals with skeletal, graphic or other strongly directional growth habits.

    Scope: The general definition of pegmatite (G&G citing London 2008), not specific to rose-quartz-bearing pegmatites.

    Evidence grade A
    Sources
  4. Scene 4Residual magmatic fluids: enrichment in volatiles and rare elements

    As the residual magmatic fluids that form pegmatites evolve, they become enriched in volatile components (water as hydroxyl, OH⁻) and rare elements, which for the most part were not incorporated into common minerals such as feldspar and quartz in the earlier-forming igneous rocks.

    Scope: The general process of granitic pegmatite formation, not specific to rose-quartz-bearing pegmatites. The source's context is complex (rare-element) pegmatites.

    Evidence grade A
    Sources
  5. Scene 5Complex pegmatites: crystallizing inward in zones

    Complex pegmatites crystallize from the outer contacts inward as concentric or layered zones that often differ in mineral assemblage or texture, sometimes ending with an almost monomineralic central quartz core.

    Scope: Zoning in complex (zoned) granitic pegmatites; simple, internally homogeneous pegmatites are not zoned. The source does not say where rose quartz occurs within a pegmatite, so this does not imply that rose quartz sits in the quartz core.

    Evidence grade A
    Sources
  6. Scene 6An inference: fibres likely crystallized as the host cooled

    The fiber inclusions in rose quartz likely crystallized as the host quartz cooled and are aligned according to the host's crystal directions.

    Scope: The source frames this as 'likely', i.e. a well-supported inference rather than direct observation.

    Evidence grade B
    Sources
  7. Scene 7The pink comes from aligned fibres

    The pink colour of massive rose quartz comes from microscopic inclusions of aligned silicate mineral fibers that are similar—but not identical—to dumortierite.

    Scope: Applies to the colour cause of massive rose quartz; excludes the rare transparent pink crystalline quartz, which has a different mechanism.

    Limitation: The exact mineral identity of the colouring fibers in massive rose quartz is not fully resolved (similar to but not identical to dumortierite).

    Evidence grade A
    Sources
  8. Scene 8What you end up seeing

    The microscopic, crystal-aligned fiber inclusions give rose quartz its soft pink colour and characteristic cloudy translucence; sometimes a correctly oriented cabochon can show a six-rayed star.

    Timescale: The source only says the fibers likely crystallized out as the host cooled; it gives no absolute age or duration for rose quartz or its fiber growth.

    Sources

In brief: Rose quartz is the pink variety of quartz (SiO₂) — a variety, not a separate mineral.

Full research record (formation summary, where it forms, 4 formation steps, related base materials)

Rose quartz is the pink variety of quartz (SiO₂) — a variety, not a separate mineral. Massive rose quartz owes its pink hue to microscopic aligned inclusions of a silicate mineral that resembles dumortierite without being identical; these fibres likely crystallized out as the host quartz cooled. Rose quartz grows only in massive habit and never develops regular crystal faces, its most common host being pegmatite, with hydrothermal veins also carrying it. One rare exception, a transparent pink crystalline quartz, is coloured differently; research on synthetic pink quartz shows that aluminium and phosphorus substituting for silicon, followed by irradiation that creates colour centres, gives a very similar pink.

Scope: Covers the cause of colour and formation environment of natural massive rose quartz (and the rare transparent pink crystalline quartz); does not cover dyed, filled or glass imitation material.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description
Where it forms

Pegmatites: the typical host for rose quartz.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

Hydrothermal veins, where rose quartz also occurs.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

Habit: rose quartz is always found in massive form and lacks regular, flat crystal faces.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description
How it forms, step by step

  1. The host quartz forms in massive habit, lacking regular flat crystal faces, typically in pegmatites and also in hydrothermal veins.

    Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

  2. As the host quartz cools, microscopic silicate mineral fibers likely crystallize out.

    Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

  3. The fibers that crystallize out are aligned according to the host's crystal directions, giving massive rose quartz its pink colour.

    Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

  4. (The other type) transparent pink crystalline quartz: coloured by a different mechanism from massive rose quartz; research on synthetic pink quartz shows that aluminium and phosphorus replacing silicon, followed by irradiation forming colour centres, gives a pink very similar to the natural material.

    Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description
Related base materials
  • Quartz (SiO₂): variety-of | Rose quartz is the pink, massive variety of quartz
Supporting findings

Recorded localities

Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.

Locality sketch mapLand outlines only; the map does not depict any national or regional boundary. Dots mark approximate positions. Base map: Natural Earth (public domain).

Africa

Asia

South America

These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.

Other research findings

There is an exceptionally rare transparent pink crystalline quartz ('pink crystalline quartz' / 'crystalline rose quartz' / 'pink quartz') whose colour arises from a different mechanism than the inclusion-driven colour of massive rose quartz; research on synthetic pink quartz shows that aluminium and phosphorus replacing silicon, followed by irradiation that forms colour centres, produces pink colour very similar to the natural material.

Evidence grade A

Scope: Based on the encyclopedia's distinction between the two pink-quartz types; the synthetic pink-quartz mechanism is cited as supporting evidence.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Description

Rose quartz ranges in colour from very light pink, almost white, to medium-dark pink. Tiny inclusions make most rose quartz translucent; the finest-quality material is often transparent, which is why it is usually faceted.

Evidence grade B

Scope: Quality factors as described by one educational source; not a grading standard and not a statement about the value of any piece.

Sources GIA Rose Quartz Quality Factors

Limits of this research

  • Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
  • The colour-centre mechanism for transparent pink crystalline quartz is demonstrated in the source mainly via synthetic pink quartz; confirmation in natural material is limited.

Methodology

Evidence grades

A
Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
B
Institutional educational material
C
Specialist databases or cautious readings

A statement is never graded above its strongest source.

This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.

DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments

Suggested listing name
Rose Quartz

GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1 “Rose Quartz”, 5.1.1 a) · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.199 “Rose quartz”

Construction or treatment status

Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Treatments recorded for this material: Heated / Heat-treated (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Coated (via parent material)

Related:Disclosure and cautions

This page cannot answer

Natural? · Origin · Price

A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.

Related:What this page can answer

Answer at a glance

The Chinese standard lists Rose Quartz under a different Chinese name from its common trade name (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1); use "Rose Quartz" for listings.

Evidence

  • GB/T · Table A.1, row 芙蓉石 (Rose Quartz (GB/T formal))

What this means for you

Compare how different sellers name and disclose treatments; inconsistency is a reason to ask more questions.

Known uncertainty

Last reviewed
2026-09-01

Care and wear

Care

care (cleaning)2 sources compared

Rose Quartz — care (cleaning): Warm soapy water is always safe; avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners.

GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)

Treatment state
any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (cleaning): ultrasonic and steamer: use caution; note: avoid thermal shock.

Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Treatment state
untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (heat): generally stable in light and heat

GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide)

Treatment state
any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (setting): prong and bezel: relatively safe; channel: use caution; flush and pavé: avoid.

Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Treatment state
untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (repair): polishing: use caution; jeweller's torch, pickle pot and thermal shock: avoid; note: avoid thermal shock.

Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Treatment state
untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (display): Dyed material may fade

Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Treatment state
treated
Only after these treatments
dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — care (display): heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe; note: rose quartz may fade.

Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)

Treatment state
untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

Common care questions and matching entries

CleaningCleaning Rose Quartz: the GIA rose quartz care and cleaning guide states that, in any treatment state, warm soapy water is always safe, and ultrasonic and steam cleaning should be avoided; Martin's Gemstone Durability: Design to Display states that for untreated Rose Quartz, ultrasonic and steam cleaning call for caution and thermal shock should be avoided. Heat and light: GIA states that Rose Quartz in any treatment state is generally stable to light and heat; Martin's Gemstone Durability: Design to Display states that untreated Rose Quartz is relatively safe under display-case heat, daylight and artificial light, though Rose Quartz may fade; dyed Rose Quartz may fade, this applying specifically to dyed material. SettingOn setting, Martin's Gemstone Durability: Design to Display states that for untreated Rose Quartz prong and bezel settings are relatively safe, channel settings call for caution, and tension and pavé settings should be avoided; on repair, it states that for untreated Rose Quartz polishing calls for caution, and the torch, post-soldering pickling solution and thermal shock should be avoided.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

QuestionMatching entries
Can it go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner?Warm soapy water is always safe; avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners; ultrasonic and steamer: use caution; note: avoid thermal shock
Heat and thermal shockgenerally stable in light and heat; polishing: use caution; jeweller's torch, pickle pot and thermal shock: avoid; note: avoid thermal shock
Light and displayDyed material may fade; heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe; note: rose quartz may fade
Wearing limits (knocks, settings)prong and bezel: relatively safe; channel: use caution; flush and pavé: avoid

Care entries by treatment state

The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.

any treatment state

untreated

treated (Only after these treatments: dyeing)

Treatments and identification leads

Values not givenThe treatment recorded for Rose Quartz is irradiation, with the status irradiated or dyed; stability and prevalence are both given as “—” in the cited source, meaning the cited source gives no value, not “none”. Identification cluesThe identification lead for irradiation is that the colour of Rose Quartz can be deepened by irradiation and is hard to detect.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

TreatmentMarket frequency (CIBJO)Stability (CIBJO)GB/T 16552 categoryJJA/AGL listingIdentification leads
irradiationStatus: irradiated or dyed——Optimization—See identification leads
Heating——Optimization——
Filling——Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1——
Dyeing——Treatment——
Coating——Treatment——

Where each treatment acts (schematics): Irradiated

“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1 (row for Rock Crystal); JJA/AGL 2025

Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):

  • GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
  • CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15

What this table covers

What this page can give

  • Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
  • Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing

VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources

Names

Besides Rose Quartz, the name register records "Rose quartz", for which no restriction on use as a name is recorded; 2 further names in non-Latin scripts are listed in the name register below (2 with no restriction recorded on use as a name).

Trade and mineralogical namesRose Quartz is a common market name, and the Chinese formal name comes from GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1. Recommended listing nameThe suggested listing name gives the market name followed by the formal name with the market name in brackets, both rendered in English as Rose Quartz. Names in four languagesNames are given in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Rose Quartz) and Japanese (a katakana transliteration and a kanji name); Japan's GSJ formal name is the katakana form. Institution usageOn authority wording, GIA and CIBJO record Rose Quartz, the qualifier stripped from CIBJO's title name being (may be treated); the FTC text on file has no wording for this name (checked), and Gem-A is unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. National standard namesAmong national and regional formal names, Germany (RAL) writes Rosenquarz and the EU writes Rose Quartz. Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name is Quartz (SiO₂), pink variety; on the market it is also called pink rock crystal and Mozambique pink rock crystal, in which Mozambique is an origin modifier and the whole string is registered as one name.

Name register

Every name recorded for this entry, with how it is classified, whether it may be matched to this entry automatically, whether it may be used as a product name, and the clause it rests on.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

NameTypeMatchingUse as a nameBasis
no restriction recorded (3)
Rose quartzEnglishmarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited)
粉水晶Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: Market product name for rose quartz; matched to this entry by name, not to clear quartz.
莫桑比亚粉水晶Simplified Chinesemarket namematched automaticallyno restriction recordededitorial ruling (no clause cited); Note: “Mozambique” is an origin qualifier; the whole string is registered as one name (the prefix is not stripped).

How each authority words this name: see Names › Authority wording.

Authority wording

GIA, FTC, CIBJO, Gem-A
Rose Quartz (on record for GIA, CIBJO; no wording for this name in the FTC text on file; Gem-A unchecked — bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name)
GSJ (Japan) formal name
ローズクォーツ
Chinese formal name
芙蓉石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.1)
Mineralogical name
Quartz (SiO₂), pink variety
GB/T formal-name entry
芙蓉石 / Rose Quartz (GB/T formal)

Four-language names

简体中文
粉晶
繁體中文
粉晶
English
Rose Quartz
日本語
ローズクォーツ／紅水晶

National and regional formal names

Germany (RAL)
Rosenquarz
European Union
Rose Quartz

Qualifiers stripped from the headline name

See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index

Classification

Origin
Natural materials
Material domain
Natural inorganic gem materials
Browsing family
Quartz and chalcedony materials
Identity tier
Mineral / gemstone variety
Mineral chemical class
Silicates
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown

Treatments listed by standards

GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1

Under the “Rock Crystal” row of Table B.1: Heating Optimization; Irradiation Optimization; Filling Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1; Dyeing Treatment; Coating Treatment. The full row, with the effect column, is on the Rock Crystal page.

What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.

JJA/AGL (Japan) table of principal gem names, 2025

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

Gem nameSpeciesColourListed in the tableNotes
Rose QuartzQuartzpale to deep pinkan untreated tier is listed

JJA/AGL definitions and nomenclature (2025 revision), table of principal gem names, p.10

How to read the JJA/AGL table: see the Gem treatments page.

What it is and how it's identified

The composition (phase) of Rose Quartz is quartz; CIBJO registers its transparency as translucent to nearly transparent and its untreated body colour as pink; GB/T 16553—2017 registers the untreated body colour as pink, light to medium in tone and generally on the light side. The structural, durability and optical data for Rose Quartz are written by GB/T 16553—2017 for rock crystal as a whole class, as class values rather than measurements of Rose Quartz alone: for rock crystal as a whole, the structure is crystalline, trigonal, with hexagonal prismatic crystals, Mohs hardness 7 and no cleavage; density is 2.64–2.69 g/cm³, where the cited clause gives 2.66 with a tolerance of +0.03/−0.02, from which the displayed limits are derived; refractive index is 1.544–1.553, birefringence 0.009, and optical character anisotropic, uniaxial positive, with a possible bull's-eye interference figure; in the untreated state, lustre is vitreous.

Registered material facts

Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.

Chemical composition, luminescence, UV-visible spectrum, infrared spectrum, magnification: these whole-class features are given in the cited clause for rock crystal (the whole class), so they are not repeated on the Rose Quartz page; see the material facts on the Rock Crystal entry.

Items below that name the class they cover give the cited clause’s value for that whole class, not a measurement of Rose Quartz (how to read class-level values).

Definition

Rose Quartz — composition (phase): quartz

CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024

Source & check 2026-09-22
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-22

Structure

Rose Quartz — structure (overall): crystalline

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — structure (crystal system): trigonal

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — structure (crystal habit): hexagonal prisms with prominent horizontal striations on the prism faces

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Durability

Rose Quartz — Mohs hardness: 7

GB/T 16553—2017

123456789107References (diamond = value, bar = range; below)

Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))

Mohs hardnessSource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — cleavage: none

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Physical properties

Rose Quartz — density: 2.64–2.69 g/cm³

GB/T 16553—2017

0.51.52.53.54.55.56.57.52.64–2.69
Specific gravitySource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Qualification

The clause we cite gives 2.66, with a stated tolerance of +0.03 / -0.02. The range shown here is worked out from that.

Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Optical

Optical effects on record: chatoyancyrepresentative example: cause in Tiger’s Eye (schematic)asterismrepresentative example: cause in Star Sapphire (schematic)

Rose Quartz — optic character: anisotropic material, uniaxial, with positive optic character; a “Bull's eye” interference figure may be present, and Brazil-law twinning is common in amethyst.

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — refractive index: 1.544–1.553

GB/T 16553—2017

1.31.72.12.52.93.31.544–1.553
Refractive indexSource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — birefringence: 0.009

GB/T 16553—2017

00.050.10.150.20.250.30.009
BirefringenceSource: GB/T 16553—2017
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — transparency: translucent to nearly transparent.

CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024

Source & check 2026-09-22
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-22

Rose Quartz — pleochroism: weak; it depends on the body colour.

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — optical effect (chatoyancy): seen

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Rose Quartz — optical effect (asterism): seen; a six-rayed star, common in rose quartz.

GB/T 16553—2017

Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

body colour2 sources compared

Rose Quartz — body colour: Pink.

CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024

Treatment state
untreated
Qualification

In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Padparadscha Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Unakite and other entries also name pink or a pinkish colour.

General note
colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-22
Source
Fact checked on
2026-09-22

Rose Quartz — body colour: light to medium pink; generally light

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
Qualification

In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Sugilite, Danburite, Apophyllite and other variety clauses also name red or a reddish colour.

General note
colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 Colour · Rose quartz (locator checked 2026-09-28)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

How the sources relate

CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 and GB/T 16553—2017

complementary, no conflict

Both give pink; GB/T 16553—2017 also describes the depth (light to medium, light in tone).

CIBJO definitions
chatoyancy, asterism

Quality factors

Rose Quartz — quality factor (lustre): vitreous

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
untreated
Does this standard apply
applies to this entry
What this covers
rock crystal (the whole class)
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

1.531.541.551.561.571.582.52.62.72.82.9Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Rose Quartz

This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.548 / 2.67; Closest values: 1Agate 1.537 / 2.63, 2Shoushan Stone 1.56 / 2.7, 3Changhua Stone 1.56 / 2.6, 4Bamboo Coral 1.57 / 2.65, 5Synthetic Beryl 1.57 / 2.69

Show the full chart (330 registered materials)1.41.51.61.71.81.922.12.22.32.41234567Refractive indexSpecific gravity12345Rose Quartz

Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22

Refractive index × specific gravity (all registered materials)Each dot is one material's registered refractive index and specific gravity (range midpoints, not measurements); gold = this material, dark = the nearest few (picked on this site by distance in RI ÷ 0.02 and SG ÷ 0.1, leaving out near-identical varieties of the same species)Source: each material's registered refractive index and specific gravity facts (GB/T 16553 and others; sources on each entry)

Testing and market

Identification of Rose Quartz: the CIBJO laboratory protocol places Rose Quartz under the "Quartz" entry; the identification methods and the list of required methods are, respectively, in the identification section of the Quartz entry and on the laboratory testing page. For irradiated Rose Quartz, the identification lead is that irradiation can deepen the colour of rose quartz and is not easy to detect; the identification lead for irradiation is cited from GB/T 16553—2017, which can only be used as a reference for the Rose Quartz entry and does not govern it directly.

The CIBJO laboratory protocol covers Rose Quartz under “Quartz” (§6.1.65): see identification on the Quartz entry; the required tests are listed on the CIBJO laboratory protocol table for Quartz.

How far testing can go

Rose Quartz that has undergone irradiation can be identified by the following features: Irradiation may deepen the colour of rose quartz; hard to detect.

GB/T 16553—2017

Treatment state
irradiated or dyed
Does this standard apply
can be followed as a reference only
Treatment
irradiation
Source & check 2026-09-26
Source
  • GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.1.16 (irradiation) (locator checked 2026-09-26)
Fact checked on
2026-09-26

Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.

Clause-level definitions

Rose Quartz is listed in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the term Rose quartz, and the clause-level definition describes it as a pink, translucent to nearly transparent variety of quartz; the cross-check shows it is defined directly by CIBJO and also appears in the GB/T annex.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

TermClauseDefinitionCross-check
Rose quartz7.2.1.199Pink, translucent to nearly transparent variety of quartzDefined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex.

Evidence and sources

Authority basis and clause sources

GB/T 16552—2017
Listed Table A.1 “Rose Quartz” · Source
GB/T 16552—2017
Naming rule 5.1.1 a) · Source
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Listed §7.2.1.199 “Rose quartz” · Source
IMA Mineral List 2026-07
Listed “Quartz” · Source

Sources

Further reading

Related pages

Treatments recorded for this material

Recorded cultural contexts

Birthstone list

The U.K. National Association of Jewellers chart lists Rose Quartz as an alternative for January. This records trade-association convention only; it does not establish material identity, natural origin, treatment, provenance, or effect.

Relation
Industry list inclusion

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

Publisher or holderRegionFrom / periodSource and locator
National Association of JewellersUnited Kingdom—National Association of Jewellers, “Zodiac Birthstones Jewellery: Star Signs, Gemstones and Their Meaning” (web page, consulted 2026-08-22)
Zodiac birthstone chart, January row: Rose Quartz (Alternative)

Related entries and topic cluster

Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.

Related-entry tree for Quartz on this site: 74 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Rose Quartz) is marked.

This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.

PageContentStatus
Browsing familyQuartz and chalcedony materialsLive
Treatments recorded for this materialHeated / Heat-treated (via parent material), Irradiated (via parent material), Filled / Fracture-filled (via parent material), Dyed (via parent material), Coated (via parent material)Live
Related articlesTo be added (placeholder)Planned

Who maintains this page

The material facts in the Rose Quartz entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.

Facts editor
June
Reviewer
Ralph
How facts are checked
Each fact is matched to the clause it cites; facts checked between 2026-09-22 and 2026-09-26
Last revised
2026-10-12
Purpose
Lets buyers and sellers check naming, disclosure and material facts clause by clause.