Introduction
Ever heard of Serpentine? Although this stone is obscure to most people, it is one of the most well-known gemstones in the world of gemology, and ardent crystal collectors. This beautiful gemstone that is used in making serpentine jewelry such as serpentine rings usually appears in different shades of greenish-yellow with unique and visually striking veining patterns. What’s the reason behind such a unique name? Well, the intricate markings on this gemstone and the slippery feel of serpentine as you hold it in your hands will remind you of a serpent. This is why this stone is named so.
In this blog, we will discuss what serpentine is, how you can evaluate a serpentine gemstone when you go out to purchase a serpentine ring, how to clean and cleanse a serpentine ring, and much more. So, without wasting any time, let's answer your first question – what is serpentine?
What Is Serpentine?
Serpentine is a semi-precious gemstone that commonly tends to be in shades of yellow. It can also be found in shades of green, brown, blue, and white. Most serpentine stones showcase spotty, vein-like inclusions of magnetite octahedra or chromite. It is composed of silicate, and it generally ranks between three and five on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness.
Serpentine is often misinterpreted as jade since it is like jade. However, serpentine is an entirely different mineral and is unrelated to jade. However, it is used as an affordable jade substitute. Some jewelry enthusiasts even call serpentine the “snake jade” or “new jade”. Serpentine is also the official state rock for the State of California.
Factors Determining the Value of a Serpentine Stone Set in a Serpentine Ring
The price of a serpentine stone set in serpentine jewelry depends on various factors such as the color of the stone, its clarity, its cut, and its weight. Let us discuss these factors upon which the value of serpentine stone is dependent so you know what to look for when you go out to buy a piece of serpentine jewelry.
Color
Serpentine stone generally comes in shades of yellow but it is also found in hues of green, white, gray, brown, and black. Most of the serpentine stones are spotted or veiny and they may exhibit chatoyancy (or the cat’s eye effect), due to which they might appear light or dark depending on the angle through which you view the stone. Serpentine stones that display a yellow color and chatoyancy are the most valued and they tend to command higher prices.
Cut
Since serpentine is a soft gemstone, it is generally used to make low-impact jewelry such as serpentine earrings or serpentine pendants. But it can be used to make serpentine rings in protective settings such as bezel setting and channel setting. This stone is cut into cabochons, beads, and decorative carvings. One variety of serpentine, williamsite, is translucent enough, which is why it is faceted.
Clarity
Serpentine is mostly opaque and sometimes translucent. Most of the serpentine stones possess impurities of minerals such as calcite. These inclusions give serpentine its signature white or black veins, marbling, and spotting. The value and desirability of serpentine depend on how greatly intricate the pattern is.
Carat Weight & Size
It is easy to find serpentine in large formations to be later cut down into smaller pieces by lapidaries. The value of serpentine stone set in the serpentine jewelry depends on its weight and size, and serpentine that has a greater carat weight costs more.
How To Tell If the Serpentine Stone Set in Your Serpentine Ring Is Real?
You can identify a real serpentine set in a serpentine ring through its hardness. Since serpentine is a soft stone and ranks between three and five on the Mohs Scale, anything softer could be quartzite or another similar mineral in the same coloring. Some fake serpentine stones even have banded markings or crescent shapes, but they can be identified by their light weight. Also, if there are no visible chips, imperfections, or cracks on the surface of the serpentine, it may be an artificially enhanced specimen.
How To Take Proper Care of Your Serpentine Ring?
Serpentine is a soft stone, and this is why you need to take precautions while handling it. Your serpentine ring can easily chip off if you drop it, mishandle it, or if you end up giving it a tough blow while doing household chores. Household dust particles can scratch the stone set in your ring, so be mindful of cleaning your ring regularly. Also, exposing the stone to harsh chemicals such as detergents, bleaches, acid, etc. can damage the stone set in the serpentine jewelry.
To clean your serpentine ring, use warm water, a soft cloth, and mild soap. Don’t submerge your ring in water for a long time while cleaning it.
Also, ensure that you never expose your serpentine jewelry to intense heat sources such as radiators and sunlight. This can cause fading of the stone and discoloration of its intricate patterns.
Cleansing And Charging Your Serpentine Ring
Many people who use serpentine jewelry for their healing purposes need to cleanse and charge serpentine rings on a regular basis. Here are some ways through which you can cleanse your serpentine ring.
You can cleanse your ring with running tap water, this stone is not water-soluble so don’t worry. However, make sure that you do not submerge in water for a long time – this can damage the stone.
Another way to cleanse this stone is to use salt. Use rock salt in order to remove the negative energy stored in the stone. If you do not want to use salt, you can use rice – place your serpentine jewelry in a bowl of rice overnight. The last way to cleanse your serpentine ring is to use sage smoke. If you do not want to use sage, you can even try smudging it with a Palo Santo stick.
For charging serpentine, place it in moonlight during a full moon day. Lunar energies are especially helpful in charging the stone. Another way to charge serpentine is to use a piece of selenite or any other similar charging crystal.
Conclusion
Try wearing serpentine jewelry and you will find your body shedding its negative energy just as the snake sheds its skin. Not only this, but serpentine will also fill you up with positive vibrations and boost your confidence. Besides protecting you from negative energy, serpentine jewelry continues to be a show-stopper and one-of-a-kind jewelry piece.
So, go out now and purchase serpentine jewelry. Are you interested in purchasing serpentine jewelry such as serpentine earrings, serpentine bracelets, and serpentine necklaces at wholesale rates? If yes, visit Rananjay Exports – they are India’s top wholesale gemstone jewelry manufacturers and suppliers, and not only do they sell serpentine rings but they also sell other gemstone rings. Their collection of wholesale gemstone jewelry is available in more than 250+ natural gemstones, and besides gemstone jewelry, they also sell 925 sterling silver jewelry.
