Amazonite Jewelry in Bangkok

Amazonite is the soft blue green of shallow tropical water, an opaque stone often streaked with fine white lines and sometimes touched with a faint silky shimmer. It is a natural feldspar, a cousin of moonstone and labradorite, and it looks fresh and calm in silver as well as in gold. People have carved it into beads and amulets since ancient Egypt. We set natural amazonite in 925 sterling silver and solid gold at our studio on Sukhumvit 71, Bangkok.

This page covers what amazonite is, where its color and white streaks come from, how it got its name, how it compares with other blue green stones, how to wear and care for it, what makes a good stone, how to see the stones at our shop, and how to order in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand.

What amazonite is

Amazonite is a green to blue green variety of microcline, a potassium feldspar. That puts it in the same large family as moonstone and labradorite, though it looks nothing like them. Instead of a glow that floats on the surface, amazonite has a solid color that runs right through the stone.

For a long time no one was sure where that color came from. Research has linked it to small amounts of lead in the crystal, together with traces of water, changed over a very long time by natural radiation in the rock. That is also why strong heat can fade amazonite: it undoes the change that made the color. The white streaks you see in many stones are thin layers of another feldspar, albite, that grew in among the microcline. They often run in parallel lines or form a fine grid, and they are part of the stone’s natural look.

Amazonite is usually not treated beyond cutting and polishing. Some stones, especially beads, are waxed or given a light resin coating to improve the shine, and in cheap jewelry you will also find glass, dyed stones and plastic sold as amazonite. Every stone we set is natural, and if an amazonite has been waxed or treated in any way we tell you before you order.

Amazonite facts at a glance

• Family: microcline, a potassium feldspar, related to moonstone and labradorite
• Color: light green to blue green and turquoise blue, often with white streaks
• Hardness: 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, with cleavage
• Treatment: usually untreated; some beads are waxed for shine
• Best for: pendants, earrings, bracelets and beads; rings with care
• Care: warm soapy water and a soft cloth; no ultrasonic or steam cleaners, no strong heat
• Price: depends on the quality and carat you choose; we quote before you order

Why it is called amazonite, and the Pikes Peak pairing

The name comes from the Amazon River, yet no amazonite deposit is known there. The story usually told is that early travelers called several green stones from South America “Amazon stones”, and the name later settled on this feldspar. The classic sources today are a long way from the Amazon, in Russia, the United States and Africa.

Amazonite with smoky quartz is a famous natural pairing from the Pikes Peak area of Colorado, where blue green amazonite crystals grow side by side with dark smoky quartz. The same two colors, cool blue green and warm smoky brown, also look good together in a pair of earrings or a layered necklace.

Amazonite and other blue green stones

Turquoise is the stone people mix it up with most often. Turquoise is a different mineral, a copper phosphate, usually a little softer and more porous and very often stabilized with resin. Amazonite has a cooler, slightly glassy look, and its white streaks run in straight lines, where turquoise usually has a web of brown or black veins.

Aquamarine has a similar sea color but is transparent and faceted, so it sparkles. Amazonite is opaque, with a calm, solid color that reads well from across a room.

Moonstone and labradorite are its feldspar cousins. They show light moving over the surface; amazonite shows its color in the body of the stone. If you like the gentle feel of moonstone but want real color, amazonite is a good fit.

How to wear and care for amazonite

At 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, amazonite is softer than quartz, and like all feldspars it has cleavage: flat planes along which it can split if it takes a hard knock. That makes it ideal for pendants, earrings, bracelets and beaded necklaces. An amazonite ring is lovely, but choose a bezel setting that protects the edges, and take it off for the gym, cleaning, cooking and gardening.

Clean it in warm soapy water with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Keep it away from ultrasonic and steam cleaners, strong heat and sudden changes of temperature, and household chemicals, which can dull the polish. If it ever needs a polish or a check of the setting, bring it to our shop. Maintenance is free on jewelry we made.

What makes a good amazonite

Color matters most. The most wanted color is a strong, even blue green to turquoise blue. Pale green and grayish stones are more common and less valued.

Pattern is a matter of taste. White streaks are normal, and some people love a fine, regular grid while others want a clean, even color. Very clean stones with saturated color are the rarer of the two.

Surface is worth a close look. Because of the cleavage, check the edges for small flat breaks or chips, and look for a smooth, glassy polish without pits.

Cut is almost always a cabochon, a bead or a carving. Amazonite is rarely faceted, because it is opaque and the cleavage makes faceting difficult.

Where amazonite comes from

Amazonite is found in the Pikes Peak area of Colorado in the United States, in the Ilmen Mountains in the Russian Urals, where it has been mined for a very long time, and in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Namibia. If you want to know the origin of a particular stone, ask us: we offer certified stones, and an uncertified stone can be sent to a gem lab for a report at extra cost.

See amazonite at our shop in Bangkok

Amazonite changes a lot with the light. Under warm lamps it leans green, and in daylight the blue comes out, so it is much easier to choose in person than from a photo. If you tell us ahead that amazonite is the stone, we will have several ready, from soft mint to deep turquoise blue, some clean and some with the white streaks, so you can see which you prefer.

Walk in any time we are open, or book ahead so Yaron is there to help with the stone, the design and the metal, from 925 silver and gold plating to solid 9K, 14K or 18K gold.

If you simply want a smooth piece of amazonite to keep on your desk or give to a friend, you can buy a loose stone with no jewelry order needed. Should you want it set later in a pendant or a pair of earrings, bring it back and we will make it for you.

Not in Bangkok? Message us and we will send photos and prices of the amazonite we have.

Amazonite questions we get

Is your amazonite natural?

Yes. Every gemstone we set is natural, amazonite included. Amazonite is usually untreated, though some beads on the market are waxed for shine, and glass and dyed stones are sold under its name. If a stone has been treated in any way, we tell you before you order. We are a member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.

Is amazonite the same as turquoise?

No. They are different minerals that can look alike. Amazonite is a feldspar with straight white streaks; turquoise is a copper mineral that usually has a web of brown or black veins and is often stabilized with resin.

Why does my amazonite look greener in some light?

Amazonite sits between blue and green, so warm indoor light pushes it toward green and daylight brings out the blue. It is the same stone; only the light has changed.

Can I wear an amazonite ring every day?

With care. Amazonite is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and can split along its cleavage from a hard knock, so choose a bezel setting and take the ring off for the gym, cleaning and gardening. Pendants and earrings are the easiest way to wear it daily.

How much does amazonite jewelry cost?

It depends on the quality and carat of the stone you choose, and on the metal. We give you the price before anything is made.

Can I buy just the stone?

Yes. You can buy an amazonite on its own, with no setting and no jewelry order. If you decide later that you want it in a pendant, earrings or a bezel ring, we are happy to set it.

How long does a amazonite piece take?

7 to 10 working days from your order, because the stones are already here in our shop, then 1 to 3 working days for delivery inside Thailand. We also ship abroad by FedEx.

Every amazonite piece is made to order by our team in Bangkok in 925 sterling silver or solid gold, with a 3-year warranty, free maintenance and free shipping across Thailand.