The facts
What goldstone actually is
Mineralogically, goldstone is man-made glass with copper crystals — Silicate glass with metallic Cu crystals, crystallising in the amorphous with crystalline inclusions system.
The colour is caused by the sparkle is reflection off tabular metallic copper crystals precipitated in the glass during controlled cooling; blue and green goldstone use cobalt or chromium glass with the same copper. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.50–1.53, and the specific gravity sits near 2.5–2.8; cleavage is none; conchoidal fracture.
Where goldstone comes from
The recognised sources are Murano, Venice, Italy — the historic source and Now made in China and India.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How goldstone is treated
A seventeenth-century Venetian glass invention and never a natural stone, despite being sold in crystal shops as one. Perfectly even sparkle, gas bubbles and swirl lines identify it. Sunstone and aventurine feldspar are the natural materials it imitates.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What goldstone is confused with
The usual confusions are Sunstone, Aventurine, Oregon sunstone and Rainbow lattice sunstone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.50–1.53 and specific gravity 2.5–2.8 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What goldstone is used for
Goldstone is bought by jewellery, decorative objects and carving and sculpture — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the piece or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6; cleavage none; conchoidal fracture. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What goldstone costs
Indicative pricing for goldstone is Beads and cabochons under 5 USD; large carvings 20–150 USD.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is goldstone treated, and how?
A seventeenth-century Venetian glass invention and never a natural stone, despite being sold in crystal shops as one. Perfectly even sparkle, gas bubbles and swirl lines identify it. Sunstone and aventurine feldspar are the natural materials it imitates.
Where does goldstone come from?
Murano, Venice, Italy — the historic source and Now made in China and India. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is goldstone hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does goldstone cost?
Indicatively Beads and cabochons under 5 USD; large carvings 20–150 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is goldstone confused with?
Most often Sunstone, Aventurine, Oregon sunstone and Rainbow lattice sunstone. A refractive index of 1.50–1.53 and a specific gravity near 2.5–2.8 separate it quickly.
What is goldstone used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for goldstone?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about goldstone