Scottish Agate Jewelry

Scottish silver jewellery made with agates

Agates are a type of chalcedony formed when silica-bearing solutions penetrate into cooled volcanic lava. After millions of years, the resulting "nuggets" of agate finally get exposed on the surface of the ground and can be collected. In fact, during the 19th century agates could easily be found on Scottish beaches which is why jewellery made with agate stones was often known as "pebble jewellery". Agates can still be found at various locations all over Scotland. They come in all sorts of colours and patterns; the colour is influenced by the type of impurity (for example carnelian agate, which has a reddish hue, contains traces of iron oxides). Victorian silver/agate jewellery is highly collectable and often commands a three-figure price.