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The Ins and Outs of Marcasite

Published by Jenney Gemma | January 19th 2010 | Views:

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Marcasite is the jewellery term given to iron pyrite crystals. It has a brass yellow glow that resembles that of gold and more than a few men have mistaken it for the more valuable mineral. Hence the name: Fool?s Gold is given to it. Jewelers later found out that when faceted just right, Marcasites can be made to glitter and reflect light like diamonds do. Marcasite Jewellery became popular in the late 17th century and during the Victorian Era. They were produced in order to substitute for diamonds which during those times were often restricted to royalty and noblemen. At present, it is produced in vintage styles reminiscent of the Art Nouveau designs which were very popular for Marcasite.

The Marcasite Confusion

Before moving forward, it is important to make note that the Marcasite used in jewellery today is not true Marcasite. Instead it is a form of Iron Pyrite. Iron Pyrite and True Marcasite are polymorphs of each other. This means that they are of the same chemical composition, they only differ in the way that the particles crystallize. True Marcasite cannot be used in jewellery making because it is very brittle in nature and will often crumble to touch. The outward appearance of true marcasite and pyrite are also very different. Pyrite forms angular crystal shapes while true marcasite is often found in a cock?s comb shape.

True marcasite is actually lighter and whitish yellow in color compared to the pyrite used in marcasery has been known over time, jewelers did not bother change the name anymore.

Marcasite is the white form of Iron Pyrite, a metal, which in its yellow form is known as 'fools' gold. The word pyrite comes from the Greek work 'Pyr' meaning fire, reflecting the sparks that occur when metal is struck against steel. Marcasites are polished and faceted stones closely resembling diamonds that have a fascinating history spanning several centuries.

In jewellery making, the pyrite is polished to resemble diamonds, having the advantage of being readily available, relatively cheap and, with its very beautiful sparkle, often rather more eye-catching than the diamond itself. Marcasite has a highly distinctive shine and is resistant to rust but perhaps its greatest advantage is that it can be used more liberally than prohibitively expensive diamonds and craftsmen delight in using it to fashion the most exquisite designs.


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