What are some of the many uses of this gem? How was it used in jewelry? What powers and abilities were rock crystals thought to possess?
Description of Gem
Rock crystal, also called rock crystal quartz, is the clear (transparent or translucent), colorless variety of pure quartz. Colored varieties of quartz are common and include citrine, rose quartz, amethyst, smoky quartz, milky quartz, and others.
Rock crystal forms in a wide range of geological environments. It can form in igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, hydrothermal veins, and geodes. They can grow into large crystals reaching many feet in length.
Sources
Rock crystals, in modern times, are found in Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Switzerland and many other locations. Quartz is one of the most common minerals on Earth.
How Hard Is it?
Rock crystals have a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. It, along with the gem known as an amethyst, is one of the hardest precious stones discussed in the Bible.
Biblical Occurrences
Rock crystal is one of several gemstones not recorded, by name, in the King James Bible. The others are carnelians, chrysoprase, peridot, lapis lazuli, red garnet, and turquoise. They all, however, are hidden in Scripture by being mislabeled as another gem!
The sixth stone listed in the High Priest's breastplate, found in the second row, is translation as "diamond" in the King James.
And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it . . .
And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond (Hebrew yahalom, Strong's Concordance #H3095). (Exodus 28:15, 18, see also 39:11, KJV throughout).
The translation of yahalom as diamonds in Exodus 28:18 and 39:11 is highly likely in error.
Diamonds are the hardest mineral known to humans. All the gems in the breastplate required the name of an Israelite tribe engraved upon them (Exodus 28:21). The ability to engrave such a hard stone was unknown at the time of Moses.
"There is no trace of evidence that the ancients ever acquired the skill to engrave on the diamond, or even that they were acquainted with the stone. The 'diamond' here may possibly be some variety of chalcedony, or (perhaps) rock crystal" (Barnes' Notes on the Bible).
"Almost all authorities are agreed that the art of cutting or engraving diamonds was unknown in the time of Moses. For this reason, it is unlikely the stone in question was a diamond" (Gemstones in the Breastplate, page 21).
The stone in the second row of the priest's breastplate was likely a rock crystal which is softer than diamonds to engrave upon with a hardness value of 7.
"Rock crystal has been engraved from prehistoric time, a substance used in all ages as "pounding stones" and for "striking" fire, both suggestive of the word "yahalom." (Gemstones in the Breastplate, pages 22).
Other Uses
Jewelers made and engraved personal seals that were used to secure and authenticate documents. While the poor could only afford seals made from terracotta, the rich had beautiful seals made from carnelians, agates, jaspers, rock crystals and other stones (Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible, jewelry section).
Precious and semi-precious gemstones like rock crystals were commonly used for jewelry that included bead work.
"Beads, commonly made of rock crystal, amber, shells, and agates of two or three colors, were widely owned and used by women.
"They could also be more handsomely put together of more expensive semiprecious stones, such as lapis lazuli . . . carnelian, onyx, and jasper. Amethyst beads would be very luxurious." (Harper's Encyclopedia of Bible Life, section on jewelry).
Rock crystals, historically, were used for optical lenses and even early crystal balls, before glass and synthetic materials came into existence.
Facts and Folklore
Rock crystals were believed, if put in a person's hand, to be able to waken them from sleep.
This gemstone was also thought to have the power, if placed on a person's stomach, to waken them from sleepwalking. An epileptic seizure, however, would ensue if the stone were placed too long against a person.
Spheres of rock crystal (commonly called a crystal ball) were used, by those who indulged in the black arts, to pretend to be able to foretell the future. Cherokee Indians in the United States believed the stone had divination powers and could aid them in hunting (Curious Lore of Precious Stones, page 10, 76, 180 and 254).
Rock crystals are traditionally associated with clarity, purity, energy, and spiritual awareness.
The English word "crystal" comes from the Greek krystallos, meaning ice, because ancient Greeks believed some clear quartz crystals were permanently frozen ice. The ancient Greeks believed it was frozen by the gods so that it could never melt back. This belief persisted for centuries and shaped a lot of early crystal symbolism.