Aura Quartz Crystals
Aura quartz is natural clear quartz (SiO2) or amethyst coated with an extremely thin layer of metal, such as gold, platinum, titanium or niobium, through vapor deposition in a vacuum chamber. The coating produces vivid, shifting rainbow colors, from the soft pastels of angel aura to the full-spectrum sheen of titanium aura and the fiery oranges of flame aura. The quartz underneath is natural, but the color comes entirely from the coating, so aura quartz is a treated, human-enhanced material.
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Gemstone guide
Aura Quartz Crystals
About aura quartz
The metal is bonded to the surface of the crystal in a vacuum chamber, which makes it far more durable than paint or dye, but the layer is still only a tiny fraction of a millimetre thick. Different metals give different colors: gold gives blue tones, titanium gives rainbow and metallic colors, and platinum or silver give the pale, pearly shimmer of angel aura. Aura quartz is made for decorative crystals, spheres and beads rather than for fine jewelry.
What you'll find in this collection
Our aura quartz is polished spheres from China, with pink, green and blue rainbow coatings. Each listing names the coating as a treatment and gives the size of the sphere.
How to recognise aura quartz
The rainbow sheen sits on the surface only and changes with the viewing angle, much like an oil film on water. Where a coated surface is chipped or worn, the clear quartz underneath shows through. Natural iridescent minerals, such as rainbow hematite or iris agate, get their colors from their internal structure rather than from a surface layer.
Caring for aura quartz
The quartz is hard, but the coating can scratch and wear. Handle it gently, keep it away from rough surfaces, and clean it only with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, household chemicals and acids, which can strip the coating.
The quartz is natural and the color comes from the coating; each listing gives the size and origin, with photos of the actual sphere.