Antique jewelry glossary

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Chrysoprase

A variety of chalcedony that is apple-green, owing to the presence of nickel. It is used for beads and cut en cabochon; in the Victorian era the cabochons were cut in the tallow-top style with facets around the rim. An imitation in glass can be detected by the presence of internal bubbles. If heated, it loses water and becomes pale. The name is derived from Greek chrysos (gold) and prasios (leek-green). A misnomer for agate stained green.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson