Weekend Bonus Brief: For Rock Hounds and Jewelry Lovers

If you are headed out to comb your local flea markets or to a larger antique market this weekend, keep your eyes out for some Scottish agate jewelry.

The silver and agate-inlay jewelry is most commonly found in circular form brooches that were used to hold a shoulder wrap of traditional Highland costume in place or in a miniature dirk, a knife-like shape. Bracelets, bar pins and pendants are also found incorporating hearts, buckles, shields, snakes and knot motifs.

Agate is a variety of quartz, in the same family as amethyst and citrine, but it has a different crystal structure.  While amethyst and citrine have well formed crystals, in agate microscopic individual layer of crystals have arranged themselves in layers with various transparencies of rich earthy tones, bright white and black. This produces fabulous multi-color patterns.

This type of jewelry was a favorite of the Victorians. Queen Victoria loved jewelry: she also loved Scotland, the Highlands and everything Scottish. In 1847 she built Balmoral Castle, where the British Royal Family still spends holidays. Then, as well as today, you could see the Royal Family dressed in Highland costume: jewelry plays an essential part in this costume. You can add a bit of Highland tradition to your jewelry collection. These pieces can regularly be found at antique shops and markets.  They are fabulous to hold scarves, adorn jackets or anywhere that the rich earth tones compliment.