Another parent gemstone with many children, chalcedony is a form of silica with a waxy, translucent appearance. Chalcedony has been used as far back as the Bronze Age to carve seals and other important artifacts, and many of its variants were also widely used along trade routes through Central Asia.
Chalcedony has many unique varieties, including multi-colored angular bands of agate, the deep reddish browns of carnelian, the spotted-red darkness of heliotrope (also known as bloodstone), the rich green of mtorolite, and the stunning white and black banding of onyx.
Durable and resilient, chalcedony and its many varieties were widely popular for pieces meant to last and impress for generations.