Not in the usual sense. It is made of very tiny quartz crystals packed together, so it looks solid and banded instead of forming points.

Agate is widely available, so beads are affordable. A rare banded cabochon in a handmade setting costs more, because of the stone and the work in the piece.

Can agate go in water?

Agate itself handles water fine. The cord and metal parts are the weak points, so keep jewelry dry.

Agate Meaning and Types: A Guide to Agate Jewelry

Agate is everywhere in jewelry, and it comes in more colors than almost any other stone. It is also one of the stones we use most. Here is what it is, the types you'll run into, and what people have said about it over the centuries.

What agate is

Agate is a banded form of chalcedony, which is a type of quartz. The bands form as layers of mineral build up inside cavities in rock, one thin layer at a time. That is why a slice of agate often looks like a tiny landscape of stripes and rings. On the Mohs scale it rates about 7, which is hard enough for everyday jewelry.

The name comes from the Greek word *achates*, after a river in Sicily where the stone was first found.

Common types of agate

Banded agate shows clear stripes or rings and is the classic look.
Moss agate is mostly clear or milky with green or brown moss-like inclusions.
Lace agate has soft, wavy, lace-like patterns.
Botswana agate is known for very fine banding.
Zebra agate, sometimes called grey zebra agate, has dark and light stripes.
Fire agate shows a shimmer of color as light moves across it.

What agate traditionally means

Agate has a long reputation as a stone of courage and protection, and ancient people wore it for both. Modern lists tie colors to ideas, with blue for calm, red for energy, black for protection and moss for growth. All of this is tradition and lore, not science, and we don't treat it as medical advice. You can read more about the stones we use in our gemstone meanings guide.

Natural and dyed agate

Agate takes dye easily, so a lot of the bright pink, royal blue and purple agate you see has been colored. This is normal and not a fake, but it should be labeled. Very uniform, neon colors that don't match any natural agate are a hint. When you aren't sure, ask the seller. If you want to know more about the agate in one of our pieces, message us. Our guide on telling real from fake gemstone beads has more.

Agate pieces from Ellie

The Banded Agate & Garnet Pendant Necklace centers on a banded agate cabochon set in a handmade silver frame, on deep garnet beads with faceted agate and carnelian. The Reversible Agate Pendant Necklace has a large two-sided pendant, with a different pattern on each face, so you can wear it either way round. The Yellow Agate Pendant & Amethyst Necklace pairs a teardrop of yellow agate with amethyst and grey zebra agate beads. The Fluorescent Agate Drop Necklace hangs a fluorescent agate pendant in a handmade silver frame on hematite beads. The Agate & Rhodochrosite Lariat Necklace has four agate pendants in different colors, and the Tiger Eye & Brown Agate Bracelet mixes polished tiger eye cubes with brown agate tubes on an adjustable cord.

Banded Agate & Garnet Pendant Necklace$260 CAD

Reversible Agate Pendant Necklace$270 CAD

Yellow Agate Pendant & Amethyst Necklace$270 CAD

Fluorescent Agate Drop Necklace$105 CAD

Agate & Rhodochrosite Lariat Necklace$65 CAD

Tiger Eye & Brown Agate Bracelet$60 CAD

Caring for agate

Agate is durable, but the cord, wire and any softer stones in the piece still need care. Put it on after perfume, wipe it with a soft cloth and store it in a pouch. Our care guide has the details.

See every piece

Everything is one of a kind and handmade by Ellie. Browse the full jewelry collection.

Agate meaning and types: a guide to agate jewelry