Pink stones get confused all the time, partly because sellers use the names loosely. Rhodochrosite, rhodonite and rose quartz are three different minerals that happen to share a color. Telling them apart helps you buy the right one, and it changes how you look after each.
The short version
| | Rhodochrosite | Rhodonite | Rose quartz | |---|---|---|---| | Looks like | Pastel pink to deep rose, often with layered bands | Pink with black veins or dendrites | Pale pink, milky and translucent | | Hardness (Mohs) | About 3.5 to 4 (soft) | About 5.5 to 6.5 | About 7 (hard) |
Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a manganese carbonate. Polished pieces often show rings or bands in pink and white, and the color can go from soft pastel to a rich rose red. It is soft, soft enough that a steel nail can scratch it, so it needs gentle handling. Tradition links it with love and compassion, and it has the nickname Inca Rose.
Rhodonite
Rhodonite is a manganese silicate. Its giveaway is the black veining of manganese oxide, which spreads through the pink like branches. It is harder than rhodochrosite and makes a good everyday bead. The name comes from the Greek word for rose.
Rose quartz
Rose quartz is a type of quartz, a different group from the other two. It is usually pale pink, milky, and see-through at the edges, with no bands and no black veins. At about 7 on the Mohs scale it is the toughest of the three. Tradition connects it with love, and many people give it as a gift.
How to tell them apart
- Black veins? Likely rhodonite.
- Pink and white bands or rings? Likely rhodochrosite.
- Even, milky pale pink? Likely rose quartz.
- Scratch test: rhodochrosite scratches with steel, rhodonite does not. Please don't scratch jewelry to test it, because you could damage the piece. Look first.
Other pink stones such as pink opal and pink calcite look similar to rhodochrosite, so don't rely on color alone. Our guide to real vs fake gemstone beads covers how to ask a seller the right questions.
What the pink stones traditionally mean
Pink stones are the stones of love, gentleness and heart in many traditions. That is lore and belief. It isn't science, and we don't make health claims. Read more in our gemstone meanings guide.
Pink stones from Ellie
The Bohemian Rhodochrosite & Garnet Bracelet has strands of soft pink rhodochrosite and deep red garnet beads with silver-tone charms, including an ornate amulet. It fits wrists 8 to 9 inches. The Rhodonite Stone Bracelet uses large rhodonite beads in soft pinks and black, with pink accent beads and a silver clasp. The Rose Quartz & Tiger Eye Cluster Bracelet clusters rose quartz chips with tiger eye and freshwater pearls. The Agate & Rhodochrosite Lariat Necklace has rhodochrosite beads on fine strands with four agate pendants. The Pink Opal & Stone Drop Statement Necklace is a wire-mesh necklace in pink opal, agate, goldstone and bronze freshwater pearls.
Bohemian Rhodochrosite & Garnet Bracelet$85 CAD
Rhodonite Stone Bracelet$80 CAD
Rose Quartz & Tiger Eye Cluster Bracelet$80 CAD
Agate & Rhodochrosite Lariat Necklace$65 CAD
Pink Opal & Stone-Drop Statement Necklace$320 CAD
Caring for pink stones
Rhodochrosite is the one to be careful with. Avoid knocks, take it off before heavy work, and keep it away from acids and strong cleaners. Rhodonite and rose quartz tolerate more, but all three should stay clear of perfume and harsh cleaners. See our care guide.
Browse every piece
All of it is one of a kind and handmade by Ellie. See the full jewelry collection.
Related reading
- Rose quartz meaning: what it is and what it stands for
- Healing stones and their meanings: a plain guide
- How to clean and care for gemstone jewellery
Gemstone jewelry by Ellie
Every piece is one of a kind, strung and wired by hand in Canada.
Explore the jewelry →Sources used: RockChasing, "Rhodonite vs Rhodochrosite"; Crystals.com, rhodochrosite; Reve Diamonds, rhodonite identification.