Three free-form malachite cabochons with green banding. Dimensions around 17 mm in length, with varying widths (9–14 mm) offering distinct proportions in each piece. Flat polished back.
Item Details
| Mineral |
Malachite (hydrated copper carbonate) |
| Dimensions |
V3: 17×11×4 mm · V4: 17×9×3 mm · V5: 17×14×3 mm |
| Shape and Back |
Free-form, flat polished back |
| Finish |
Mirror polish |
| Hardness |
3.5–4 Mohs — we recommend bezel setting |
| Origin |
Material acquired from wholesale lapidary market |
| Treatment |
Untreated |
| Item Type |
Unique piece per variant (lot nr.8) |
This specific piece
Lot nr.8 brings together three pieces that share a similar length (~17 mm) but differ in width: variant 4 is the narrowest (9 mm) and thinnest (3 mm); variant 5 is the widest (14 mm), with an almost oval proportion. This variation within the same length range allows for selection based on the intended mounting width.
All three pieces have at least two well-defined concentric bands. Variant 5, being wider, shows a greater number of color layers on the main face.
What setting it works for
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Bezel setting (925 silver) — all three pieces are 3–4 mm high, suitable for a medium-height bezel.
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Medium ring — variant 5 (17×14 mm) has a rounded proportion suitable for a ring; variant 3 (17×11 mm) is more discreet.
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Compact pendant — variant 4 (17×9 mm, narrow) creates a low-profile linear pendant.
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Wire wrap — the three free forms are comfortable to hold with wire as they have no sharp edges that would misalign it.
Malachite in lapidary tradition
Malachite was carved as jewelry and pigment since ancient Egypt: ground, it produced the green of kohl and decorated funerary pectorals. In the 19th century, the Russian imperial court decorated entire columns of the Winter Palace with solid malachite. Its concentric banding forms when copper carbonate precipitates in successive layers within rock cavities; each band records a variation in fluid concentration, and no pattern is exactly repeated.
The symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice or a substitute for professional care.
How to recognize genuine malachite
Authentic malachite has concentric banding with layers of varying thickness — never uniform mechanical repetition. It is completely opaque and matte when unpolished; after polishing, it develops a characteristic resinous luster. The most frequent imitation is pressed or synthetic malachite, whose pattern is artificially regular.
Frequently asked questions
Is this malachite treated?
No detectable treatment. The green and banding are a result of the mineral's chemistry (hydrated copper carbonate). No formal gemological certification.
What setting do you recommend?
Closed bezel in 925 silver. Malachite has a Mohs hardness of 3.5–4 — the bezel protects the soft perimeter and distributes impacts. For a ring, a high box design. For a pendant, a simple bezel exposes the banding in its entirety.
How much dimensional variation is there?
The published dimensions are the direct measurement of each piece. As they are free-form cabochons, there may be ±0.5 mm in any dimension. Select the numbered variant that best fits your setting.
What care does malachite need?
Avoid prolonged contact with water, sweat, acids (perfumes, citrus), and abrasives — these attack the carbonate and dull the polish. Clean with a soft, dry cloth. More information on jewelry care.
Are these pieces from the same malachite block as other lots in the catalog?
It's not possible to know for sure — these are stock materials acquired from the wholesale lapidary market. What unites all malachite lots in the catalog is the selection for polish quality and banding clarity, not the origin of the block.
More about this stone: malachite properties, meaning, and uses. See also: all cabochons · silversmithing materials.
