Haematite: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Haematite - known for its cool, metallic lustre from graphite grey to almost black. The ferrous mineral impresses with its cool, modern look, its dark elegance and its characteristic, high-quality appearance. Whether in deep graphite grey, steel grey or almost black: Haematite gives pieces of jewellery a clear, powerful and modern touch.

In this guide you will learn what characterises haematite, how genuine haematite can be recognised, how to care for haematite jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with haematite are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: Symbolic and spiritual meanings of haematite originate from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Haematite is iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) and is one of the most important iron minerals.
• With a Mohs hardness of around 5.5 to 6.5, haematite is well suited for jewellery, but should be protected from hard knocks.
• Typical are steel grey to black tones with metallic lustre.
• Characterisic is the red to red-brown line coloureven if the stone appears dark.
• The following are sufficient for care lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

Haematite is a favourite because of its metallic lustre and its striking elegance is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the Birthstone collection.

Haematite is a iron oxide mineral with the chemical composition Fe₂O₃. It occurs in various geological environments and is one of the most important ferrous minerals in the world. In jewellery, the compact, dark shiny variety is particularly popular, which is characterised by its cool metallic look, and looks particularly modern.

Characterisic of haematite are its high density, its dark colour and metallic sheen. As a result, the stone often feels pleasantly heavy and conveys a high-quality, striking presence. With a hardness of 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, haematite is well suited for necklaces, earrings and bracelets. A little more caution is advisable with rings and heavily used pieces of jewellery, as haematite can be comparatively brittle.

Mineralogically, haematite occurs in various forms, such as massive, flaky, rosette-like or crystalline. In the jewellery sector, however, the compact, highly polishable variant is processed. It is also important to differentiate between so-called "magnetic haematite". This is usually not natural haematite, but an artificially produced material.

Haematite has been used since antiquity as a jewellery, amulet and ornamental stone. Its name goes back to the Greek word for "blood" — a reference to the typical red line colour of the mineral. Haematite was used early on not only for jewellery, but also for seals, small objects and pigments.

To this day, haematite stands for a form of reduced, modern elegancewhich goes particularly well with clear lines and high-contrast jewellery designs. Especially in combination with stainless steel, silver or dark surfaces, haematite looks contemporary and expressive.

The metallic lustre of haematite is caused by strong light reflection on the dense iron oxide structure (Fe₂O₃); as a powder, genuine haematite always shows a reddish-brown line - an important feature for recognising genuine haematite. Despite its steel-grey to black appearance, genuine haematite typically exhibits a red to red-brown line colour - one of its most important distinguishing features.

Haematite with titanium oxide refinement:
Haematite jewellery with Titanium oxide refinement (often PVD/TiO₂ coating) combines the cool metallic look of haematite with more scratch-resistant, more colour stable surface. The Titanium oxide layer produces noble tones of anthracite/gunmetal to iris/rainbow - ideal for modern styles.

Advantages & features

• Durable & colourfast: PVD/TiO₂ is harder and more abrasion-resistant than conventional electroplating.

• Noble effects: a more even gunmetal lustre or iridescent shimmer depending on the layer thickness.

• Skin-friendly: in combination with stainless steel/silver often very Skin-friendly (declare nickel-free).

• Suitable for everyday use: the coating protects the Haematite also protects against micro-scratches.

Who Buy haematite jewellery should pay attention to some typical characteristics. Genuine haematite usually looks Cool, dense and metallicIt has a noticeable weight and, depending on the polish, has a silvery, dark mirror shine. An important note is the material declaration: especially with highly magnetic products, it is worth taking a closer look to see whether natural haematite has really been used.

Pay attention to:

• Metallic lustre: steel-grey to graphite-coloured, not artificially lacquered.
• Pleasant weight: Haematite is known for its high density.
• Clear declaration: Natural haematite should be distinguished from "magnetic haematite" or haematin.
• Careful polishing: high-quality surfaces bring out the lustre particularly well.
• Trusted dealers: Transparent material specifications are particularly important for high-quality jewellery.

Haematite is well suited for everyday use, but should be handled with care due to its rather brittle structure. So that haematite jewellery stays beautiful for a long time – simple care steps are recommended. The following are sufficient for cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. The piece of jewellery should then be dried thoroughly.

On Avoid aggressive cleaning agents, strong friction and hard knocks as far as possible. It is best to store haematite jewellery separately in a soft pouch or case so that the polished surface is not damaged and retains its dark lustre.