What is Connemara Marble? The History of ‘The Irish Gemstone’
“Connemara is a Savage Beauty”, or so said Oscar Wilde. The rare and beautiful Connemara Marble is found exclusively along Ireland’s rugged wild atlantic coast. This marble has green of almost every hue in arresting layers and patterns, each piece unique.
Primal Past
Connemara marble was formed from sediment deposited in a shallow primal sea over 600 million years ago. It was transformed by the intense temperatures and pressures generated in the formation of the mountains of the West of Ireland and Scotland over 390 million years ago.
The beautiful bands in various shades of rich to pale green are formed of tiny crystals of serpentine, diopside, chlorite, calcite, and dolomite within the marble.
Internationally Revered
Forged by formidable tectonic forces, Connemara Marble is still quarried to this day in Galway on Ireland’s stunning coast. One of the rarest forms of marble in the world due to its limited supply, it has been shipped around the world. It was used in the lovely Galway Cathedral, in Ireland, Westminster Cathedral in London, as well as farther afield in The Senate Chamber of the State building in Pennsylvania.
The Irish Gemstone
Known as the “Irish Gemstone”, the beautiful and unique patterns of green make it a beautiful material for use in jewelry. We use this stunning stone in earrings, necklaces and rings to craft striking pieces each with a genuine piece of Ireland.
A treasure traded for centuries in Ireland, it continues to be of great value today. We take great pride in sharing this lovely material with our customers worldwide.
