Tumbled Blue Agate

Agate gets its name from the Achates River in present Sicily. It was where the stone was discovered by a Greek naturalist sometime between 400 and 300 B.C. In its natural form, agate, especially South American agate is often grey. Like many other variations of agate, the color in blue agate is most often achieved through dyeing, although some blue agate, such as "Holley blue agate" and blue lace agate occur naturally. The art of dyeing was known to the Romans; however, dying agate has been a closely guarded secret that has been perfected in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, one of the most important centers for cutting and dyeing since the early 16th century.