Gemstone Water - Tips on Individual Types of Stones
The simplest and most common method for making gemstone water is to use Water Stones. To do this, place the cleansed stones directly into a glass carafe or pitcher filled with fresh drinking water. After steeping for a few hours—or overnight—the gemstone water is ready to use.
Making Gemstone Water with Water Stones
Information transfer is also possible without direct contact between the stones and the water. To do this, the stones are placed in a small glass container, such as a test tube, and suspended in a vessel filled with water. However, since this method is somewhat cumbersome for everyday use, practical solutions have been developed.
Closed systems, such as the Crystal Vital Sticks from Lapis Vitalis® or the vials from VitaJuwel®, are particularly convenient. In these systems, the gemstones are securely housed in a sealed glass container and do not come into direct contact with the water.
Tips for Choosing the Right Water Stones
If you choose the direct method with Water Stones, there are a few important guidelines to follow when selecting gemstones. Not every type of stone is suitable for direct contact with drinking water. Therefore, only suitable, non-toxic, and untreated Water Stones should be used.
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Use only suitable gemstones: For making Gemstone Water, you should use only minerals that are insoluble in water, non-toxic, and do not release any harmful substances into the water.
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Minerals from the quartz group are particularly well-suited, including amethyst, Rock Crystal, Rose Quartz, and Smoky Quartz. Microcrystalline quartz varieties such as agate, aventurine, carnelian, chalcedony, Chrysoprase, Heliotrope (Bloodstone), jasper, Mookaite, and Sardonyx are also well-suited for direct contact with drinking water.
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Some Water Stones, such as Sodalite or Tourmaline (black), do contain traces of aluminum. However, this aluminum is firmly bound within the crystal structure and does not leach into the water under normal use.
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Calcite can also be used as a Water Stone. The mineral is only significantly soluble in acidic solutions. In ordinary drinking water, its solubility is so low that a calcite Water Stone will not dissolve practically at all, even over very long periods of time.
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Do not place copper-containing minerals directly in the water: Caution is advised with gemstones that contain copper compounds. These include, among others, Azurite, Malachite, Turquoise, and Chrysocolla. These stones are not suitable for direct contact with drinking water, as components may leach from their surfaces.
For these minerals, the indirect method is recommended, in which the stones are placed in a glass tube or vial inside the water container. This prevents direct contact between the stone and the water.
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Always use the indirect method for unknown types of stones: If you want to make gemstone water using stones that are not explicitly described as suitable for use in water, you should always use the indirect method for safety reasons. This ensures that the stones do not come into direct contact with the drinking water. This helps avoid potential risks posed by water-soluble or questionable mineral components.
Detailed information on the properties and suitability of individual gemstones for making gemstone water can be found in the relevant specialized literature, e.g., *"Water Stones"* by Michael Gienger and Joachim Goebel.
Shungite as a Water Stone – Guidelines for Safe Use
Shungite is often sold as a Water Stone. However, from a technical and hygienic standpoint, it is not recommended to place shungite directly into drinking water without a container. Shungite is a natural, carbon-rich rock with a variable mineral composition.
Depending on the deposit, it contains various associated minerals in addition to carbon and may have a surface structure of varying density. Even carefully cleaned raw pieces can release fine abrasives or mineral particles into the water. These cannot be completely ruled out in the case of direct contact.
Does Shungite contain fullerenes?
Shungite is known, among other things, because natural fullerenes have been detected in certain high-quality shungite deposits. Fullerenes are hollow spherical molecules made of carbon atoms. The best-known form is the C₆₀ molecule, whose structure resembles a soccer ball.
Fullerenes were discovered in 1985 by Robert F. Curl Jr., Harold W. Kroto, and Richard E. Smalley. For this discovery, the scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.
Whether and to what extent natural fullerenes from Shungite are released into drinking water has not been conclusively established by science. Therefore, Shungite should not be used with the intention of releasing fullerenes into the water.
Why shouldn’t Shungite be placed directly in water?
There are several reasons to avoid direct contact:
- Fine particles and abrasion: Shungite can release small carbon and mineral particles that can contaminate or cloud the water.
- Natural accompanying minerals: The composition of Shungite varies depending on its origin and is not fully standardized.
- Uncontrollable release of substances: Any transfer of natural components into the water cannot be reliably controlled or assessed.
The better alternative: Test tube method or Shungite slabs (indirect methods)
Test tube method
In this method, small pieces of shungite are placed in a sealed glass tube or test tube, which is then placed inside the water pitcher.
The glass tube can be cleaned regularly with hot water, while the Shungite stones remain dry. This allows Shungite to be used safely and conveniently without the drinking water coming into direct contact with the stone.
Gemstone Plate
Another safe and hygienic way to make Gemstone Water is to use gemstone slabs: A carafe or glass of water is placed on a slab made of the desired gemstone.
Advantages of indirect methods
- No direct contact between Shungite (or other stones) and drinking water
- No release of particles or abrasion
- Hygienic and clean use
- Easy cleaning of the glass tube or slab
The indirect method is particularly suitable for anyone who wants to make gemstone water in a simple, clean, and safe way.
Important: the surface texture
In addition to selecting the right type of stone, the way the Water Stones are processed also plays an important role.
Rough, simply broken stones (often sold as Decoration Stones) are not recommended for gemstone water. They often have sharp edges, can easily chip, and may scratch or damage glass containers.
High-gloss polished stones, on the other hand, are often treated with waxes or polishing agents to achieve a particularly shiny surface. While this is generally not a problem for jewelry, such residues should be avoided when the stones come into direct contact with drinking water.
Pre-tumbled, but not high-gloss polished, Water Stones are therefore best suited. Tumbling removes sharp edges without the need for additional polishing agents. This makes them safe to use, easy to clean, and ideal for making gemstone water.
