A palm-sized slice of banded agate, polished so the light shines right through it.

Agate forms inside volcanic rock as silica-rich water fills a gap, layer by thin layer, over a very long time. Cut a thin slice and you get a map of that slow build-up in rings and bands. Every colour except Natural is dyed to make the bands pop; Natural is the agate's own undyed colour.

This size is a sweet spot: big enough to show off its pattern, small enough to slip into a gift box. Old Persian stories even say agate could change the weather. Mostly it just makes a windowsill much more fun.

How to use it

• Prop it on a sunny windowsill
• Use it as a tiny tray for a ring
• Add it to a crystal grid or altar
• Tuck it into a birthday card envelope

Care: Rinse with plain water and dry it right away, and keep dyed slices out of strong sun for hours on end so the colour stays bright.

The details

• Stone: Agate
• Unit size: 3 1/2" to 5"
• Options: Black (Enhanced), Blue (Enhanced), Green (Enhanced), Natural, Pink (Enhanced), Purple (Enhanced), Red (Enhanced), Teal (Enhanced)
• Sold as: Single piece
• Country of origin: Brazil