Frequently Asked Questions
Connemara Marble is a rare form of marble found in Connemara Co. Galway in the West of Ireland.
• It is a calcite marble which contains large amounts of serpentine. The marble forms when limestone is heated under pressure. While the colour is predominantly green there are often shades of grey and brown seen throughout.
• Formed from sediment deposited in a shallow primal sea over 900 million years ago. The beautiful striations of rich to pale green within the marble are formed by tiny crystals of green serpentine, diopside, chlorite and rich white calcite with dolomite.
• Connemara Marble has been used for centuries as a medium of exchange. Its beautiful swirling patterns perfectly represent the Irish landscapes where it is found. An inspiration for jewelry makers and architects across the world as the patterns are different in each stone which means each piece is entirely unique!
Connemara is a region found in Co Galway. The word itself comes from the ancient Gaelic language and means “Inlets for the Sea”. It is pronounced con- uh-mar-ah.
A visitor to this region of Ireland cannot help but be bowled over by its untouched, awe inspiring, serene beauty. This beautiful district stretches from the rugged Twelve Bens mountain range in the north through lake-rich Roundstone Bog and on to the golden shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is an area with dramatic scenery combining mountains, valleys, lakes, bogs and sea and its countryside is also distinctive for its wildness, quietness and unspoiled nature. Offshore, there are numerous peninsulas and popular islands such as the Aran Islands and Inis Boffin.
The coastline is dotted with thousands of wild bays and inlets while the land, between bogs and rocks, is dotted with small green oasis, where scattered houses and clusters formed what in Connemara are known as villages and town-lands.
The famous Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde described the area best when he said that Connemara is ” Wild mountainous country, magnificent in every way – a savage beauty”.
Known as “the Gemstone of Ireland” Connemara Marble is the standout Irish geological and gem material and is therefore recognized as the iconic stone of Ireland and indeed a rare gemstone. Its use in jewelry can be regarded as one of Ireland’s indigenous industries, and the hand stone quarrying of Connemara marble is a centuries-old endeavor.
Connemara Marble is the perfect choice for anyone who would like to incorporate green tones into their jewelry wardrobe. The soft hues will suit any skin tone and the feel of smooth, cooling, natural stone on your skin is said to bring serenity to the wearer.
It comes in over 40 shades of green and has a high magnesium content which is is thought to aid in the absorption of calcium and magnesium. This stone gives access to the spiritual history of Ireland and creates a sense of peace, tranquility, restoration and healing.
Most of all Connemara Marble is hand lifted from our family quarry in Lissoughter, Co Galway established since 1945. No two pieces are the same, each as unique as a fingerprint – Your very own piece of Ireland.
For deliveries to the USA, goods are shipped once weekly on Wednesday and take approximately 2 weeks from the date of dispatch. Once your parcel arrives with our handling partner in the USA they in turn, will send it onto you with UPS.
For European deliveries where goods are in stock, orders may be delivered within 3-7 working days following the day of ordering.
All prices are inclusive of Tax and VAT.
Always protect your jewelry from sharp blows, scratching, chemicals, sunlight and heat/cold. Ideally, store your jewellery in a soft lined box or pouch. Try to keep pieces apart, so that they don’t rub together or tangle up.
- Wear jewelry for appropriate tasks, avoid wearing rings when cleaning, gardening or performing sporting activities.
- Don’t let your jewelry come into contact with nail polish removers, perfume and hairspray.
- Clean your jewelry regularly, use a professional jewelry cleaning product (always read the manufacturers instructions) for the silver or gold. We use natural beeswax to clean our Connemara Marble. This will bring your piece back to it’s original state if the marble has dulled over time.
- When washing your hands (away from home) – don’t place your rings on the wash basin – remove them and place them onto your necklace or place in a pouch in your handbag/purse.
- Never go swimming in your jewelry, chlorine in swimming pools can cause damage.
Yes, there are some variations. As Connemara marble is a natural stone which is found only in the West of Ireland , it will differ slightly within each piece. It ranges from light to dark green and the image shown on the website may not be the exact colour that you receive. We find this as a bonus as no two pieces will ever be the same and each will be unique to you. This is also the case with earrings but we will do our utmost to keep the colour matched within each pair.
In the EU , we use letters to size rings instead of numbers in the US. Please find conversion chart below
United states | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Europe | J | L | N | P | R | T | V1/2 |