Gemstone Spotlight: Golden Enhydro Quartz Crystals

Jewelry CareGemstone Spotlight
Written By Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Detail view of golden enhydro quartz also known as petroleum included quartz under 10x magnification of a jeweler's loupe. Note the tiny air bubble within the golden yellow petroleum inclusion. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Golden Enhydro Quartz History and Lore

Golden enhydro quartz, also known as petroleum quartz or enpetro quartz, is one of the most extraordinary forms of quartz crystals.  Enhydro is a Greek word meaning water within.  Golden enhydros got their name when quartz crystals formed around liquid yellow petroleum oil deposits, sealing them inside forever. This process unfolds over 500 million years and golden enhydros are found in only 3 locations to date, the Himalayas, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

In the world of metaphysics, quartz is considered a supreme gift from Mother Earth and used as a powerful energetic gemstone for aiding in healing, meditation and spiritual communication.  When other minerals are contained within a quartz crystal their energy is amplified and harmonized with their quartz host resulting in a more accessible and potent healing frequency. 

Liquid and color are two key characteristics for golden enhydros use in shamanism and mysticism.   Liquid, as one of the four traditional elements, corresponds to our emotions.  The ancient liquid oil contained in golden enhydros is believed to vibrate on a pristine natural frequency that helps retune and correct imbalances with our emotions.

 In color therapy, golden yellow is associated with our emotions, the solar plexus chakra and the planet Jupiter.  Golden yellow also represents purity and spiritual love and has been used to artistically depict deities and saints in many cultures.

  

Origins and Gemology

Quartz is the most abundant mineral found on the Earth’s surface and mineable deposits are located on almost every continent. Quartz is part of every mountain range, and we get bits of it stuck in between our toes when walking on sandy beaches.  Golden enhydro’s double terminations (pointy ends) are incredibly rare within the world of gemstones and occur as a result of the crystals growing with very little contact with the surrounding dolostone rock. Most quartz crystals grow attached to the surrounding rock and have only one termination or point.  Double terminated quartz crystals are often called Herkimer Diamonds, however only those crystals mined in Herkimer, New York can be authentically labeled Herkimer Diamonds.

Quartz is highly durable and extensively used in the glass making, petroleum, construction, optical and electronic industries.  In 1921, quartz was discovered to be piezoelectric, meaning it will generate an electric charge and vibrate at precise frequencies.  These frequencies are so precise that quartz crystals are used in extremely accurate time-keeping instruments, stabilizing radio and television signals, cellphones and GPS equipment. So ancient healers and metaphysical practitioners were way ahead of their time in using quartz for a communication device!

Detail of the golden enhydro quartz in Michelle Pajak-Reynolds's Desma pendant fluorescing under UV light. Photo courtesy: Benjamin Guttery/Third Coast Gems

Detail of the golden enhydro quartz in Michelle Pajak-Reynolds's Desma pendant fluorescing under UV light. Photo courtesy: Benjamin Guttery/Third Coast Gems

 

Phenomenal Gemstone

Another astounding feature of golden enhydro quartz is the petroleum inside these gems will fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.  Fluorescence is a natural phenomenon that occurs in several minerals and gemstones. When it occurs in golden enhydro quartz it's extra special because quartz doesn't fluoresce on its own. It's only through the petroleum inclusions that these gems are able to glow from within.


Caring for Golden Enhydro Quartz Jewelry

As one of more durable gems, ranking 7 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, golden enhydro quartz can be cleaned with warm water and gentle soap.  Let your jewelry pieces soak for a few minutes.  Then gently scrub with a soft brush, like an old toothbrush, rinse and let dry on a soft lint-free cloth.  Quartz can scratch softer stones, including pearls and opals, so it’s ideal to store quartz jewelry separately from your more delicate pieces.

Related posts:

Sparkle a Plenty: Mining for Herkimer Diamond Quartz Crystals in Herkimer, New York

Mira: Modern Talisman Jewelry Inspired by Ancient Landscapes

Voyageuse: Jewels Inspired by Moss



Please note, all metaphysical and healing properties listed are collected from a variety of sources and shared for educational, historical and entertainment purposes only. The authors and Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Studios LLC do not guarantee the validity of such statements nor is any of this information meant to treat medical conditions. If you have a medical concern, please consult your medical provider for appropriate treatment options.



Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

The creative journey of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds—from childhood spark to timeless, handcrafted treasures.

“My love story with jewelry began before I was born. My parents met across a jewelry counter—my mother, a jewelry department manager; my father, a police officer working loss prevention in his off-duty hours. That moment of serendipity set everything in motion.

By five, I was working on my first designs in pop-beads and jelly bracelets, completely captivated by Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman—especially those iconic power bracelets and her gleaming tiara. I didn’t want to just wear magic, I wanted to make it. With babysitting money and a fierce sense of purpose, I bought beads and wire from the local craft store and taught myself the fundamentals. That curiosity turned into a calling.

I took my first metalsmithing class in high school and never looked back. I went on to earn a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University—equipping me to build a business rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and soul.

Since founding my namesake jewelry company in 2001, I’ve focused on creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind designs—each one handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques and ethically sourced materials. My work is intimate and intentional: forged in fire, shaped by hand, and designed to stir something deep within you. Every gemstone, every metal, every story that inspires a collection is carefully chosen, researched, and refined. This is slow jewelry with a purpose: to help you mark what matters most.

My pieces have graced red carpets at the Emmy Awards, runways at New York Fashion Week, and exhibitions around the world—including aboard the United Nations Peace Boat. Collectors, stylists, and editors seek out my work, but what means the most to me is when a client says, “This feels like it was made just for me.”

Because it was.

Jewelry, to me, is personal mythology made tangible. It’s a way of preserving the past, celebrating the present, and passing something meaningful into the future. So when you open your jewelry box, you're not just looking at beautiful objects—you're holding pieces of your life’s story. And maybe, just maybe, you're beginning a new chapter.” - Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

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