5 Best Stones for Lapidary

Lapidary—the art of shaping, cutting, and polishing stones—has been practiced for thousands of years.

From ancient civilizations creating amulets and beads to modern jewelers producing dazzling cabochons and carvings, this craft has always been about one thing: bringing out the hidden beauty of natural materials.

Every rock tells a story, and through lapidary, we reveal it.

For newcomers, the world of lapidary can feel overwhelming. There are so many types of stones, each with unique properties, colors, hardness levels, and appearances. Choosing the right material makes a huge difference, not only in the finished result but in your enjoyment of the process itself.

While seasoned lapidaries may experiment with exotic or rare stones, beginners will find greater success starting with tried-and-true favorites that cut, shape, and polish beautifully.

But here’s the best part: you don’t need to spend a fortune or travel across the globe to begin your lapidary journey.

Sometimes the most inspiring stones are found close to home—picked up on a morning walk, collected during a hike, or discovered along a sandy beach.

With the right eye, everyday rocks can be transformed into works of art.

In this guide, we’ll explore the five best stones for lapidary: agate, jasper, quartz, obsidian, and turquoise. These stones offer a balance of beauty, availability, and workability, making them perfect for anyone looking to dive deeper into this timeless craft.

Along the way, we’ll talk about what makes each stone special, where you can find them, and why they’re beloved by lapidaries worldwide.

5 Best Rocks For Polishing

1-Agates: The Lapidary Classic

If there is one stone that defines the lapidary world, it’s an agate. Belonging to the chalcedony family, agates are renowned for their striking bands of color, and being translucent. Each piece of agate is like an original tiny natural painting, with swirls, stripes, and patterns that feel endless in their variety. 

Agate is typically rated around 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it hard enough to take an excellent polish but still forgiving enough for beginners. That combination of durability and beauty explains why agate is often one of the first stones people work with when they enter the hobby.

What makes agate so exciting is the element of surprise. From the outside, a rough nodule may look plain or even unremarkable. But slice it open, and you may find bands of orange, red, purple, blue, or even combinations that mimic landscapes or abstract art. This transformation is what makes agate hunting and cutting so rewarding—you never truly know what you’ll get until you cut it open!

Agates can be found worldwide, often in riverbeds, volcanic regions, or as rounded pebbles on beaches. 

2-Jasper: The Stone of Endless Patterns

Like agate, jasper is also part of the chalcedony family, but it has its own personality. Whereas agate is often translucent with clear banding, jasper is opaque and tends to feature earthy colors, striking patterns, and unique inclusions. No two pieces of jasper look alike, which makes it a favorite among artists who value individuality.

Red Jasper

Jasper is also about a 7 on the Mohs scale, which means it takes a high polish and stands up well to cabbing, carving, and tumbling. What lapidaries love most, however, is its versatility. Jasper can be bright and bold, like red or yellow brecciated jasper, or soft and subtle, like moss jasper with its fern-like inclusions. Some varieties even look like landscapes, earning them the name “picture jasper.”

Dalmatian Jasper

Yellow Jasper

For beginners, jasper is a forgiving material that rewards experimentation. Even small pieces can become beautiful pendants, while larger slabs are often cut into cabochons for jewelry. If you’d like to try your first cabochon, check out our step by step guide to making cabochons, or cabs, using a  cabbing machine.

3-Quartz: A Versatile Favorite

Few stones are as abundant—or as versatile—as quartz. This mineral family includes clear quartz, smoky quartz, rose quartz, amethyst, citrine, and many other varieties. For lapidaries, quartz is a dream material because it is relatively accessible, affordable, and adaptable to different styles of cutting.

On the Mohs scale, quartz also comes in at 7, giving it a good balance of hardness and polishability. Its transparency and crystalline structure make it particularly stunning in cabochons, spheres, or faceted cuts.

Rose Quartz cabochons with a domed top and flat bottom.

Amethyst stones that have been faceted and set into a pair of earrings

With rose quartz, for example, the gentle pink glow can be enhanced through polishing into domes or hearts, while amethyst’s purple hues shine in both small and large cabochons.

          Rose Quartz                                                   Amethyst

Quartz is widely available in many parts of the world. You might find water-worn quartz pebbles in streams or larger clusters in rock shops. Because it’s so abundant, quartz is an excellent stone for practicing new techniques while still producing beautiful results.

If you’re curious about shaping quartz, take a look at our flat lap machines—a great choice for cutting and polishing quartz with precision.

4-Obsidian: Nature’s Volcanic Glass

Obsidian, formed from rapidly cooling volcanic lava, is technically a glass rather than a mineral. Despite this, it has been treasured by humans for millennia. Ancient peoples shaped obsidian into tools and weapons because of its sharp edges, but today, it is beloved for its glossy polish and striking patterns.

On the Mohs scale, obsidian ranges between 5 and 6, making it softer than quartz or agate. This softness means it polishes quickly, but it also requires care to avoid scratches and fractures. However, for those who work with it carefully, obsidian rewards with an unmatched mirror-like finish.

Varieties like snowflake obsidian, mahogany obsidian, and rainbow obsidian add even more intrigue. Rainbow obsidian, for example, reveals shimmering bands of color under the light, making it a favorite for jewelry and decorative cabochons. Snowflake obsidian, with its white crystal inclusions, creates striking contrasts that look like tiny explosions of frost.

5-Turquoise: A Timeless Treasure

Turquoise has been cherished for thousands of years, valued by cultures from ancient Egypt to Native American artisans. Its distinctive blue-to-green hues make it instantly recognizable and highly sought after.

For jewelry makers, turquoise is often the centerpiece of bold rings, necklaces, and inlays.

On the Mohs scale, turquoise ranges from 5 to 6, making it softer than quartz or agate. This softness can pose challenges for lapidaries, as turquoise may chip or scratch more easily. However, stabilized turquoise—treated with resin—has become widely available, making it much easier to work with.

Stabilized turquoise holds its polish better, ensuring finished pieces retain their beauty over time.

What makes turquoise truly special is its cultural and historical significance. Many lapidaries find joy in carrying forward traditions that honor this stone’s timeless appeal. Whether polished into smooth cabochons or left with a natural matrix for added character, turquoise never fails to stand out.

If turquoise inspires you, consider investing in a cabbing machine to help you shape and polish this beautiful stone into cabochons worthy of fine jewelry.

Choosing Stones for Your Lapidary Journey

While agate, jasper, quartz, obsidian, and turquoise are among the best stones for lapidary, the truth is that beauty can be found anywhere. One of the joys of lapidary is the element of discovery. A simple rock collected from a hiking trail or a beach walk may surprise you with hidden colors and patterns once cut and polished.

When starting out, the most important thing is to work with stones that inspire you. Pay attention to how a stone feels in your hand, how light passes through it, or what patterns you notice on its surface. Sometimes, your instincts will lead you to the perfect material, even if it’s not considered “valuable” in a traditional sense.

Collecting your own stones adds an extra layer of meaning to the craft. That cabochon you cut from a pebble found on vacation will always carry memories of that place and moment. Over time, you’ll develop an eye for spotting lapidary-worthy stones in the most unexpected places.

For beginners, our beginners guide to Lapidary is a great place to start. It covers not only stone selection but also the tools you’ll need, from tumblers and flat-laps to saws, grinders and polishers.

The Art and Joy of Lapidary

Lapidary is as much about the journey as it is about the finished product. Each stage—selecting rough, sawing, grinding, shaping, sanding, and polishing—invites you to slow down and connect with the material. As you watch a dull, rough stone transform into a gleaming, polished piece, you experience firsthand the magic of nature and craftsmanship coming together.

The stones you choose are the foundation of this journey. While the five stones we’ve highlighted here are excellent starting points, your path as a lapidary will be shaped by curiosity, experimentation, and the thrill of discovery. Sometimes the most rewarding pieces come not from exotic minerals but from the humble rocks you collect in your own backyard.

At The Gemstone Lab, we celebrate this spirit of creativity and exploration. Whether you’re just beginning or have years of experience, lapidary is an art that never stops surprising you.

Ready to start your own journey? Explore our full selection of lapidary equipment, including cabbing machines, flat laps, and trim saws, and begin transforming rough stones into treasures. The perfect stone may be waiting for you right outside your door—are you ready to discover it?