The term Marcasite is applied to small polished and faceted stones that are inlayed in sterling silver.  Marcasite is derived from the Arabic word for pyrite, is a common and an attractive mineral. The two minerals, marcasite and pyrite, are often confused due to their similar characteristics. Marcasite is a polymorph of pyrite which means that it has the same chemistry as pyrite but a different structure and, therefore, different symmetry and crystal shapes.

 

Marcasite Jewelry was made popular in Victorian jewelry and remains popular today adding an old world quality to modern jewelry.