Agate Slices in Jewel Colors

Polished agate slices overlap across the table, each one carrying its own rings, crystal center and rough outer edge. A violet geode sits near the middle beside turquoise, smoky gray, amber and rose stones. Glossy highlights skim across the cut faces, while chipped rims keep the minerals from looking too perfect.

Rings pass through several colors between each rough outer rim and its crystal-lined center. Some bands are narrow and pale; others form broad pools of violet or blue. The slices overlap instead of lying in separate rows, so a curved edge often disappears beneath its neighbor. Small bright facets in the centers give these otherwise smooth faces a more uneven texture.