Agate Slice Coasters - Set of 4, 8-10 cm, Dyeing Stated Per Colour

Four slices cut from natural agate and polished flat, 8–10 cm across and about 120 g each. Agate forms in bands, so each slice shows a different pattern, a different outline and a slightly different thickness. They are not cut to match and they will not match.

Two of the four colours are natural and two are dyed, and we say which. White sand and amber are the stone's own colour. Blue and purple are dyed – agate does not occur in vivid blue or purple at this price, and any seller implying otherwise is guessing or hoping you will not ask. A dyed slice is still real agate and still a good object; the problem in this category is never the dye, it is the silence about it.

How to check it yourself: hold a slice up to a lamp. Dye soaks into the porous bands and stops dead at the dense ones, so the colour follows the banding in hard steps. Natural colour grades instead of stopping.

Who this is for

• You want coasters that are objects rather than a matched set of discs
• You like that each one is different and you are not going to be annoyed by it
• You want to know which colours were dyed before you buy, not after

Who this is not for

• You want four that match. They are slices of different stones. Banding, outline and thickness all vary. This is the single most common complaint about agate coasters and it is not a fault, it is what they are.
• You want a trivet. These are for drinks. Agate can crack from thermal shock – do not put a hot pan or a pot straight off the hob on one.
• You have a delicate table and will not use felt pads. These ship with no backing. Polished stone is harder than a lacquered or waxed surface and will mark it if dragged. Stick-on felt dots cost almost nothing and solve it permanently.
• You want a perfectly flat, level disc. A natural slice has a slight thickness variation across it. A wine glass will sit fine; a full, brimmed glass may not sit dead level.

What you get

• Four agate slices in the colour you choose, 8–10 cm across, approx. 120 g each
• Foam sleeved and boxed. No gift packaging, no felt pads

Details

• Natural agate, sawn and polished. Round to oval, edges follow the stone
• 8–10 cm across, approx. 120 g per slice, approx. 480 g for the set
• White sand and amber are undyed. Blue and purple are dyed
• Wipe with a damp cloth. Agate is quartz-family and hard, so a rinse does nothing to it – but dry it rather than leaving it wet on wood
• Drinks only. Not heatproof, no backing supplied
• Decorative stone. We make no claims about health, mood, luck or energy

FAQ

Are these dyed?

Two of the four colours are. White sand and amber are the stone's own colour; blue and purple are dyed. Agate does not occur in vivid blue or purple at this price.

How can I tell a dyed slice from a natural one?

Hold it to a lamp. Dye soaks into the porous bands and stops at the dense ones, so the colour changes in hard steps that follow the banding. Natural colour grades instead.

Will the four slices match?

No. They are cut from different stones, so banding, outline and thickness all vary. That is what an agate slice is, and it is the most common complaint in this category.

Can I put a hot pan on one?

No. These are drinks coasters. Agate can crack from thermal shock, so keep pots and pans off them.

Will they scratch my table?

They can. There is no felt or cork backing, and polished stone is harder than a lacquered or waxed surface. Stick-on felt dots fix it for a couple of dollars.

How big are they really?

8 to 10 cm across and about 120 g each - roughly the footprint of a mug base. The set of four weighs about 480 g.

Do they absorb condensation?

No. Polished agate is not porous, so a wet glass leaves the water on the stone rather than in it. Wipe it off; do not leave the slice sitting wet on wood.

Do agate coasters do anything?

They keep a glass off the table. We make no claims about health, mood, luck or energy.

Which colours are dyed, and how to check: agate coasters, dyed or natural – the lamp test, a colour-by-colour table, and what a slice survives.

Worried about dye generally? How to tell if a crystal is real – five tests you can do by hand.

Why a slice is cheap and a sphere is not: crystal shapes explained.

Want a plated edge? Agate coasters with a gold edge, set of 4 at $54.99. The rim is electroplated, not solid metal.