Moldavite Angel Chimes: what are they and how rare are they?
Some moldavites, when struck or rubbed, emit a delicate, ringing, and tinkling sound. These are Angel Chimes: among the rarest specimens, as they constitute barely 1% of all moldavites found.
01A resonating moldavite
Moldavites are natural impact glasses that, in certain cases, can vibrate at a resonant frequency. When a moldavite is struck or rubbed, energy is transferred to its constituent molecules, causing them to vibrate. This vibration also sets the surrounding air molecules in motion, generating a tinkling sound.
However, not all moldavites are Angel Chimes: thicker glass does not resonate as easily as thinner glass.
02What Moldavite Angel Chimes are
A Moldavite Angel Chime possesses high internal tension, due to a faster solidification from a molten state to hard glass. Imagine this tension as an inward compression: the molecules are tighter and constantly "in tension."
It is precisely this high internal tension that causes Angel Chimes to vibrate more and produce a tinkling or ringing sound when struck, dropped, or rubbed against glass or metal.
Photo of an Angel Chime03The rarity of Angel Chimes
Angel Chimes are more often found in thin or elongated pieces of moldavite, which were able to cool faster — although there are also thicker specimens capable of tinkling. How rare are they? The numbers speak for themselves:
per kg of moldavite
found
possible weight range
This makes them truly rare: even within a gem already rarer than diamonds, Angel Chimes are an exception. Find out why moldavite is so rare in the characteristics of moldavite.
04How to make Angel Chimes tinkle
You can get the characteristic ringing sound by dropping, tapping, or rubbing the stone against glass or metal. The safest way is to lightly tap the moldavite against another moldavite: if you hear a high-frequency sound, you have an Angel Chime.
⚠ Handle with care
Angel Chimes have higher internal tension and are often thinner than regular moldavites, making them more fragile. Avoid dropping them or striking them too hard while showing them to friends… otherwise, you might end up with two Angel Chimes!
05How to recognize them visually
Angel Chimes exist in every shape, size, and shade of green. They are often longer and/or thinner, but beware: many long or thin moldavites are not Angel Chimes.
| Weight | From 1 gram to over 100 grams |
| Shapes | Fragments, rods, drops, discs, ellipsoids, dumbbells |
| Color | All shades of green, like other moldavites |
| Verification | Impossible to know for sure by eye: the sound it produces must be tested |
06Myths to debunk
It is often said that Angel Chimes are the "most powerful" type of moldavite and attract angels. In reality, this is not the case: there are more or less intense Angel Chimes, just as with all moldavites.
It would technically be more correct to call them high internal tension (HIT) moldavites, so as not to associate them with the "power of angels." But let's face it: the name "Angel Chimes" sounds much better and conveys the idea of a singing gem well.
See (and hear) the difference
Nothing tells the story of Angel Chimes better than their sound. In this comparison, you can hear the difference between an Angel Chime and regular moldavites:
The moldavite on the left is an Angel Chime; the other two are regular moldavites.
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See the Angel Chimes collection Characteristics of moldavite