All About Tumbled Stones & Crystals!

Tumbled Stones & Crystals

Tumbled stones are small, polished pieces of rock, crystals, or minerals that come out looking and feeling smooth with a bright and shiny finished look. Tumbled stones can be crystals and crystals can be polished stones so if you’re looking to up your crystal collection, tumbled stones may be just what you have in mind!

What is the Difference Between Tumbled Stones and Crystals?

The short answer is there is no difference between tumbled stones and crystals. Often times when people want to buy crystals or have a crystal collection, the rocks or minerals will be rough, natural, uncut and have a more jagged and raw look to them. But those same rocks or minerals (depending on how hard of a substance they are, more on that later) can be polished or tumbled in a machine and turned into tumbled stones, which are simply smaller, rounded, polished versions of those same unpolished crystals. The only difference is the final look. 

For those who are looking to use crystals for their benefits and healing properties, tumbled stones still carry those same properties, they simply come in a different style. And while some people might feel that the process of polishing the crystals may change the healing properties of the crystal, the connection that each person forms with their own crystal or tumbled stone is unique and can’t be qualified by someone else. 

How Do They Make Tumbled Stones and Crystals?

Tumbled stones are made in a machine called a rock tumbler which turns the stones, minerals, or crystals for days or even weeks with water and grains of abrasive grit—think grains of sand—allowing the water and grit to sheer off any sharp pieces, leaving behind a smooth, polished stone. It’s similar to how sea glass is created, expect it takes a lot less time!

Because of the process of polishing stones in a rock tumbler, only stones, minerals, or crystals with a hardness between 5 and 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale can become tumbled stones. Softer stones would not withstand the polishing machine and harder stones would not become tumbled stones. 

The most commonly found tumbled stones are Agate, Bloodstone, Jasper, Amethyst, Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Turquoise, and Malachite, though there are many, many others even including fossilized material and petrified wood. Tumbled stones and crystals can be used in jewelry making, make great souvenirs, are wonderful decorative stones, are popular in New Age shops, and perfect for altars and crystal work. Often times tumbled stones can be more affordable than some larger, raw crystals and so may be a better option for those who are just starting their crystal collection or are looking for certain crystals based on healing properties. 

Whatever the reason you are looking for tumbled stones and crystals, they are a beautiful addition to any home or altar.