Aventurine owes its name to an accidental discovery made in the 18th century by Venetian glassmakers who, by accidentally dropping copper shavings into molten glass, created a sparkling material called "aventurine" (avventura meaning "by chance" in Italian). Although the term was first used to describe glass, it was soon attributed to this natural stone, whose glittering lustre evoked the same effect. Natural Aventurine, particularly in its pink form, was used long before this anecdote in China and South America to make amulets supposed to attract happiness and prosperity.