Kunzite
Millions of years ago, deep in the bowels of our Earth,
gemstones were created in innumerable variations. We are familiar with most of
them, and indeed we have been so in most cases for thousands of years. Yet every
now and again, a previously unknown variant of a gem comes to light. One of
these 'young' gemstones is kunzite, with its delicate pink hues, a gem which is
seen more and more often nowadays, making an attractive eye-catcher in jewelry.
Yes, kunzite has only been known for a little more than a hundred years, and yet
it is now going through something like a second renaissance.
As we have already
said, kunzite is still a very young gemstone. It was not until 1902 that the
Above
all, the appeal of this gemstone lies in its clarity and its fine delicate pink
nuances, which often display a hint of violet. These are delicate, tender hues,
feminine and seductive. In order to make sure that the fine color is shown to
its full advantage, the cutter must align the raw crystal very precisely during
his work. The reason is that depending on the angle from which you look at a
kunzite, it can appear violet, pink or even colorless. Indeed some kunzites from
finds in 
kunzite is rare and thus correspondingly valuable.
This gemstone is the youngest member of the spodumen family, to which the green
or yellowish-green hiddenite, discovered about a quarter of a century earlier,
also belongs. Hiddenite too bears the name of its discoverer, W. E. Hidden.
Those who are interested in gemology will know that, together with diopside,
jadeite and three other kinds of mineral, the spodumens make up the pyroxene
group, the word pyroxene being derived from the Greek words pyr (fire) and xenos
(stranger).
Pale pink kunzite
was discovered in 1902 in the Pala District of San Diego County in
As a variety of spodumen, kunzite
belongs to the class of the chain silicates. It has minute traces of manganese
to thank for its fine lilac color. However, the color can fade in direct
sunlight. For that reason, jewellery with kunzite should never be worn while
sunbathing or on the beach.
Its hardness is fairly good, between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale. To the chagrin
of the cutters, however, this gem has perfect cleavage and is thus extremely
difficult to cut. Having said that, once it has been given its final shape, it
becomes uncomplicated. But it is very difficult to re-cut. Cut kunzite surprises
even experts again and again with its brilliance. The silvery gloss on its
facets forms a beautiful contrast to the fine violet-pink of the gemstone.
In
the trade, kunzite is available in many beautiful cuts. It is one of the gems
which are available in relatively large sizes at affordable prices. When making
a purchase, however, you should remember that it is first the color and then the
clarity, which determines its value. The more intense the color, the more
valuable the kunzite. The question of whether the color should tend more or less
strongly towards violet will depend on your personal preference and skin type.
This gemstone with its fine,
delicate pink is not only an ideal precious stone for lovers; it is also popular
as a healing stone. Kunzite is said to enhance a person's capacity for devotion
and understanding and to bestow inner peace and joie de vivre on its wearer. And
since it is also said to activate the mind and
liberate us from worry and anxiety, it is an excellent gemstone for those
suffering from strain or exam nerves. Whether or not one actually believes in
these positive effects, one thing is certain: its fine pink with a hint of
violet radiates a serene composure and keeps moods of depression and
anxiety at bay right
from the outset. Try it for yourself!