Kunzite

The mineral spodumene occurs in many countries, and is usually opaque and unattractive. Gem varieties, however, are more limited in occurrence, but are transparent and may be pink, green, blue, violet or yellow. These colors are usually very pale and only very large stones display them adequately. The sole exceptions are yellow spodumene (triphane) and the rich violet or pink variety, known as kunzite. Kunzite is one of the few truly pink gemstones, and it has long been available through the commercial jewelry trade.

The chief localities for kunzite are Brazil, California and Afghanistan. Only Brazil maintains a steady output. Most of the kunzite minded in recent years has been medium to light pink or violet in hue. A single Brazilian locality, several decades ago, did yield quantities of exceptionally dark crystals that provided cut gems of an intensity never seen before or since. These crystals are now available only in museums, and cut gems are hardly ever seen in the current marketplace. However, the range of available material includes some fine dark stones.

Clean gems are available up to sizes measured in hundreds of carats. Large, dark kunzites are true collector items, and smaller stones are extremely undervalued considering the rarity of better quality material. The popularity of kunzite is sure to grow in the years ahead, allowing the darker material to appreciate substantially over the more generally available commercial stones.