Knowledge

Kunzite

A relatively new gemstone, kunzite was only discovered at the turn of the 20th century, and has since proven a popular choice with jewellers for its beautiful purple-pink hue.

Gemstones

An Exciting Find

Kunzite was discovered relatively recently in 1902 when an unidentified pink crystal was found in San Diego. It was thereafter sent to George Frederick Kunz who confirmed the crystal to be a pink variety of the gem family spodumene.

Considered to be the father of modern gemmology, Kunz was the first Chief Gemmologist to be employed by a jewellery company, the eminent American house of Tiffany & Co. In 1903, Charles Baskerville, a chemistry professor named this gem ‘kunzite’ after George Kunz himself.

Physical Characteristics

Kunzite is the light pink to violetish purple variety of the mineral spodumene. It’s found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, and the US state of California. A pleochroic gem its best colour can be seen when looking down the length of the crystal.

Kunzite can be irradiated and then heat-treated to enhance its color. Both treated and natural color in kunzite can fade with exposure to heat and bright light.

It is not unusual to find kunzite in large sizes. The Smithsonian Institution houses a faceted heart-shaped kunzite that weighs 880 carats. These crystals have relatively few inclusions and although can be difficult to cut due to its two cleavage directions.