Kunzite Chunks - Per Kilo

Kunzite is a relatively recent gemstone, having been first discovered in the 20th century. It was first found in the pegmatites of Pala, California, in 1902, and is named after the famous mineralogist George F. Kunz who first identified it. Though it wasn't until the 1990's that this gemstone became a more mainstream gemstone, having been used only as a collectors gemstone prior to that time.

Kunzite is a very attractive pink gem, but is notorious for its habit of colour fading in prolonged exposure to strong light. Although the colour-fading effect is very slow, most people still prefer to wear Kunzite jewellery in the evening to avoid sunlight exposure. Kunzite is regarded as an evening stone for this reason.

The perfect cleavage and splintery fracture of Kunzite makes it a difficult gemstone to facet. It is very sensitive to knocks and will chip if hit too hard. Kunzite is known for its strong pleochroism, showing lighter and more intense colouring when viewed at different angles. For this reason, it is always cut to show the deepest pink colour through the top of the gem. The deeper pink the Kunzite, the more valuable it generally is.

Did you know?
It is not unusual to find kunzite in large sizes. The Smithsonian Institution houses a faceted heart-shaped kunzite that weighs 880 carats.

Source: minerals.net