Hambergite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Although hard enough for jewelry use, rare hambergite is a gem for collectors of the unusual. Its combination of high birefringence and very low specific gravity makes it easy to identify.
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Although hard enough for jewelry use, rare hambergite is a gem for collectors of the unusual. Its combination of high birefringence and very low specific gravity makes it easy to identify.
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for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).Hambergite Value
Does Hambergite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?
Hambergite's relatively high hardness (7.5) exceeds that of quartz. It would make an excellent jewelry stone, but its cleavage can make faceting these stones difficult. As a result, you'll more likely find hambergites in mineral collections than jewelry collections.
Identifying Hambergite
Birefringence
Hambergite has the lowest known specific gravity of any gem with such high birefringence. As a result, larger size stones will show significant birefringent effects without much additional weight. Although hambergites have little fire and may resemble quartz gems, they have much higher birefringence than similar-appearing gemstones.
Clarity
Usually, cut stones are not clean but filled with cleavage traces.
Luminescence
Stones from Norway sometimes show weak, pink-orange luminescence in longwave ultraviolet light.
Are There Synthetic Hambergites?
There are no known synthetic hambergites or enhancements for these gemstones.
Where are Hambergites Found?
Anjanabanoana, Madagascar produces large, gemmy crystals.
Other significant sources of crystals include the following:
- Afghanistan; Ramona, California; Czech Republic; India; Langesundsfjord, Norway; Pakistan; Tajikistan.
Stone Sizes
Hambergite is a fairly rare mineral, and material transparent enough to facet is rarer still. In 1968, a dealer offered a white stone of 28.86 carats. Nevertheless, cut gems over 5 carats are very rare.
- Private collections: 40.20 (largest reported); also 7.6, 5.93.
How to Care for Hambergite Gemstones
Hambergites require no special care. For general information on caring for gemstone jewelry, consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA
Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.
Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com
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