A challenge for lapidaries and a delight for collectors, kunzite jewelry is rare and delicate. As the pink to purple variety of spodumene, this gem can display soft or intense hues that buyers covet. However, kunzite will fracture with small impacts and is sensitive to heat, making this gem largely a collector’s stone. In addition, its color fades in sunlight. Still, with proper precautions kunzite makes a wonderful jewelry stone. Although somewhat rare, kunzite is available in large sizes at relatively low prices. Nevertheless, understanding this gem’s quality factors will benefit you on your next kunzite buying trip.

Kunzite Buying and the Four Cs

The IGS kunzite value listing has price guidelines for faceted kunzite.

Color

Kunzite’s pink to purple color arises from trace amounts of manganese in the crystal structure and is often light in tone.

Darker tones of kunzite fetch a better price, with deep magenta colors holding the highest values. Furthermore, intense violet colors are rare and will sell for a good price.

This gem is pleochroic, exhibiting different hues along each of its crystal axes. (The most intense color is visible along the C axis).

Clarity

Specimens are often free of inclusions…