Rhodonite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Does Rhodonite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?

Perfect cleavage makes transparent, facetable rhodonite quite delicate. Thus, faceted stones are rare. However, gem carvers commonly make cabochons, beads, goblets, figurines, and other objects from massive, opaque material with attractive black dendritic, "tree-like," veins.

Pieces cut from massive material have greater wearability than faceted gems. However, both faceted gems and carved objects require careful handling, because their cleavage puts them at risk of fracturing. Due to rhodonite's relatively low hardness, use protective settings for any jewelry stones to avoid damage from scratching and accidental blows.

Rhodonite Varieties

Fowlerite is a zinc-bearing variety of rhodonite.

Some rhodonites found in Brazil may show chatoyancy.

Table of Rhodonite Optical Properties and Specific Gravity Values from Selected Sites

Distinguishing Rhodonites from Lookalikes

You may find cut bustamite gems erroneously labelled as rhodonites. They have a similar but paler color. However, bustamite's distinctly lower refractive indices (RIs) should distinguish it.

Cut pyroxmangite gems also resemble rhodonites. However, their birefringence values differ.

Are There Any Synthetic Rhodonites?

Scientists have synthesized rhodonites for various projects, including research into their thermoluminescence. 

You can find so-called "synthetic rhodonites" for sale in jewelry pieces. These appear most frequently as opaque pink to rose red beads with characteristic dendritic black veins rather than transparent faceted gems. (Oddly enough, some of this material features white bands more characteristic of rhodochrosite. Perhaps they're mislabeled).

A review of online search results for "synthetic rhodonites" doesn't clarify whether these jewelry pieces contain actual lab-created rhodonite or just some other material intended to imitate or simulate the gem's appearance. This may be another example of the term "synthetic" used in the more popular sense of just simply "not real."

Rhodonites typically receive no treatments. Dyeing is rare.

Where are Rhodonites Found?

Russia (Sverdlovsk) produces very fine and rich, massive, pink and rose-colored material.

British Columbia, Canada yields fine rhodonite similar in appearance to the Russian material. However, the best material from British Columbia has a translucent, deep rose-pink color. Some fine, pink material from Bella Koola, British Columbia features black dendritic patterns.

Australia produces fine transparent crystals and massive material at Broken Hill, New South Wales. Gemmy rhodonite grains embedded in galena (lead sulfide) at this location are distinctive. Rhodonites can occur here with pyroxmangite and bustamite, which can grow in crystals up to 100 cm long!

Other notable gem sources include the following:

• Honshu, Japan: facetable material.
• Vermland, Sweden: good color gem material.
• Daghazeta, Tanzania: fine-quality massive material.
• United States: California; Colorado; Massachusetts (official state gemstone); Montana; Franklin, New Jersey.
• Brazil; Mexico; Peru; South Africa; Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Stone Sizes

Massive rhodonite pieces from various localities are available. Extremely rare facetable gem material comes from crystals found primarily in Australia and Japan, typically ranging from two to three carats. However, larger facetable stones do occur.

Caring for Rhodonites

Don't clean rhodonites with steam or ultrasonic processes. Instead, use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Store your rhodonites separately from other stones to avoid contact scratches. 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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