Rutile Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rutile: North Carolina. Faceted gem ~ 0.5, specimen ~ 2 inches long. Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

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Rutile is polymorphous with anatase and brookite. They share the same chemical formula, TiO₂ (titanium dioxide), but have different crystal systems and other gemological properties. These gems are rarely cut, but of the three you’re more likely to encounter faceted or cabbed rutiles. Rutile also lends its name to the rutile mineral group. The only other gem-quality member of this group that gets faceted (rarely) is cassiterite.

As needle inclusions, rutile crystals occur in a wide variety of gem materials, such as quartz and agate (sagenite). Rutilated quartz pieces can make stunning jewelry stones as well as display specimens.

Rutile in quartz. Photo by Mark, Vicki, Ellaura and Mason. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

In corundum, rutile crystals occur as fibers, causing asterism in stones such as star sapphires. Rutile inclusions also cause chatoyancy in gem materials such as chrysoberyl. Sometimes, rutiles themselves may show cat’s eyes when cabbed.

This cabbed, dark gray rutile displays not only a sharp, bright cat’s eye but also a stunning, super-reflective metallic luster. 3.17 cts, 7.3 x 7.5 mm, Sri Lanka. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.

Faceted rutiles may disappoint collectors because the finished gems are so dark. Rutile’s deep, red color may be so intense it can’t be seen easily in stones larger than 1 carat. Cabochons might show reddish reflections in cracks and along imperfections.

Faceted rutile, 3.79 cts, Brazil. Photo by Didier Descouens. Licensed under CC By 3.0.

Identifying Characteristics

Rutile’s most distinctive characteristic is its extremely high dispersion or “fire.” At 0.28, it’s six times greater than diamond’s and more dispersive than any other facetable gem material except cinnabar, which can rarely be cut in a way that shows off this property.

Rutiles have a color range that overlaps with polymorphs as well as group mates. However, they have greater hardness and specific gravity (SG) values than anatases and brookites. On the other hand, cassiterites are harder and much more dense.

Swiss rutile seems a bit more transparent than material from other localities.

Rutile’s SG varies somewhat in relation to its trace elements.

• Iron (Fe) bearing: 4.2 – 4.4.
• Niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) bearing: 4.2 – 5.6.

Synthetics

As a mineral, rutile has many industrial applications. Scientists have synthesized it for research into many areas, including its photocatalytic properties, like those of anatase.

Synthetic rutiles have also found jewelry use, appearing on the gem market in 1948. Created through the Verneuil or flame fusion process, these transparent, nearly colorless gems with a yellow tinge took full advantage of rutile’s high dispersion.

A 25 x 4 mm disk of synthetic rutile, grown via the Verneuil technique. Photo by Krizu. Licensed under CC By-SA 3.0.

For a time, gem dealers sold synthetic rutiles under the name Titania as diamond simulants. However, these stones showed too much fire to be believable simulants. Thus, they faded from use as other diamond simulants emerged, such as cubic zirconia. (Synthetic rutiles are also denser than diamonds).

Synthetic rutiles can also show colors such as yellow, brown, red, and blue.

This suite of synthetic rutiles demonstrates their color range. 1.45 to 7.25 cts. Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Treatments

Heat treatments can turn light yellowish synthetic rutiles blue.

Sources

Sierra Leone produces nearly a third of the world’s supply of rutiles.

Graves Mountain, Georgia produces fine rutile crystals in quartz veins. These pieces can weigh up to several pounds.

Other notable gem-quality sources include the following:

• Magnet Cove, Arkansas: huge, rough crystals.
• California; North Carolina; South Dakota; Virginia.
• Brazil: large, fine crystals.
• France; Myanmar; Pakistan; Russia; Sri Lanka; Switzerland.

The red sheen on this highly reflective rutile crystal is most apparent when brightly lit. Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Stone Sizes

Large crystals often have transparent areas that can provide stones for faceting. However, cut rutiles above 2-3 carats are so dark they appear opaque. Thus, this becomes the effective size limit of faceted gems.

• Devonian Group (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): 3.70.

Care

You’re more likely to find natural rutiles in mineral collections than in jewelry collections. If you do have a synthetic gem as a diamond simulant, keep in mind that while it may exceed diamond in dispersion, it’s far less hard (6-6.5 versus diamond’s 10). Store it separately from other common jewelry stones such as quartz and topaz to avoid contact scratches. For cleaning, use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.

Synthetic Rutile: emerald cut, 7.84 cts. © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.