Kunzite Gemstone Background

Kunzite discovered recently in gemstone history is alive with subtle changes in colour when viewed from different angles and set apart from parent mineral spodumene by it’s beautiful crystal pink violet colouring.

Discovered in the early 1800’s the mineral spodumene – and related crystals kunzite and hiddenite, are gemstones that project energy into worlds of both energetic fashion and modern technology.

Famous in spodumene for a source of lithium powering our modern world’s electric cars, gadgets and gizmo’s, the crystal form of kunzite is known for being a stone of feminine energy in metaphysical writings, and vibrant accessory for the rich and famous of our time.

Formation of Kunzite

Kunzite has traced a path of fame that has followed closely in the footsteps of it’s parent mineral, as our modern world finds this beautiful crystal and useful mineral entwined together with our love of new energy.

Both kunzite and spodumene are found together in distinct layers of large granular size mineral sheets called “pegmatites”, as well as very fine grained layers in granite called “aplites”.

Pegmatites are some of the most famous gem producing rocks on Earth, with crystal sizes commonly greater than 2.5 centimetres in size, even reaching as large as 14 meters in size.

These granite like rocks are made up of quartz, feldspar and mica and form in large layers of intrusive rocks that have been pushed up by heat from deep below the earth.

The pegmatite quarries of the Greenbush’s region of Western Australia produce most of the worlds production of spodumene, with demand for this mineral increasingly growing with our world’s changing energy needs.

Kunzite Gemstone Presentation

The gemstone kunzite was discovered and named as a gemstone distinct from spodumene by George Frederick Kunz, a jeweller of Tiffany & Co in 1902.

Kunzite displays a delicate pink violet colour which comes from trace elements of manganese and is well known for evident display of pleochroism.

Pleochroism in Greek means “more colour”, and is seen in gemstones whose crystal structures alter light in different ways depending on the path that light travels through them.

Showing different colours with different viewing angles kunzite’s display of pink lilac to crystal clear transparency is a sought after effect in faceted gemstones that has seen this gemstone being used to stud royal tiaras and large carat rings.

Frequently heat treated or irradiated to increase the depth of colour most natural kunzite shows only light colouring with delicate splashes of pink to purple that change with the angle from which it is viewed.

No matter treated or untreated natural colour kunzite gemstone is known to fade to a lighter colour tone when exposed to sunshine, and is seen as a gemstone best worn at night and safely stored away in the day.

Composition of Kunzite

As a silicate mineral kunzite shares a basic commonality with over ninety percent of the Earths other minerals that belong to silicate groups.

Made up of a type of rock called a pyroxene – which is comprised of long interlocking lines of silicon and oxygen atoms, kunzite is found crystallised in igneous and metamorphic rocks that have formed from or been exposed to high temperatures.

Pyroxene means stranger of the fire in Greek, and was named for the appearance of ghostly crystals of these minerals which were found in otherwise uniform volcanic glass.

Other pyroxene gemstones include popular jadeite which can be found in our collection of beautiful jadeite gemstone jewelry.

Gemstone Family of Spodumene

As an important source of lithium spodumene is a sought after mineral that in the right conditions forms large crystals up to 14 metres in size, with clear to pale yellow colouring known as “triphane”.

In addition to yellow crystals of triphane there are two additional known varieties of spodumene crystals.

Hiddenite is a light green crystal of spodumene whose emerald green colour comes from trace amounts of chromium in common with emeralds.

Discovered in North Carolina by a local boy who then presented them to a keen gemologist, the nature of hiddenite was at first unidentifiable, and was sent across America passing between gemologists for many years, until finally being identified as a form of spodumene, the name “hiddenite” came from the hidden nature of the gemstone.

The town where the crystals were first discovered marketed these emerald green crystals as “lithia emerald” and the success from commercial sales of this new gemstone led to the local town changing it’s name to “Hiddenite” which is still named to this day.

Though related to emerald green hiddenite, kunzite’s colour instead comes from trace manganese with delicate colours varying from pink to lilac purple seen in nature.

Frequently heat treated to enhance colour kunzite gemstone crystal’s natural colour and charming display of pleochroism carries a feminine touch and is considered more valuable with stronger displays of colour.

Kunzite in Modern Culture

Kunzite gemstone’s energy and distinctive sought after pink colouring has made this crystal a glamorous alternative to diamond for many of the world’s rich and famous past and present.

Set against brilliant gold and surrounded with a flash of diamonds the final gift that President John F Kennedy gave to his wife Jacqueline was a 47 carat kunzite gemstone crystal ring bought as Christmas gift for his beloved.

Worn by the Duchess of Gloucester at a banquet to greet the prime minister of India on his state visit to the UK kunzite made an appearance set into a Russian tiara as a large central gemstone.

Most frequently seen as cut faceted stones which maximise the amount of reflected light kunzite is often seen matched to precious metals in large carat rings and earrings.

Kunzite is a gemstone which is notoriously difficult to cut and mount due to the ease with which it fractures in different directions, similar to diamond most settings aim to reduce the pressure exerted on the stone, with bezel mounts that entirely surround the stone being the safest

Due to kunzite’s propensity to fade in sunlight, and quick to take damage from knocks and falls, this is a gemstone that is most suitable for evening wear and less suitable as engagement rings and every day wearing.

Believers of the metaphysical energies of gemstones tend to hold that kunzite is a gemstone of feminine character and beneficial to soothing ailments that align with feminine energies.

YAN Fashion Kunzite Jewelry

Our designer fashion design uses the natural colours of gemstones in complement with each other to project colour and energy in new concept fashionable designs.

Transparent kunzite used in our jewelry is of a high quality stone with natural lilac colour which give tender and soft feelings.

Generally speaking the colour of our kunzite tends towards a lighter lilac than a stronger purple, our single present design of bracelet uses kunzite as a bridge between the opaque blue kyanite and silver lotus pendant, emphasising natural light in the design and presenting mesmerising flashes of lilac colour.

Our presently small collection of kunzite jewelry bracelets and necklaces can be viewed in our collection here, the matching ocean concept to which it belongs to is available under our concept page.

A gemstone of the modern world kunzite is a stone alive in energy with a tangible connection to the electricity that powers our world and projecting feminine fashion in a confident way.