Enstatite
Enstatite
Color: Medium Yellowish-Green
Clarity: Eye Clean to Slightly Included
Origin: Kenya
Cut: Round Cabochon
Treatments: None
Measurements: 7.7 mm
This is a new variety that we first encountered from suppliers in the last few years. Initially it was believed that this was Peridot when discovered in the field - given the color not an unreasonable assumption. It has subsequently been identified as Enstatite and a very uncommon color for the species at that. Almost all of the material has some needle like inclusions which made for the tantalizing prospect of star gems. Enstatite forms a 4-ray star, so all the more unusual. This is a fantastic 4-ray star gem, one of the best of the asterated stones that we have seen. All of this material is now essentially gone from the market - a rare and special variety.
$145 / carat - $348 total
Color: Medium Dark Slightly Yellowish Green
Clarity: Eye Clean
Origin: Makatu, Taita Hills, S. Kenya
Cut: Round Portuguese
Treatments: None
Measurements: 3.8 mm
Not long ago we had the opportunity to select a few fine examples from this interesting find of gem Enstatite in southern Kenya. The color is remarkably fine for the species which is typically known for dark and muddy brown gems. This lovely pair was cut from the small find of rough that occurred in late 2010 and was profiled in GIA's Gems & Gemology - Spring 2012 edition. Lab analysis points to Iron and Chromium as a cause for the unique color. Very nicely cut and completely clean, there were few this attractive and nice and it remains to be seen if anymore rough will be mined. As pairs go, this has to be exceedingly rare - very likely one of the few ever put together. If you are looking at rare gems as matched accent pairs, you simply couldn’t get better than this. Quite exceptional indeed.
Color: Medium Dark Slightly Yellowish Green
Clarity: Eye Clean
Origin: Makatu, Taita Hills, S. Kenya
Cut: Oval
Treatments: None
Measurements: 10 x 6.4 mm
Not long ago we had the opportunity to select a few fine examples from this interesting new find of gem Enstatite in southern Kenya. The color is remarkably fine for the species which is typically known for dark and muddy brown gems. This lovely stone was cut from the small find of rough that occurred in late 2010 and was profiled in GIA's Gems & Gemology - Spring 2012 edition. Lab analysis points to Iron and Chromium as a cause for the unique color. Very nicely cut and completely clean, there were few this attractive and nice and it remains to be seen if anymore rough will be mined. Moreover, this is one of the very largest of these lovely stones - carat stones were exceptionally rare.
$185 / carat - $262 total