The Story of Dioptase Gemstones

Consumer Information

What color is it?: A beautiful emerald green.

What is the story behind this gemstone?: Dioptase is a rather unusual gemstone that will rarely be found in your basic jewelry stores. It is a beautiful gemstone with a very unusual combination of green colors.

Can I wear it everyday?: Well, not really. It is rather soft (5) and is sort of brittle. So it is best worn in pendants and earrings. But for those purposes it will wear well every day.

Is it expensive?: It can be. A nice dioptase will cost about the same as a very nice chrome tourmaline.

Is it a birthstone?: No.

What do I need to know before going shopping?: Be prepared to shop around…and wait. Few jewelry stores will carry dioptase in their normal inventory. However, if you have a good independent retail jeweler with an experienced gemologist on staff you should have no trouble finding some of these very special gemstones to choose from.

General Information

Source: Russia, United States, Chile, others

Chemical: Cu6(Si6O18)6H2O a hydrous silicate of copper found in conjunction with copper ore deposits

Formation: Generally in connection with hydrothermal hollows and cavities where copper ore is oxidizing.

Crystal System: Trigonal

Unusual Properties: Beautiful green color is classic formation.

Gemological Information

RI: 1.644 – 1.709

Birefringence: .065 + –

Optic Character: U +

Specific Gravity: 3.30 + –

Hardness: 5

Transparency: TP

Special Identifying Properties and Tests: None

Synthetics: No.

Imitations: Many possible.