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What Is Chrome Diopside (Aka Diopside)?
Diopside / Chrome Diopside is a type of pyroxene mineral that forms on host rocks. It usually appears on metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks. The green gemstone Diopside can be found in many parts of the world. Like other minerals, the fine specimens from this line of minerals are cut into cabochons and other finely shaped jewelry pieces. Diopside is not very popular as a commercial gemstone because it’s relatively rare but relatively inexpensive compared to emerald and other green gemstones.
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Why Is It Deep Green in Color?
Diopside has the most natural, deep-green color because of the presence of chrome. The higher the mineral expresses the chrome percentage in a diopside specimen, the richer and more profound the green coloration. Chrome diopsides are rare, and they usually are cut into beautiful stones for commercial jewelry.
According to experts, the best chrome diopsides have the deepest color saturation and are under two carats. This is perfect for most jewelry settings. Intense color saturation has always been an indicator of gem-quality regardless of the type of gem being examined.
What Is Chrome Diopside Worth?
Despite its rarity, high-quality chrome diopside is not considered a top-tier mineral, and therefore, it is more affordable than rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. The value of chrome diopside jewelry will depend on many factors, including the brand, make, the metal used for the jewelry, and the chrome diopside’s quality.
Please note that only high-quality crystals are used for making jewelry, so expect the chrome diopside to look its best once it makes it to a designer’s table.
A carat of chrome diopside can cost $100 or more, depending on the quality.
What Is Diopside Used For?
What Is Diopside Used For?The most crucial use for diopside is not its commercial application for jewelry, but it being an indicator for a possible diamond lode nearby. Indicator minerals are used by geologists to find potential lodes of high-value gemstones like rubies and diamonds. What is interesting here is that diopside tracking has been successfully used to determine the location of diamond deposits in many countries, including the United States and Canada.
If we were to look at the possible uses of diopside, it could be used for manufacturing ceramics and other useful items. However, the problem is that the diopside occurs in small concentrations in nature, so using it for mass manufacturing is challenging. Other minerals can be used more effectively than diopside in this regard.
Why is Diopside an Affordable Alternative to Other Rich Green Colored Gemstones (Like Emerald, Peridot, Prynite, Prasiolite)
The diopside or chrome diopside is a viable alternative to more expensive green gemstones because of its clarity and fire.
Diopside only occurs in green, so expect an entire spectrum of greens when exploring this mineral type. Some diopsides are light green, while the most sought-after ones tend to be a darker green. Again, the color saturation is essential, and also determines the value of diopside.
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Faceted stones cost more than tumbled ones because the process of faceting and cutting amplifies gemstones’ natural beauty when exposed to light. When searching for a diopside, make sure that you focus on finding the vivid green ones.
Also, try to focus on color quality. High-quality chrome diopside has evenly distributed color. The quality that we are looking for, visually, leafy green if that makes any sense.
Now, if you need to compare to other minerals, you can always check the color of the tsavorite variant of garnet. Take a look at green demantoids as well. Keep in mind that chrome diopside that looks almost identical to demantoids or tsavorite garnet is the most expensive chrome diopside type. The lighter-colored ones are less expensive.
Some of you might be puzzled why a lot of jewelry websites and experts recommend that you get a stone below two carats in weight. There’s a good reason for this recommendation.
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Chrome diopside tends to become dark and more saturated, the bigger the size. Stones that are above two carats tend to become so saturated with green that the stones appear black. Now, we don’t know about your preferences, but if we are looking for green minerals, we want to enjoy the green color, not black.
When green is so saturated, it resembles black, which will ruin the aesthetic of many kinds of jewelry.
The chrome diopside selected for commercial jewelry production is likely of higher quality and has higher transparency and clarity. Remember, however, that there are variations of diopside, and they are not all uniform.
Some diopside gems lean toward the opaque side, while others look more transparent.
To simulate emeralds and other high-value green gemstones, focus on finding diopside specimens that naturally exhibit clarity and transparency. Higher transparency allows light to interact appropriately with the inner crystalline structure of the diopside: the better the view, the more remarkable the gemstone’s aesthetic.
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What about the right cut?
Due to the chrome diopside’s hardness, there would be little difficulty in cutting it to any shape or size required. Of course, if the chrome diopside is headed for a ring or a pair of earrings, the cut would emphasize the light and the scintillation of the stone’s internal clarity.
Broad open facets are best suited for green gems. Brilliant-type cuts are made to make the chrome diopside sparkle more. Often, it is the skill of the cutter that makes any gemstone beautiful. It takes supreme skill and experience to make diopside look like emerald or any other higher-value gemstone.
Are some chrome diopside stones treated?
No. Chrome diopside stones are not treated – they are all-natural. The green that you see is the result of natural pigmentation due to the presence of chrome.
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