Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamonds?

[Joseybird]

I'm curious, because I personally prefer sparkle to depth of color. It woukd be nice to know what colored stones, if any, when properly cut sparkle like diamonds.

 

[boerumbiddy]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

I don't think anything scintillates like a well-cut diamond, but some well-cut zircons are pretty sparkly.

 

[soxfan]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

zircons

 

[Joseybird]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Thanks!

 

[PrecisionGem]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

 

[alene]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

What about demantoid?

 

[MJ_Mac]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

Question for Gene: Would sphalerite fall into this category as well? I know it has a Moh's hardness of 3.5 to 4 so it can't be used for rings. I don't even know if it can be set into any jewellery (?).

 

[TheElms]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Isn't this largely a question of the gem's refractive index? Assuming so, anything close to diamond on the chart in the link below will sparkle like a diamond. (Granted I haven't heard of most of the things with a RI near that of a diamond).

https://www.gemsociety.org/article/table-refractive-index-double-refraction-gems/

 

[PrecisionGem]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

Question for Gene: Would sphalerite fall into this category as well? I know it has a Moh's hardness of 3.5 to 4 so it can't be used for rings. I don't even know if it can be set into any jewellery (?).

Yes very much so.

What gives a diamond that "fire" or rainbow of color look is actually dispersion no so much the high refractive index, although most stones that do have high dispersion also have higher refractive index.

Sphalerite is very high dispersion at 0.156
Diamond is 0.044

Demantiod garnet and sphere are both higher than diamond with values of 0.057 and 0.051

Zircon, spessartite, tanzanite and peridot are also pretty high, stones such as the aquamarine, amethyst are very low.

Dispersion is the measure of the difference of the speed of both ends of the visible light spectrum travel through through the stone. High dispersion cause you to see the rainbow effect of colors of light in the stone.

The cutter can either play up or play down the dispersion denpending on the design of the cut and angles used.

 

[TheElms]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

I stand corrected -- thanks Gene!

P.S. We have been oogling your rough in progress. But you probably already know that!

 

[T L]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

Question for Gene: Would sphalerite fall into this category as well? I know it has a Moh's hardness of 3.5 to 4 so it can't be used for rings. I don't even know if it can be set into any jewellery (?).

Sphalerite is the most beautiful high dispersion gem IMO, it puts diamond to shame. I really wish they were harder and more durable, but then the prices might rival diamond per carat then.

I own one and its mesmerizing, but it remains in a plastic gem jar forever.

 

[MJ_Mac]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

Question for Gene: Would sphalerite fall into this category as well? I know it has a Moh's hardness of 3.5 to 4 so it can't be used for rings. I don't even know if it can be set into any jewellery (?).

Sphalerite is the most beautiful high dispersion gem IMO, it puts diamond to shame. I really wish they were harder and more durable, but then the prices might rival diamond per carat then.

I own one and its mesmerizing, but it remains in a plastic gem jar forever.

TL - I would love to see a picture of your sphalerite. It's a shame that something so beautiful cannot be worn.

 

[T L]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Sphene

Question for Gene: Would sphalerite fall into this category as well? I know it has a Moh's hardness of 3.5 to 4 so it can't be used for rings. I don't even know if it can be set into any jewellery (?).

Sphalerite is the most beautiful high dispersion gem IMO, it puts diamond to shame. I really wish they were harder and more durable, but then the prices might rival diamond per carat then.

I own one and its mesmerizing, but it remains in a plastic gem jar forever.

TL - I would love to see a picture of your sphalerite. It's a shame that something so beautiful cannot be worn.

Mine is similar in color to this, but it's a trillion and much smaller, like 3 carats. There are tons of sphalerite videos on YouTube, which showcases their beauty far better than any still photo. I will also say that these stones have barely any noticeable tilt window depending on the cut. This is a true sign of a high dispersion gem.

Since they're softer than glass, you have to be very careful with them.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mtIFR1fHKck

 

[Arkteia]

Re: Are there any colored stones that scintillate like diamo

Just my personal preference - demantoids, the ones without horse tails (Namibian ones) and lighter ones are more dispersive. Another version of the same stone, topazolite, is yellow, and very dispersive, too. I don't know where new ones (lighter) Mahenge garnets would fall dispersion-wise, but visually they seem to have potential. Also, Merelani mint garnets are as dispersive as spessartites.