A Look at 6 Scintillating Facts About Rubellite Gemstone

Confusion in names can led to significant damage in gemstone reputation and market share. Rubellite is one such gemstone that faced the poor marketing, as it was often sold as a ruby gemstone early in part of the 20st century. Even today, not many gemstone buyers and collectors are aware about the value of rubellite.

Here are 6 scintillating facts about Rubellite gemstone that one must know about.

1.  Rubellite: The family:

Rubellite is a colourful, pink-red gemstone belonging to the family of tourmalines. They are created under intense pressure, showcased through the variety of colours they exhibit, ranging from shocking pink to ruby red.

2.  Rarity quotient:

Rubellite, unlike rubies, is a very rare gemstone, and is adored for its purity and clarity. Its name is derived from the Latin word for red, “rubellus”. Every year, 100,000 carats of rubellites are mined from different parts of the world. Unlike Burma Rubies, the rubellites are hardly found in Asia, except for in Paksitan, Afghanistan and Kirghizstan. Top producers of rubellites are Brazil, Madagascar and Nigeria.

Its rarity quotient drives the price tag in the market.

3.  Qualities that make it special:

Rubellite is a pyro-electric gemstone. It is capable of generating an electric potential when heated or cooled. The crystalline structure is polarized when exposed to a differential temperature, resulting in generation of a voltage. In that sense, rubellite shares its property of pyro-electricity with quartz, elbaite, leucophanite, and mellite.

4.  Different names in the market:

Rubellite is referred to as a tourmaline gemstone with sparkling pink colour. However, there are other shades too, and they are known by different names. For instance, blue rubellite is called indicolite, and the green ones are called verdelite. Ruby colour is the most valuable, and that’s why it is competing for attention with the rubies.

It is called red tourmaline, but rubellite sounds all the more catchy.

5.  Uses and purpose:

Rubellite, owing to its pyro-electric properties, helps in preventing body shocks. It neutralises the harmful effect of microwave, UV rays and visible radiation from the electronic gadgets. Scientists working in nuclear field are advised to use rubellite gemstone bracelets to keep the radiation exposure within limits.

According to the gemstone experts, rubellites are an excellent source of optimism and energy, used by professionals to stay on track of success. It also empowers the students to score better in competitive examinations.

It is referred to as the Emotional Healer, owing to its effect on the Heart Chakra. It helps in overcoming fears of accident, darkness, instability and mental sickness. Mediation with rubellite is now catching up with the spiritual leaders. It rebuilds confidence and self-esteem in the person wearing rubellite.

6.  Rubellite enhancements:

Irradiation is the common enhancement treatment done on rubellites. It is done to produce clear and consistent red pink shade. It is undetectable and does not change the overall beauty of the stone. Only Fourier Transform IR Spectroscopy can manage to detect the enhancements made on them.

Due to its hardness of 7.5, it is great for long-term use.

Andalusite Buying Tips for a New Gemstone Collector

Andalusite is an extremely rare and unique gemstone, and has a heavy caring regime following its existence. Used largely in jewellery as a ring stone, Andalusite is revered for its diverse colour exhibition occurring due to its trichroic pleochroism effect. Available in multiple colours, most gemstone cutters minimize the effect by cutting them in particular styles, and exaggerate one particular colour. Andalusite being very hard and durable hardly requires any special care, but it is better to be careful with the use in the long run.

Here are some helpful Andalusite shopping tips for new buyers.

Choosing colours:

Andalusite is available in diverse colours like pink, green, red, grey, dark brown and olive green. Depending on the concentration of impurities like Manganese and Iron, the colour could be deep pink and red. Iron in Andalusite could be anywhere between 1.5 to 4.4 % by weight, mostly occurring in Fe3+ and Fe2+ forms. Presence of iron ions gives it a paramagnetic property as well.

Corner Stone reverence:

It is referred to as Lapis crucifer, or a corner stone due to the presence of rutile inclusions inside the Crystal. Since ages, this is considered as a sign of reverence, and hence has higher demands. Andalusite with black particles of graphite occurring in geometric patterns is actually named as Chiastolite. It is formed during the metamorphism of the rocks.

Cut:

The cut is the most important aspect of buying any ring, especially Andalusite that exhibits pleochroism effect. The rings made of Andalusite gemstones are cut in round and rectangular cushion shape. Pear, round, cushion, emerald and oval are common shapes available in the market. Depending on the colour brilliance, the cutting glorifies the darker and lighter shade empathically.

Source of gemstone:

Brazilian varieties have highest demand in the market. Sri Lankan Andalusites are equally revered for their clear and lustrous appeal. In recent times, gemstones from UK, Spain and Australia too have made their mark in the market. Purity of the stone is an important aspect, and Brazilian gemstones are popular for this reason.

The source of gemstone also mean that you are buying Andalusite, and not its polymorphic varieties—Kyanite and Sillimanite.

Imitations:

Andalusite gemstones are hardly exposed to heat treatments. They are mostly available in colourless and light pink varieties. Darker gemstones however are treated to lighten their lustre. Since this is a reversible process, it is hardly recommended. Meanwhile, imitation market is full of Andalusite faux gemstones, which can be identified from its pleochroism property.

Stone preservation:

Since Andalusite is a natural gemstone, there could be presence of radioactive elements in it. Always get them checked from certified laboratories. They could be harmful, and on top of it decay in the long run, leaving an amorphous residue with no significant value.

Apart from this, get coated Andalusite gemstones that are resistant to chemical effect and UV rays. Light coloured gemstones could reverse back to its darker shade on exposure to sun rays.