Tell Me About Scapolite

[JewelFreak]

Scapolites on several sites have grabbed me lately but I've never had one, never seen one IRL. Anybody who has, how do they perform when set? Are brown modifiers something to watch for? Do they maintain color/saturation in differing lights? If I bought any, it would be a pair for earrings. TIA!!

--- Laurie

 

[mastercutgems]

Hi JewelFreak

Scapolite is a nice gem; usually not expensive ; 5 to 6 in hardness, RI is 1.56 so not exceedingly brilliant; but not bad if cut in a true brilliant design; cleavage in 2 directions, indistinct; so no big deal on setting; can't handle heat too well; and it is a little brittle on facet edges; so ear rings are a good safe bet...

Colors are yellow, straw color, greenish, pinkish, and purple; so the color range is decent; mainly from Tanzania, Brazil, Zimbabwe, the golden color can be in the 100 carat range size; but the purple are usually in the 2 to 5 carat range...
Some orange gems have been found in Tanzania also; rare but neat...
I hope this helps.

Most respectfully;
Dana

 

[T L]

It's commonly irradiated, so I stay away. Not thrilled with it.

 

[Pandora II]

I have a small brown one set in an earring.

My husband had a pair of earrings made for me as a birthday gift - one brown zircon and one brown scapolite... carefully matched for size and colour. They were the stone I messed up on my FGA practical final.

I like them, but unlike something like sphene, there is nothing particularly special that would make me want to work with the softness if I didn't have to.

 

[VapidLapid]

I have a bag full of it that jeff graham sent me to try with my last order. It is interesting, sort of. It is marginally higher in RI than quartz, so expect similar play. Like the quartzes, in the hands of skilled lapidaries it can make for beautiful gems. In the hands of the run of the mill, expect the mill-run.

Are you thinking purple? I like them golden or purple, as long as they are well done. Roger Dery has some finely cut goldens.

 

[JewelFreak]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I like the golden/straw color -- yeah, VL, Roger had a very nice pair on his site for quite a while. Couldn't make up my mind to pull the trigger on them -- more because I have a line of stuff still to set than any other reason. I knew the purple is irradiated -- but after reading TL's comment, turned up stuff on irradiated golden too. If I see any that turns me on from a trusted vendor, I'll take a look at it; otherwise, not get nuts about it.

If anybody has pics of it set, I'd love to see them.

Thank you all again.

--- Laurie

 

[PrecisionGem]

There is natural purple scapolite from Tanzania. I see small scale miners selling golden scapolite in Arusha, I really doubt it's treated out there, as there wouldn't be the facilities to do so. It can be nice material to work with as large stones are available and at reasonable prices

 

[Barrett]

Great information in your post, Dana!

 

[JewelFreak]

Good to know. Thanks, Dana!