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Underrated & undermarketed - Danburite

Autumn in New England

Autumn in New England

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
4,961
Hello all,

I'm not a forum regular, but I haven't seen much mention of danburite around these parts. So I thought it might be interesting to dedicate a post to it. I'm surprised this isn't a more popular gem (not just here, necessarily, but within the collector world in general). I first learned about the stone when I studied at the GIA. It's a silicate that is found all over the world (but named after Danbury, CT, where it was first discovered).

Pros:
Strong, pure saturation of color (yellow)
Untreated
Large crystals available
Clean material available
7.5 Mohs
Poor cleavage, so gem cutters often have fun with faceting & shapes
Cheap, cheap, cheap gem grade stones

Cons:
Meh RI at only 1.630-1.636, but higher than apatite, tourmaline, topaz, beryl, etc.
Heat sensitive
Lower quality specimens can be brittle
Susceptible to fluoric acid

This oval is from Tanzania, weighs 7.98ct., and measures 17x11mm. It's eye clean, except for a tiny, low-relief growth tube that is masked by the quantum cut pavilion (checkerboard crown). It's super bright! Anyone else own this stone and want to share photos of it here? :)

Best,
Autumn

7.98ct. danburite 17x11mm untreated tanzania.jpg
 
I adore my little danburite, and I agree it is so undervalued but I love that :lol: it keeps the prices great. I’ll attach a picture of mine when I get some decent daylight, one day soon I hope to set it in 18ct gold, maybe as a little solitaire so it can really shine.
 
No, I hope someone does though, I'm super curious about it.
 
This is mine, nearly 18mm diameter, custom precision cut by Jeff White a few years ago, intended for a pearl clasp (second picture showing a double-strand clasp) that can accept different strands of pearls, however, I may set it in a pendant instead.

842609

842611

DK :))
 
theredspinel said:
I adore my little danburite, and I agree it is so undervalued but I love that :lol: it keeps the prices great. I’ll attach a picture of mine when I get some decent daylight, one day soon I hope to set it in 18ct gold, maybe as a little solitaire so it can really shine.
Click to expand...

Yes, please do share! I feel like this is one of those gems that can only gain attention and value, so we'll be happy we bought now.
 
dk168 said:
This is mine, nearly 18mm diameter, custom precision cut by Jeff White a few years ago, intended for a pearl clasp (second picture showing a double-strand clasp) that can accept different strands of pearls, however, I may set it in a pendant instead.

1625695158546.png

jwdanburiteandclasp.jpg

DK :))
Click to expand...

Oh how lovely! Big and clean... is it colorless in person, @dk168?
 
Most of the danburite I have seen is colorless, but it is an “icy white” kind of colorless. I suspect the low RI with the lack of color variety attributes to its low value. It does take a nice polish and luster, and it often comes in large sizes.
 
T L said:
Most of the danburite I have seen is colorless, but it is an “icy white” kind of colorless. I suspect the low RI with the lack of color variety attributes to its low value. It does take a nice polish and luster, and it often comes in large sizes.
Click to expand...

I agree about the lack of color varieties! If you don't want a clear or yellow stone, then this gem is probably not going to ring your bell. It does also come in pink, but the majority of it is pale, included, or coated. With regard to RI, it's just curious to me, because less refraction doesn't necessarily devalue stones when color saturation is strong (like emerald, which has an even lower RI, is the same hardness, and is almost always clarity enhanced). Obviously, many, many other factors go into that equation, such as rarity and the desirability of the color in question (green is far more popular and, thus, more valuable in the market than yellow). Of course, emerald is a variety, not a species, and beryl comes in many colors. But I do feel like the low value of danburite is also attributable to a lack of consumer awareness/marketing.

ETA: Hope it doesn't sound like I am ragging on emeralds... they are a VERY favorite of mine, like most collectors!
 
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AutumnInNewEngland said:
Hello all,

I'm not a forum regular, but I haven't seen much mention of danburite around these parts. So I thought it might be interesting to dedicate a post to it. I'm surprised this isn't a more popular gem (not just here, necessarily, but within the collector world in general). I first learned about the stone when I studied at the GIA. It's a silicate that is found all over the world (but named after Danbury, CT, where it was first discovered).

Pros:
Strong, pure saturation of color (yellow)
Untreated
Large crystals available
Clean material available
7.5 Mohs
Poor cleavage, so gem cutters often have fun with faceting & shapes
Cheap, cheap, cheap gem grade stones

Cons:
Meh RI at only 1.630-1.636, but higher than apatite, tourmaline, topaz, beryl, etc.
Heat sensitive
Lower quality specimens can be brittle
Susceptible to fluoric acid

This oval is from Tanzania, weighs 7.98ct., and measures 17x11mm. It's eye clean, except for a tiny, low-relief growth tube that is masked by the quantum cut pavilion (checkerboard crown). It's super bright! Anyone else own this stone and want to share photos of it here? :)

Best,
Autumn

7.98ct. danburite 17x11mm untreated tanzania.jpg
Click to expand...

I agree that danburite is a bit underrated.

Colorless material (the mexican ones have a slight touch of pink if larger) and the intense to vivid ones from Tanzania are untreated.

But you find yellow to brown danburite from Dalnegorsk / Russia with is irradiated.
 
AutumnInNewEngland said:
I agree about the lack of color varieties! If you don't want a clear or yellow stone, then this gem is probably not going to ring your bell. It does also come in pink, but the majority of it is pale, included, or coated. With regard to RI, it's just curious to me, because less refraction doesn't necessarily devalue stones when color saturation is strong (like emerald, which has an even lower RI, is the same hardness, and is almost always clarity enhanced). Obviously, many, many other factors go into that equation, such as rarity and the desirability of the color in question (green is far more popular and, thus, more valuable in the market than yellow). Of course, emerald is a variety, not a species, and beryl comes in many colors. But I do feel like the low value of danburite is also attributable to a lack of consumer awareness/marketing.

ETA: Hope it doesn't sound like I am ragging on emeralds... they are a VERY favorite of mine, like most collectors!
Click to expand...

Marketing definitely has something to do with it. Emerald is also a stone that was coveted from antiquity. I’m not sure how plentiful danburite is, but I think it’s a recently discovered gem, hence its name (Danbury, Connecticut), and that also may have something to do with it. Tanzanite is also a recently discovered gem, but it’s color is so coveted, it has become a sapphire substitute, and one of the most popular gems today.

Danburite has become popular for coating treatment, much like topaz has. Therefore make sure you know this before purchasing a danburite that comes in a color.
 
Used to sale a bunch of pure yellow Danburite when they found a new find in Africa several years ago, beautiful stones that were dead ringers for yellow Sapphire. Before that find they were very rare. Occasionally found in Burma. As soon as they appeared a few months later they were gone. I regret not keeping one for myself. I suggest buying one if you can find a well cut stone with a strong saturated yellow color as they are back on the vey rare status.
 
@dk168 Oh how cool! Apparently it's quite rare to find pink tones in large, clean stones that haven't been treated. :)
 
@T L Yes, good call! If you see a strongly saturated pink danburite, be dubious about its color origin. Routinely coated! Not sure if the same is true for the yellows, but it's certainly possible. Mine came from JTV (again... lol) and is certified untreated by AGL.
 
fredflintstone said:
Used to sale a bunch of pure yellow Danburite when they found a new find in Africa several years ago, beautiful stones that were dead ringers for yellow Sapphire. Before that find they were very rare. Occasionally found in Burma. As soon as they appeared a few months later they were gone. I regret not keeping one for myself. I suggest buying one if you can find a well cut stone with a strong saturated yellow color as they are back on the vey rare status.
Click to expand...

You are a wealth of info, @fredflintstone, thank you! That would also account for lack of popularity, as T L and I were discussing. Are you a vendor here in the states?
 
@AutumnInNewEngland have you ever checked out JTV's Presidential Collection or used their concierge service? I've gotten some really nice and unusual loose gems from them.

Your danburite is lovely.
 
Yes and yes, @Diamond Girl 21! I recently purchased a spinel from the president's collection through the concierge service. Have you dealt with Alice? She is a doll! I had no idea JTV offered a personalized shopping experience until last year. I was looking to upgrade my padparadscha. George, a senior JTV buyer, hunted through the Tuscon gem show for me. Though I ended up finding my "perfect" stone elsewhere, they really went above and beyond for me. Highly recommend. I'm glad to hear you've had great experiences with them too!
 
AutumnInNewEngland said:
Yes and yes, @Diamond Girl 21! I recently purchased a spinel from the president's collection through the concierge service. Have you dealt with Alice? She is a doll! I had no idea JTV offered a personalized shopping experience until last year. I was looking to upgrade my padparadscha. George, a senior JTV buyer, hunted through the Tuscon gem show for me. Though I ended up finding my "perfect" stone elsewhere, they really went above and beyond for me. Highly recommend. I'm glad to hear you've had great experiences with them too!
Click to expand...

Yes, I worked with both of them! They really were just wonderful. I ordered a collection of spinels from their Presidential Collection, but I wanted something larger, so I returned them. Alice called and asked if I would be interested in their concierge service. I thought that was terrific, and was on board right away. I was very happy with my purchase, and would definitely use them again. They also make custom settings, but I haven't taken advantage of that yet.
 
There was a nice find of yellow Danburite in Tanzania, it must have been in 2013 and 2014. There was rough material around at the Tucson shows in 2014. I think one of the gem shopping channels was buying a lot of it up. I had some nice pieces from a few rough dealers including what I think was the largest piece in Tucson. I bought a piece that was 82 ct. in the rough and was able to get this 20 ct. piece. It was cut and sold in 2017. (I tend to hang on to large rough as I find cutting big stones to be too much like 'work')

1874.jpg
 

Marlow on Instagram: "6,61 ct vivid yellow danburite from Morogoro, Tanzania. This color is natural untreated- responsible are rare earth elements (REE). Clean and large stones are now really rare. #danburite #pricescope #gemology #raregems #collecto

42 likes, 2 comments - marlowgems0711 on June 20, 2019: "6,61 ct vivid yellow danburite from Morogoro, Tanzania. This color is natural untreated- responsible are rare earth elements (REE). Clean and large stones are now really rare. #danburite #pricescope #gemology #raregems #collectorgems".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

Not the size and fantastic cutting like the round one above (Wow!) but a fine color.

I was not sure whether treated or not - big sizes, awesome yellow. So I didn’t buy one years ago - not enough informations.
So some red flags. You remember Andesine?

But the color is natural untreated.

REE (rare earth elements) are responsible and this variety is now difficult to find and definitely underrated.

 
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Nosean said:

Marlow on Instagram: "6,61 ct vivid yellow danburite from Morogoro, Tanzania. This color is natural untreated- responsible are rare earth elements (REE). Clean and large stones are now really rare. #danburite #pricescope #gemology #raregems #collecto

42 likes, 2 comments - marlowgems0711 on June 20, 2019: "6,61 ct vivid yellow danburite from Morogoro, Tanzania. This color is natural untreated- responsible are rare earth elements (REE). Clean and large stones are now really rare. #danburite #pricescope #gemology #raregems #collectorgems".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

Not the size and fantastic cutting like the round one above (Wow!) but a fine color.

I was not sure whether treated or not - big sizes, awesome yellow. So I didn’t buy one years ago - not enough informations.
So some red flags. You remember Andesine?

But the color is natural untreated.

REE (rare earth elements) are responsible and this variety is now difficult to find and definitely underrated.

Click to expand...

Yes, the find in Africa was natural in color. Some were very vivid indeed as Gene's stone demonstrates.

Burma had been known to produce yellows to, but not the quality nor the quantity of the African find & if I do remember right, it was Tanzania.
 
PrecisionGem said:
There was a nice find of yellow Danburite in Tanzania, must have been in 2013 and
Click to expand...
Ah, Tanzania, the gemstone capital of the world. I wish I had a dime for each time someone said, “There was a nice find in Tanzania…”. I would be able to own the Hope Diamond by now. 8-)
 
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