Axinite

Item Description

Axinite is a rare collector's stone because there are not many places in the world that produce gem quality material. That's not to say Axinite crystals aren't transparent, but the crystals are often very thin, and it's difficult to cut stones of any substance from them. Additionally, the material is brittle with good cleavage, so it takes a skilled hand to cut fine stones. To find an Axinite gem over 1 carat is very impressive. This particular stone is from Khaplu, Pakistan and they're extremely difficult to find these days because the locality has been dry for years. This stone has rich golden-brown hue with an "Oval Brilliant" cut. Depending upon the light under which it's viewed, the stone can show various color flashes (I have a halogen light on my desk that gives the stone a slight reddish flash). I was able to purchase this gem from an old source who had some fine quality stones in their inventory. It is difficult to find Axinite in clean stones, so inclusions are accepted by most collectors and dealers. This stone is only very slightly included, which is certainly above average for the material. The gem shows trichroism as it does a slight change color when rotated in different directions. Axinite is actually hard enough that it can be worn in jewelry, though it is a bit brittle as mentioned before. A great rare gem for any collector of these type of stones.