Hackmanite (rare) (fluorescent and tenebrescent)

Item Description

Here we have a rarely seen faceted (not a cabochon) Hackmanite gem from Myanmar. It's one of the few that we've had to offer in the auctions in recent years. It's possible we won't see any more of these gems for a while, as the mining in Mogok has been shut down due to civil unrest and the pandemic of the last few years. Additionally the mineral market in Mogok has been abandoned, so nothing is available for sale. These Hackmanite stones were amazingly difficult to find years ago, and much rarer than their Afghani counterparts. Hackmanite is a varietal of Sodalite, which in itself is a very durable stone and that's why it is so popular among dealers and collectors. Hackmanite is often tenebrescent which is the process by which a mineral changes daylight color after being exposed to UV Light. This stone has a pastel bluish color naturally, but it fluoresces a pinkish-orange hue under LW UV light. After exposure to UV light, the stone exhibits tenebrescence where it turns a dark PURPLE color. The gem will later return to its original lighter blue color after being exposed to normal lighting. This process is 100% repeatable and in no way hurts the stone. This gem has a "Cushion" cut and is translucent for all intents and purposes. This material is retailing for HIGH numbers now across the board, and you simply can't get your hands of the Burmese material. I saw a cabochon cut stone (not a faceted stone) offered at the Tucson Show this year for $800 per carat for reference, though it was larger and a bit better quality than this gem.