Sodalite (Hackmanite) (fluorescent and tenebrescent material)

Item Description

Hackmanite gems from Myanmar are fairly rare, and we've only had a handful to offer in the auctions. They are similar to their Afghani counterparts in terms of color and their fluorescent/tenebrescent qualities, but they are MUCH harder to find on the market. Hackmanite is gem varietal of Sodalite, which is a very durable stone and that's why it is so popular among dealers and collectors alike. An mentioned, this material is fluorescent and tenebrescent which is the process by which a mineral changes daylight color after being exposed to UV light. This stone has a soft purplish-grey hue, but shows good fluorescence with a glowing orange-pink hue under 365 nm UV light. The tenebrescence is seen as the stone turns STRONG PURPLE color after being exposed to prolonged UV light and then will return to its lighter color after a few hours. 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 on these gems since mining has been shut down all in Myanmar. I saw one of these gems offered at the Tucson Show this past year for $850 per carat, though it was admittedly better quality than this one.