Sodalite (Hackmanite) (fluorescent and tenebrescent) (rare)

Item Description

This is a rarely seen Hackmanite from Myanmar, one of the few we've had to offer in the auctions in recent years. These stones are amazingly difficult to find, and much rarer than their Afghani counterparts. Hackmanite is the gem variety of Sodalite and it is often tenebrescent which is the process by which a mineral changes daylight color after being exposed to UV Light. This particular stone starts out with a silvery hue in indoor lighting, and upon exposure to LW UV light, it will change to a strong pinkish-orange hue, and then the tenebrescence takes over, as you remove the UV light and the stone will change to a fairly strong purple color in normal lighting. After being exposed to the LW UV light, the stone will eventually return to its original silvery-purple color. This process is 100% repeatable and in no way hurts the stone. This gem has a "Cushion" cut and is somewhat translucent for all intents and purposes, but it's not gem quality. This material is retailing for HIGH numbers now across the board, and you simply can't get your hands on any material from Myanmar. I saw one of these stones offered at the Tucson Show a few years ago for $900 per carat, though admittedly it was better gem quality. Sodalite is actually very durable, and easily set into jewelry, which is part of the reason why it's so popular with both dealers and collectors.