Tugtupite (rare) (rough and cut set)

Item Description

Tugtupite is a rare mineral, and even harder to find in gem material. It's only found from a few world localities. The mineral was first discovered in 1960, so it is not a very old species in mineralogical terms. Typically, this material gets attention from fluorescent collectors, as the material reacts strongly under UV light. Tugtupite stones are often very small (a 1 carat gem is a very good sized stone), and the large majority of these gems are essentially translucent. The stone in this rough and cut set is gem quality, with an electric pink hue, and a "Freeform Shield" cut. It is one of the great rare gems out there, and the availability of the material has essentially dwindled to virtually nothing in recent years. The accompanying rough is a soft pink piece of semi-opaque Tugtupite free of matrix. The stone is priced at $1,000 per carat retail.