Kunzites

Kunzite arrives in a soft lilac-pink that deepens as the stone gets larger, so it is rarely worth cutting small. Two things shape how it is worn. Its color can pale under prolonged strong light, which is why kunzite is traditionally an evening stone kept out of a sunny window. And it cleaves perfectly in two directions, which makes it demanding to cut and easy to chip.

At Mohs 6.5 to 7 it belongs in earrings, pendants and occasional rings rather than a daily band. Set in a bezel it is fine. Standard millimeter sizes, mostly in the larger ovals and emerald cuts the color needs.