The facts
What bronzite actually is
The species behind bronzite is enstatite–ferrosilite series (pyroxene group), (Mg,Fe)₂Si₂O₆; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Fe²⁺ with a bronzy submetallic schiller from oriented lamellar inclusions along the cleavage is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.665–1.700 and a specific gravity of about 3.25–3.40, with good {210} cleavage.
Where bronzite comes from
Commercial material comes from Kraubath, Styria, Austria, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA and India.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How bronzite is treated
Untreated. Cut as cabochons for the schiller; a low-value ornamental pyroxene often paired with hypersthene in the trade.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What bronzite is confused with
Watch for Hypersthene, Sunstone, Tiger's eye and Goldstone glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.665–1.700 and specific gravity 3.25–3.40 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What bronzite is used for
The trades that buy bronzite are carving and sculpture, decorative objects, jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage good {210}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What bronzite costs
Expect roughly $0.50–10/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is bronzite treated, and how?
Untreated. Cut as cabochons for the schiller; a low-value ornamental pyroxene often paired with hypersthene in the trade.
Where does bronzite come from?
Kraubath, Styria, Austria, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA and India. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is bronzite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does bronzite cost?
Indicatively $0.50–10/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is bronzite confused with?
Most often Hypersthene, Sunstone, Tiger's eye and Goldstone glass. A refractive index of 1.665–1.700 and a specific gravity near 3.25–3.40 separate it quickly.
What is bronzite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for bronzite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about bronzite