The facts
What danburite actually is
The species behind danburite is danburite, CaB₂(SiO₄)₂; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
In Vietnamese yellow material, Fe and Mn are at or below detection and the colour correlates with high rare-earth content; the pink mechanism is unverified 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 1.630–1.636 and a specific gravity of about 2.97–3.02, with poor {001} — effectively a non-issue for cutting and setting cleavage.
Where danburite comes from
Commercial material comes from Charcas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Mogok, Myanmar (finest pink), Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Madagascar, Dal'negorsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia and Luc Yen, Yen Bai, Vietnam.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How danburite is treated
Untreated by default. Irradiation is reported on some Dal'negorsk material, with stability disputed and no established detection protocol. One genuinely material disclosure point: yellow danburite from Namalulu, Tanzania was completely decolourised by heating at 500 °C, and a bead browned within three hours under a lamp — so some yellow danburite is heat-destroyed and light-unstable. Despite prose descriptions calling its dispersion strong, the measured value of 0.017 is low.
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 danburite is confused with
Watch for Topaz, Quartz, Goshenite, Phenakite and Glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.630–1.636 and specific gravity 2.97–3.02 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What danburite is used for
The trades that buy danburite are 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 carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Danburite is 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale, with poor {001} — effectively a non-issue for cutting and setting cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What danburite costs
Expect roughly $10–150/ct; fine pink Mogok material higher, 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 danburite treated, and how?
Untreated by default. Irradiation is reported on some Dal'negorsk material, with stability disputed and no established detection protocol. One genuinely material disclosure point: yellow danburite from Namalulu, Tanzania was completely decolourised by heating at 500 °C, and a bead browned within three hours under a lamp — so some yellow danburite is heat-destroyed and light-unstable. Despite prose descriptions calling its dispersion strong, the measured value of 0.017 is low.
Where does danburite come from?
Charcas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Mogok, Myanmar (finest pink), Sahatany Pegmatite Field, Madagascar, Dal'negorsk, Primorsky Krai, Russia and Luc Yen, Yen Bai, Vietnam. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is danburite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does danburite cost?
Indicatively $10–150/ct; fine pink Mogok material higher. 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 danburite confused with?
Most often Topaz, Quartz, Goshenite, Phenakite and Glass. A refractive index of 1.630–1.636 and a specific gravity near 2.97–3.02 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for danburite?
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 danburite