The facts
What diopside actually is
The species behind diopside is diopside (pyroxene group), CaMgSi₂O₆; it forms in the monoclinic system.
Fe²⁺ for yellow-green to brown; near-colourless when pure 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 1.664–1.730 and a specific gravity of about 3.22–3.38, with distinct prismatic {110} cleavage.
Where diopside comes from
Commercial material comes from Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy, Merelani, Tanzania, Mogok, Myanmar and De Kalb, New York, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How diopside is treated
Untreated. Merelani produces an unusual chrome-vanadium diopside; De Kalb white diopside is a classic collector locality.
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 diopside is confused with
Watch for Chrome diopside, Peridot, Epidote, Green tourmaline and Enstatite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.664–1.730 and specific gravity 3.22–3.38 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What diopside is used for
The trades that buy diopside are mineral collecting, jewellery and carving and sculpture. 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 specimen, by the carat or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6.5; cleavage distinct prismatic {110}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 diopside costs
Expect roughly $5–80/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 diopside treated, and how?
Untreated. Merelani produces an unusual chrome-vanadium diopside; De Kalb white diopside is a classic collector locality.
Where does diopside come from?
Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy, Merelani, Tanzania, Mogok, Myanmar and De Kalb, New York, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is diopside hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6.5 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 diopside cost?
Indicatively $5–80/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 diopside confused with?
Most often Chrome diopside, Peridot, Epidote, Green tourmaline and Enstatite. A refractive index of 1.664–1.730 and a specific gravity near 3.22–3.38 separate it quickly.
What is diopside used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for diopside?
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 diopside