The facts
What kunzite actually is
Kunzite is classified as spodumene, with the composition LiAlSi₂O₆. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from manganese, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.660–1.676. Specific gravity around 3.15–3.21. Cleavage: perfect, two directions — it splits easily. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where kunzite comes from
Kunzite is produced at Nuristan, Afghanistan, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Madagascar and California, USA.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How kunzite is treated
Irradiated and heated material is common, and the colour can fade in strong light.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What kunzite is confused with
In the trade kunzite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Morganite, Pink topaz or Rose quartz.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.660–1.676 and specific gravity 3.15–3.21 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What kunzite is used for
Demand for kunzite comes from jewellery and mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Kunzite is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, with perfect, two directions — it splits easily cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What kunzite costs
As a guide, kunzite trades around $5–120/ct.
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 kunzite treated, and how?
Irradiated and heated material is common, and the colour can fade in strong light.
Where does kunzite come from?
Nuristan, Afghanistan, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Madagascar and California, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is kunzite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect, two directions — it splits easily cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does kunzite cost?
Indicatively $5–120/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 kunzite confused with?
Most often Morganite, Pink topaz and Rose quartz. A refractive index of 1.660–1.676 and a specific gravity near 3.15–3.21 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for kunzite?
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 kunzite