The facts
What labradorite actually is
Labradorite is classified as plagioclase feldspar, with the composition (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈. It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from body colour from iron; the flash is interference in lamellar twinning, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.559–1.573. Specific gravity around 2.68–2.72. Cleavage: perfect, two directions. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where labradorite comes from
Labradorite is produced at Labrador, Canada, Ylämaa, Finland (spectrolite), Madagascar and Russia.
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.
Is labradorite treated?
None normally.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What labradorite is confused with
In the trade labradorite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Moonstone, Spectrolite or Synthetic opal.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.559–1.573 and specific gravity 2.68–2.72 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What labradorite is used for
Demand for labradorite comes from jewellery, architecture and interiors, decorative objects and watch dials, 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, by the square metre or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–6.5; cleavage perfect, two directions. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 labradorite costs
As a guide, labradorite trades around $1–50/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 labradorite treated?
None normally.
Where does labradorite come from?
Labrador, Canada, Ylämaa, Finland (spectrolite), Madagascar and Russia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is labradorite hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 6–6.5 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect, two directions cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does labradorite cost?
Indicatively $1–50/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 labradorite confused with?
Most often Moonstone, Spectrolite and Synthetic opal. A refractive index of 1.559–1.573 and a specific gravity near 2.68–2.72 separate it quickly.
What is labradorite used for besides jewellery?
architecture and interiors, decorative objects and watch dials. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for labradorite?
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 labradorite