The facts
What phenakite actually is
Phenakite is classified as phenakite, with the composition Be₂SiO₄. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from no chromophore is documented; material is colourless to very pale yellow, pink or brown, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.654–1.670. Specific gravity around 2.93–3.00. Cleavage: distinct {1120}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where phenakite comes from
Phenakite is produced at Takovaya, Ural Mountains, Russia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Anjanabonoina, Madagascar, Mount Antero, Colorado, USA and Erongo, Namibia.
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 phenakite is treated
Untreated. The name comes from the Greek for 'deceiver' because it was persistently mistaken for quartz, which is exactly the separation to make — the higher RI and SG settle it. Hard enough to wear well, but the trade has never adopted it. The largest known faceted stone, 616.9 ct from Sri Lanka, was cut in 2021.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What phenakite is confused with
In the trade phenakite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Rock crystal, Goshenite, Topaz, Danburite or Glass.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.654–1.670 and specific gravity 2.93–3.00 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What phenakite is used for
Demand for phenakite comes from mineral collecting and jewellery, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 7.5–8; cleavage distinct {1120}. 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 phenakite costs
As a guide, phenakite trades around $50–400/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 phenakite treated, and how?
Untreated. The name comes from the Greek for 'deceiver' because it was persistently mistaken for quartz, which is exactly the separation to make — the higher RI and SG settle it. Hard enough to wear well, but the trade has never adopted it. The largest known faceted stone, 616.9 ct from Sri Lanka, was cut in 2021.
Where does phenakite come from?
Takovaya, Ural Mountains, Russia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Anjanabonoina, Madagascar, Mount Antero, Colorado, USA and Erongo, Namibia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is phenakite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7.5–8 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 phenakite cost?
Indicatively $50–400/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 phenakite confused with?
Most often Rock crystal, Goshenite, Topaz, Danburite and Glass. A refractive index of 1.654–1.670 and a specific gravity near 2.93–3.00 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for phenakite?
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 phenakite