The facts
What rutile actually is
The species behind rutile is rutile, TiO₂; it forms in the tetragonal system.
Ti⁴⁺–Fe charge transfer; deep red to reddish-brown, black when Nb/Ta-rich 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 2.616–2.903 and a specific gravity of about 4.23–5.50, with distinct {110}, indistinct {100} cleavage.
Where rutile comes from
Commercial material comes from Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia, USA, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Cavradi, Graubünden, Switzerland and Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How rutile is treated
Untreated. Most gem relevance is as inclusions: rutile needles produce asterism in corundum and the golden hair in rutilated quartz. Synthetic rutile ('Titania') was a 1950s diamond simulant with absurd 0.330 dispersion and is still encountered in old jewellery.
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 rutile is confused with
Watch for Cassiterite, Brookite, Synthetic rutile and Black tourmaline — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.616–2.903 and specific gravity 4.23–5.50 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What rutile is used for
The trades that buy rutile are mineral collecting, jewellery, heavy industry and pigments. 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 tonne.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–6.5; cleavage distinct {110}, indistinct {100}. 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 rutile costs
Expect roughly Fine Graves Mountain or Swiss crystals $50–$3,000; faceted natural rutile rare and $200–$800/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 rutile treated, and how?
Untreated. Most gem relevance is as inclusions: rutile needles produce asterism in corundum and the golden hair in rutilated quartz. Synthetic rutile ('Titania') was a 1950s diamond simulant with absurd 0.330 dispersion and is still encountered in old jewellery.
Where does rutile come from?
Graves Mountain, Lincoln County, Georgia, USA, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Cavradi, Graubünden, Switzerland and Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is rutile hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6–6.5 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 rutile cost?
Indicatively Fine Graves Mountain or Swiss crystals $50–$3,000; faceted natural rutile rare and $200–$800/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 rutile confused with?
Most often Cassiterite, Brookite, Synthetic rutile and Black tourmaline. A refractive index of 2.616–2.903 and a specific gravity near 4.23–5.50 separate it quickly.
What is rutile used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, heavy industry and pigments. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for rutile?
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 rutile