The facts
What sugilite actually is
The species behind sugilite is sugilite, KNa₂(Fe,Mn,Al)₂Li₃Si₁₂O₃₀; it forms in the hexagonal system.
Manganese 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 1.607–1.610 and a specific gravity of about 2.74–2.80, with none cleavage.
Where sugilite comes from
Commercial material comes from Wessels and N’Chwaning, Northern Cape, South Africa, Japan and Canada.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is sugilite treated?
None normally.
Nothing needs disclosing, and nothing about the stone can change after you buy it. If a price looks impossible, the risk is substitution rather than treatment.
What sugilite is confused with
Watch for Charoite, Dyed material and Lepidolite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.607–1.610 and specific gravity 2.74–2.80 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What sugilite is used for
The trades that buy sugilite are jewellery, decorative objects and mineral collecting. 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 carat, by the piece or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Sugilite is 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 sugilite costs
Expect roughly $5–200/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 sugilite treated?
None normally.
Where does sugilite come from?
Wessels and N’Chwaning, Northern Cape, South Africa, Japan and Canada. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is sugilite 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 sugilite cost?
Indicatively $5–200/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 sugilite confused with?
Most often Charoite, Dyed material and Lepidolite. A refractive index of 1.607–1.610 and a specific gravity near 2.74–2.80 separate it quickly.
What is sugilite used for besides jewellery?
decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for sugilite?
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 sugilite