The facts
What vesuvianite actually is
The species behind vesuvianite is vesuvianite, Ca₁₀Mg₂Al₄(SiO₄)₅(Si₂O₇)₂(OH)₄; it forms in the tetragonal system.
Fe for the yellow-green to brown range, with an absorption band near 461 nm; Cu for the rare blue trade 'cyprine' from Telemark, Norway; Mn for pink 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 1.700–1.725 and a specific gravity of about 3.32–3.47, with indistinct {110} cleavage.
Where vesuvianite comes from
Commercial material comes from Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy (type locality), Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada, Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy and Sanford, Maine, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How vesuvianite is treated
Untreated. Optically near-isotropic with a very low birefringence, which can cause confusion at the polariscope. Clean faceted material over 5 ct is uncommon.
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 vesuvianite is confused with
Watch for Peridot, Grossular, Epidote, Diopside and Green tourmaline — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.700–1.725 and specific gravity 3.32–3.47 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What vesuvianite is used for
The trades that buy vesuvianite are mineral collecting, jewellery and carving and sculpture. 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 block.
Durability and care
Hardness 6–7; cleavage indistinct {110}. 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 vesuvianite costs
Expect roughly $20–200/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 vesuvianite treated, and how?
Untreated. Optically near-isotropic with a very low birefringence, which can cause confusion at the polariscope. Clean faceted material over 5 ct is uncommon.
Where does vesuvianite come from?
Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy (type locality), Jeffrey Mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada, Ala Valley, Piedmont, Italy and Sanford, Maine, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is vesuvianite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6–7 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 vesuvianite cost?
Indicatively $20–200/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 vesuvianite confused with?
Most often Peridot, Grossular, Epidote, Diopside and Green tourmaline. A refractive index of 1.700–1.725 and a specific gravity near 3.32–3.47 separate it quickly.
What is vesuvianite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for vesuvianite?
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 vesuvianite