Sphene (Titanite)

Sphene gemstone

Sphene, also known as titanite, is a relatively rare gemstone that belongs to the nesosilicate mineral group. It is named after its titanium content and was first discovered in 1795 in the Ural Mountains of Russia. Sphene has a distinct and brilliant fire or dispersion, which is a measure of how well the gemstone separates light into its component colors.

Sphene has an interesting color palette of green, yellow and brown hues. Very few jewelry lovers know about the use of sphene in jewelry. The reason for the small popularity of sphene is the considerable rarity of this mineral. In addition, sphenes have a low hardness (5 on the Mohs scale), which makes it difficult to work with them when making jewelry.

Properties

A great advantage of sphenes is their remarkable optical properties. The minerals have a high dispersion that exceeds that of diamonds. Thanks to this, sphenes shine brightly and shimmer under a direct light source. Mounting stones in jewelry is a difficult task for jewelers, as titanite is easily scratched with excessive force.

Price

Sphene stones of a bright green color are considered to be in the higher price category. Stones of yellowish and brown hues are valued lower. Minerals with more than 15 carats in weight and a deep green coloring and perfect clarity are considered to be rare gemological rarities.

Treatment

Sphrenes are practically not subject to enhancement. There is information that darker stones can be clarified by heat treatment.

Origin

The stones suitable for jewelry are mined in small quantities. Jewelry sphene is supplied from deposits in Madagascar, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Sri-Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Brazil and the United States. Madagascar is the leader in supplying the world market with quality titanite.

Sphene in jewelry

Jewelers rather seldom use sphene in jewelry making. The reasons are the low hardness of the mineral, the difficulty of fixing titanite in the piece, and the possibility of scratches when wearing it every day.

It is advisable to buy titanite jewelry pieces in which the possibility of contact of the stone with the surrounding objects is minimized. Preference should be given to pendants (pendants) or earrings with sphenes. The best option would be a jewelry piece with a stone that is protected from external influences by decorative elements. In the first place, this recommendation applies to rings. It should be noted that almost all jewelry with sphenes is custom-made.

Want to buy sphene at a bargain price?

In our catalog you will always find excellent samples of sphene, you will be able to compare prices and understand the approximate budget of your future purchase. Our gemologists will help you avoid speculation with the price of this stone and will be a guarantee of the right choice.

In addition to stones in stock, our team is glad to offer custom order service. We will choose the best sphene for you based on your requirements and budget.

You can also order the manufacture of jewelry with this stone with worldwide delivery. At the moment we have one of the best full-service jewelry shops with branches in Bangkok, Dubai, Moscow, Geneva and Almaty.