Charoite - à Clef

Lovers of purple gemstones (amethyst anyone?) will fall in love with this purple rock. Like lapis lazuli, a jewelry quality rock, charoite has an intense color, purple rather than cobalt blue, but it isn’t a gemstone. Rocks are two or more minerals formed together. Charoite is primarily charoite, but several minerals can be found included with the charoite. This accounts for charoite that has a lighter lavender hue and spots of various colors. Black is common, but the rock also can have green, yellow-brown, and white spots.

Charoite is found in only one location in Siberia, and when it was first introduced to the world in 1978 was believed to be dyed and fake. It’s not. Unlike dyed jasper, charoite has a swirling pearly pattern that, along with its vibrant purple color, makes it distinct from any other purple rock or gemstone. As a rock it is opaque.

Naturally pearly or chatoyant stones are among my favorites, including peach moonstone and the deep greens of seraphinite.

Find charoite jewelry at à Clef here: https://a-clef.net/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage%2Ccollection&options[prefix]=last&q=charoite*