In this article
Written by Sameer
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A sunstone sparkles because of tiny flat crystals inside it that catch light like scattered flakes of gold. How many flakes there are, how evenly they are spread and how well the cut shows them off: that is what you are really paying for. Here is how each of those works.
Where the sparkle comes from
Sunstone is a feldspar with thin platelets inside it, usually hematite and, from some sources, copper. When light strikes them they flash, and that effect is called aventurescence. The colour of the stone around them runs from pale peach through orange to a reddish brown.
Four things that push the price up or down
- How strong the glitter is. Dense, bright flashes across the whole stone are worth more than a handful of scattered sparks or a dull, cloudy shimmer.
- How even it is. Glitter spread evenly over the face looks much better in a setting than bright patches next to blank ones.
- Body colour and clarity. A warm, lively orange to red with some translucency is preferred over muddy brown or very opaque material.
- Cut and orientation. The platelets sit in layers, so the cutter has to work parallel to them for the stone to flash face-up. Get that wrong and the stone only sparkles when you tilt it.
Size counts for less than any of these, although big stones with strong, even glitter are harder to come by.
Sunstone or goldstone?
Goldstone is a man-made glass packed with copper particles, and it gets sold as sunstone more often than it should. Its flecks are tiny, all the same and evenly spaced, rather like the glitter in nail polish, and the colour is usually a very uniform reddish brown. Real sunstone has irregular platelets in a mix of sizes. If a stone is flawless, perfectly even and cheap, treat that as a warning. Ask the seller to put in writing that it is natural sunstone.
Wearing and caring for it
Sunstone is 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, which suits pendants, earrings and a ring worn with a bit of care. Like other feldspars it has cleavage, so avoid hard knocks. Clean it with mild soap and water, not in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Before you pay
Confirm that the stone is natural, that any treatment is in writing, and that the weight quoted is for the cut stone. We check every stone and photograph each one alone, so the listing shows you its actual glitter. Browse our sunstone, or compare yellow agate and dur-e-najaf. Our gem names page lists Urdu and English names. We deliver from Karachi with Cash on Delivery: Karachi usually in 1 to 2 working days, Lahore and other major cities in 2 to 4, and the rest of Pakistan after that.
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