What Is Kunzite? A Stone That Changes Color With the Angle You View It

Kunzite is the pink-to-lilac variety of spodumene, a lithium aluminum silicate mineral. It was first identified and named in 1902, credited to Tiffany & Co.'s chief gemologist George Frederick Kunz, whom the stone is named after.

Strong Pleochroism

Kunzite is strongly pleochroic, meaning it shows noticeably different color intensity depending on the exact angle light passes through the crystal — viewed from one direction it can appear a rich, saturated pink-purple, and from another, nearly colorless. This is a genuine optical property of the crystal's internal structure, not a trick of lighting, and it's a major reason cutters orient kunzite carefully to maximize color when viewed face-up in a finished piece.

Why It Can Fade

Kunzite's color, caused by trace manganese, is genuinely light-sensitive. Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight or UV light can noticeably fade the color over time — a real practical consideration, more pronounced in kunzite than in most other colored gems. Keeping kunzite jewelry out of direct sun for extended periods helps preserve its color.

A Genuine Rarity in Large Sizes

Spodumene crystals can grow to enormous sizes — some of the largest documented gem crystals of any kind are spodumene, historically including specimens many meters long from Brazil and California's Pala district. Fine, richly colored kunzite in larger cut sizes remains relatively affordable compared to gems of similar visual impact, partly because its softness and light sensitivity have kept it from becoming a mainstream bridal stone.

Where It's Mined

Afghanistan and Brazil are major current sources of fine kunzite; California's Pala district in the United States was historically significant, tied closely to the stone's original discovery and naming.

Quick Facts

Mineral family: spodumene (lithium aluminum silicate) — Hardness: 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale — Strongly pleochroic — Color can fade with prolonged light exposure — Major sources: Afghanistan, Brazil, USA (California).