Natural Spodumene · Kunzite
Piggy
Kunzite is the pink to violet variety of spodumene, coloured by traces of manganese. It is a cutter's stone in the hardest sense: strongly cleavable in two directions, strongly pleochroic, and unforgiving of any error in orientation.
Piggy is a cushion of 819.76 ct, faceted, and documented in an independent laboratory report as natural spodumene, kunzite, with a soft even pink. The name is affectionate rather than descriptive: a large, round-shouldered stone with a warm blush that seems to hold the light rather than throw it.
Rarity Score: 8.8 / 10
Reference stones
- Fragility of the Eternal · Guinness Record · 3 051 ct
- Kunzite · Los Angeles County Museum · 1 267 ct
- Kunzite · Smithsonian · 880 ct
Location: Stockholm · Private collection · JDBG GEMS
A matter of scale
At 819.76 ct and 54 mm across, Piggy sits well beyond the weight at which clean kunzite is normally cut, and holds an even colour across the whole face rather than pooling it in the centre.
Why it is difficult
Spodumene cleaves perfectly in two directions and shows its best colour only along one axis. The cutter must choose orientation for colour and then work against the cleavage, which is why large clean stones are so seldom finished.
Care
Kunzite colour can fade with prolonged strong light and heat. The stone is stored in the dark, handled with gloves, and never ultrasonically cleaned.
Documentation
Verification is in progress. Laboratory documentation, photographic record and acquisition history are held on file and shared in full with serious enquirers.