Spectrolite~ The Finnish Stone of Light
Spectrolite was discovered by accident in 1940 during the Second World War, when stones were being quarried along Finland’s eastern border to form antitank obstacles. The name Spectrolite was given by Professor Aarne Laitakari.
Spectrolite, the most valuable and rare form of labradorite, is a beautiful semi-precious gemstone with an iridescent play of color. Spectrolite is a member of the feldspar labradorite stone family, but it has many differences that set it apart from the more common labradorite. Spectrolite was entitled a gem name of its own because of the rainbow rich variety and depth of colors.The base color of spectrolite ranges from medium gray to a dark gray/black. As you move the stone in and out of light at different angles you will see the brilliant and unexpected flash of color, an effect known as “Labradorescence” or “Schiller”. The appearance and disappearance of color-play is its most striking feature in this gemstone. This stone belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group. Other examples of popular feldspar varieties include sunstone, moonstone, amazonite and noble orthoclase.
Spectrolite is found only at Ylamaa, a remote location in eastern Finland. The most valuable and rarest spectrolite displays an amazing combination of shades of red, magenta, pink, purple, violet, bright teal blue,green, yellow and orange…. virtually the entire color spectrum.
A one-of-a-kind reversible spectrolite pendant I made with pink sapphire and tanzanite accents.
Side 1~ accented with faceted pink sapphire tube set within a pierced and hand engraved sterling silver scrollwork setting.
By Jessica Dow.
Side2~ With beautiful bright faceted tanzanite gem accents.
An incredible, rare full spectrum spectrolite gemstone!
(cut by our very talented friend Gail Clark)
A Video of the same gemstone as above~
(If the video isn’t working (it seems to come and go, please visit direct link~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessa1155/2584286305/
Spectrolite gems polished on both sides.
This two sided polished gem is both bizarre and beautiful! This gem has the usual directional flash that is expected with Finnish spectrolite but each side is split in two and flashes separately when moved through different light sources. It’s an amazing effect and this is the strongest example of a color split spectrolite I have ever seen.
Amazing Neon Color in a polished piece of rough!
Tie-Dyed Spectrolite Gems!
An usual bright purple & burgundy red flowing into orange and yellow.
A Large Gem with Purple, Pink and Orange, Yellow and an incredible teal green and blue.
A very large triangle spectrolite with loads of neon colors.. a true beauty!
An incredible, amazing huge icy blue gemstone….one of the brightest blues in spectrolite I’ve ever seen.
Many of our gems are polished on both sides. The photos below show some of the first spectrolites from our collection. These mini collages show both front and back of each spectrolite.
Rare Cobalt Blue/Purple Cabochon
“Grape Jelly Spectrolite”
“Flaming Magenta Spectrolite”
Rough Spectrolite prior to being cabbed~
These are cabs cut from the rough shown above. Cabs by by Mark Anderson
An example of Mark’s spectrolite inlay jewelry.
*~Jewelry by Mark Anderson of Different Seasons~*
*~Cabochons cut by Mark Anderson or lapidary artisan Gail Clark~*
“Spectrolite Cadenza”
Pierced reversible spectrolite pendant with faceted pink spinel, peridot, amethyst and spassartite garnet inset into the back of the pendant.
Necklace includes a tube set gem connector which enables the wearer to flip the pendant to either side without removing the necklace. Mark chose a gorgeous rhodolite garnet for the gem connector which matches the spectrolite cabochon perfectly.
*~Hot Pink Spectrolite Ring~*
~Two more examples from our series of reversible spectrolite pendants (all designs by Jessica Dow)~*
~Our spectrolite jewelry featured by Renee Newman in her book Exotic Gemstones Vol 1.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “A man is like a bit of Labrador Spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand until you come to a particular angle, then it shows deep and beautiful colors.”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
cool article. my family had land where there was spectrolite (as well as hypersthene), and my parents then set up a jewellery company… not surprisingly, i have plenty of jewels made from these stones.
great photos u have
My son just visited Finland … perhaps I can live in hope that he brings a piece home for me! It is just gorgeous.
What great information…I did not know anything about spectrolite & would never have guessed that it was so beautiful. Your examples in the photos are simply gorgeous! Thanks so much for the illuminating article! Teri Twitter: Teri_B
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