Fluorite is one of the most popular minerals in the world especially amongst gemstone collectors who admire its variety of brilliant colors which can range from purple, green, yellow and blue to pink, orange and brown. There are even some colorless and black versions.
Very rarely, Fluorite can be found in examples that will have a marked change in color when moved from one lighting source to another - Color Change Fluorite.
Color Change Fluorite Colors
Although regular Fluorite can feature just about all the colors of the rainbow, Color Change Fluorite tends to look blue in daylight and shifts to purple under incandescent light. The blue color can feature greenish tones while the purple color can be more pink or rose colored on occasions.
It is the crystal structure and the chemical make-up of fluorite that create the color change phenomenon. When light hits an object it contains all the colors of the rainbow and depending on the molecular composition some colors will bounce back and others will be absorbed. The color that bounces back is the one that we see.
The source of light will also alter the color. Daylight contains more waves of blue color than artificial light so while the atomic structure and presence of certain mineral impurities make Color Change Fluorite look blue in normal daylight, it changes to purple because of the increased number of red waves in the incandescent light.
Read more about gemstones colors here
Color Change Fluorite Species
Color Change Fluorite is a mineral form of calcium fluoride (CaF2) and has many industrial uses but when it shows the right combination of clarity, color and size it can make a very interesting gemstone or collector's piece.
Color Change Fluorite Price
Color change gemstones are a rare phenomenon and occur in just a handful of gemstones - alexandrite, sapphire, diaspore, garnet, for example. Despite the scarcity of blue in color change gemstones, Color Change Fluorite is probably the least expensive of all - certainly at a per carat rate.
Color Change Fluorite with bright blue and purple colors, excellent clarity, attractive cuts and shapes and a distinct color shift will range from $20 to $40 per carat even for large carat sizes well above 10 carats in weight.
Color Change Fluorite Treatments
Color Change Fluorite is not enhanced by any artificial treatments that we are aware of.
Any enhancing treatments our Color Change Fluorite gemstones receive will be fully disclosed on our product pages.
The word fluorescent (as in the bright tubes) got its name from fluorite as gemstones from certain locations can flash with a brilliant blue light.
Early scientists who tried to isolate pure fluorite discovered how volatile this element can be and many were injured or killed when experimenting with it. Ferdinand Moissan, (after whom the Moissanite gemstone is named), finally succeeded in releasing pure fluorine (the gas form of fluorite) in 1886 and was rewarded with poisoned lungs!
Fluorite gemstones are completely safe.
Where is Color Change Fluorite found?
While regular fluorite is found throughout the world, excellent quality Color Change Fluorite is a bit harder to find with Brazil being the best source at the moment.
What jewelry is Color Change Fluorite suitable for?
Color Change Fluorite is rated at 4 on Mohs hardness scale which makes it relatively soft for use in jewelry. Items such as pendants and earrings can feature Color Change Fluorite as they are less like to be knocked or bumped during wear but rings should have protective settings and only worn occasionally.