Yellow Kunzite Gemstones - What’s in a name? We’ll tell you.

Sign In

Sign Up
English speaking customer support only
1-800-464-1640
Change Language
- English
- Français
- Español
- Italiano
- Deutsch
- Pусский
- 中文
- 日本語
- العربية
- Português
- 한국인
USD
Change Currency
- EUR = Euro
- GBP = British Pound
- USD = U.S. Dollar
- AED = United Arab Emirates Dirham
- AUD = Australian Dollar
- BHD = Bahraini Dinar
- BND = Brunei Dollar
- CAD = Canadian Dollar
- CHF = Swiss Franc
- CNY = Chinese Yuan
- CZK = Czech Koruna
- DKK = Danish Krone
- EGP = Egyptian Pound
- EUR = Euro
- GBP = British Pound
- HKD = Hong Kong Dollar
- IDR = Indonesian Rupiah
- ILS = Israeli New Shekel
- INR = Indian Rupee
- IQD = Iraqi Dinar
- JOD = Jordanian Dinar
- JPY = Japanese Yen
- KRW = South Korean Won
- KWD = Kuwaiti Dinar
- MXN = Mexican Peso
- MYR = Malaysian Ringgit
- NOK = Norwegian Krone
- NZD = New Zealand Dollar
- OMR = Omani Rial
- PHP = Philippine Piso
- PLN = Polish Złoty
- QAR = Qatari Riyal
- RUB = Russian Ruble
- SAR = Saudi Riyal
- SEK = Swedish Krona
- SGD = Singapore Dollar
- TWD = New Taiwan Dollar
- USD = U.S. Dollar
- VND = Vietnamese Dồng
- ZAR = South African Rand

Gemstones
Gemstones By Color
Gemstones By Color
Popular Gemstones
Popular Gemstones
- Sapphire
- Topaz
- Amethyst
- Emerald
- Citrine
- Ruby
- Tourmaline
- Garnet
- Tanzanite
- Aquamarine
- Opal
- Zircon
New Arrivals
Gems By Price
Pairs
Lots
Calibrated
Birthstones
Birthstones

By Gavin Clarke Reviewed By Andreas Zabczyk Mar 16, 2010 Updated Feb 06, 2020

Yellow Kunzite Gemstones - Spodumene

Recently we've been getting some requests for a gemstone called yellow kunzite. We know kunzite as the pink form of spodumene, so we were puzzled as to what yellow kunzite could possibly be.

What we discovered is that "yellow kunzite", "mint kunzite" and "white kunzite" are all recently-introduced marketing terms for different colors of the mineral spodumene. We're not sure who started this trend, but now we find many different vendors - including some respectable mineral dealers - using the term yellow kunzite for the yellow variety of spodumene.

Yellow Spodumene

This is really not a good trend for the gemstone business. It harks back to a time when false and misleading names for gemstones were rife in the trade, when a term like "Ceylon diamond" was used to refer to colorless zircon, or "Arizona ruby" was used for pyrope garnet. Indeed, we still see smoky quartz being sold under the name "smoky topaz".

Pink Kunzite from Afghanistan

The first reason why these terms are objectionable is because they are obviously incorrect. More importantly, they almost always involve using the name of a more expensive gemstone to refer to a less valuable stone. Therefore, they are fraudulent as well as misleading.

In the case of a term like "yellow kunzite", the varietal name "kunzite" is defined by a color - it is the pink or lilac variety of spodumene. Some gem varieties are defined by a color - think of emerald, ruby, aquamarine, morganite and tsavorite garnet - so terms like "red emerald" are simply contradictions (even though some vendors have tried to market bixbite as "red emerald").

In the case of yellow kunzite, good quality yellow spodumene is not really less valuable than genuine pink kunzite. So in this case it is not really a matter of trying to get a higher price for the material by calling it kunzite. This seems to be a case where a better-known and more attractive varietal name - kunzite - is substituted for a relatively unknown and not very attractive-sounding name, spodumene. Whatever the excuse, this is a disturbing trend and should be resisted.

About Us

Gemstone Information Sign up for our Newsletter

Overall Rating -> 9

Have just ordered a couple birthstones, hopefully correct size for the setting. Excited to see!

Posted By Ellymae in March, 2023

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

This is the second purchase I have made from you. I am very pleased.

Posted By Jim in August, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

very good

Posted By Dave in February, 2023

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

It’s always awesome and easy to do

Posted By Dustyrose in July, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 10

blessed be the lord blessed be the saved blessed be the work blessed be the traveled i write down my good times in these stones and when times are gray i can still se the sunny days refract in these stones

Posted By Kickbass.2 in May, 2023

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 8

Great selection, good prices and beautiful, simple user interface.

Posted By Swaggermuffinz in October, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Overall Rating -> 9

I like the search ability. I was looking for a gemstone of particular size and color to place in a ring that I already have. Your company carries a large variety of beautiful stones.

Posted By Melly in October, 2022

Source: Bizrate

Heliodor or Golden Beryl

Heliodor or Golden Beryl ...

Certified Gemstones

Certified Gemstones ...

Kunzite Value

Kunzite Gemstone Value - What price should you be paying? ...