A brilliant green gem, chrome diopside may not have the most elegant sounding name, but is one of the only stones capable of matching the allure of emerald. Affordable without compromising showmanship, chrome diopside is rich enough in color to make it unusable in large sizes as it becomes nearly opaque.
This relatively soft gemstone is not well-suited for heavy use, but its highly refractive surface makes it an ideal accent for special occasion jewelry pieces.
Quality chrome diopside is largely confined to regions of Siberia, making it somewhat difficult to extract. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, chrome diopside has increased in availability, however, and is a popular choice for those who covet the emerald’s brilliance but not its price tag.