Kunzite, a pink colored gemstone, was only recently discovered in 1902 and was named after noted mineralogist and Tiffany & Co’s chief jeweler, George Frederick Kunz. First unearthed in Connecticut, Kunzite has since been found all over the world in places like Brazil, Afghanistan, and Madagascar.
Kunzite is a variety of spodumene, a pyroxene mineral, which is a great source of lithium for use in ceramics, batteries, medicine, and technology hardware like mobile phones. The kunzite variation, however, has a soothing lilac color thanks to traces of manganese, and is ideal for use in jewelry and other ornaments.
Precision cutting, heating, and irradiation can increase the color intensity, as kunzite is often light and delicate in its natural state. It is a hard gemstone, but like diamond can fracture if impacted in the right area.