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| Color |
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Deep rich forest green |
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| Gem Family |
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Imperial Diopside is
the highest quality of chrome diopside. Its rich
green color is due to trace amounts of chromium,
the same element that is responsible for the green
of emerald and the red of ruby. |
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| Source |
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This rare diopside is
mined in the frozen lands of Northeastern Siberia.
Mining is carried out almost entirely by hand. Picks
and shovels are used to extract the rough gems from
the earth. |
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| Clarity |
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All Imperial Diopside
is free of eye-visible inclusions. |
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| Size Range |
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.10 - 3.0 carats.
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| Shapes Available |
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Diopside is very difficult
to cut properly. To bring out brilliance across
the entire face of the gemstones, make sure the
gem has sharp even facets. All Imperial Diopside
must be cut to the highest standards. The most popular
shapes are trilliants, round brilliants, and Barion
emerald cuts. Ovals, cushions, checkerboards, and
princess cuts are also available. |
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| Enhancement |
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Imperial Diopside is
not enhanced in any way. |
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| Lore & History |
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Nature does much of the
work mining Imperial Diopside. The forbidding Siberian
mountains where this rich green gem is found are
covered by deep snow from October to June. The winters
are so harsh that the ice cracks and shapes the
ground and rocks. When the snows finally melt in
the summer, the green of diopside crystals can be
found on the surface of the ground like a blanket
of rich green moss. The sparkling crystals are washed
down in the rains and sparkle on the mountainsides
and riverbeds like green frosty dew. |
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| Toughness &
Hardness |
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The hardness of Imperial
Diopside is 5.5 on the Mohs scale. |
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| Care & Cleaning |
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Diopside is a little
harder than opal, similar in harness to tanzanite,
so it needs to be treated with a little extra care.
Try to avoid direct impact to the gemstone. Clean
with warm water, detergent, and a soft brush. Imperial
Diopside can be put in ultrasonic or steam cleaners. |
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| Price Range |
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$75 to $180 per carat. |
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| Special Characteristics |
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Imperial Diopside is
found in the very same kimberlite geological formation
that produces Russia's coveted diamonds, near the
town of Aldan in the Yakut region of Siberia. |
