What is this green gemstone that everyone is calling "Russian Chrome Diopside"! Why are so many people trying to purchase it and for what reason? I'm going to try and explain this wonderful green gem.

Then, in 1988, rumors of a momentous new green gem from Russia started circulating in the trade. Dealers who saw this material when it first surfaced in Europe raved about the resemblance of its color to that of tsavorite and chrome tourmaline and raved as much about its price: only a fraction of these gems. After the wall fell and dealers began exploring the new possibilities for marketing Russian gems, the rush was on. Since then, Chrome diopside has been granted class one export status among Russia's mineral resources, a ranking that includes Diamond, Emerald, and Alexandrite.

Chrome Diopside Mines are found near kimberlite shafts near the mountains in Siberia. The mining of Chrome Diopside can be very tough to do. In sub-zero temperatures, a man's strength is diminished greatly. That is one reason why it is only mined three months out of the year, July - August.

Chrome Diopside forms in basic and ultrabasic igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Most Chrome Diopside is mined in a remote area in Eastern Siberia known as Inagli, which is in the state of Sakha.  The area is better known for its impressive diamond deposits. In Siberia, there isn't much green to admire for most of the year. Perhaps in compensation, nature placed rich deposits of a vivid green chrome diopside in this snowy region to delight the eye during the long and hard winter months. This challenging landscape is home to the world's major deposit of chrome diopside.

Many gem names are taken from the French language - but you'll notice that the name Chrome Diopside is not nearly as beautiful as some other gem names - however, don't let that fool you because this gem is incredible. Chrome diopside glows with green. In fact, when its color is less than ideal it tends to be from too much green rather than too little. This is more likely to happen in sizes above two carats: the green can be so dark it can look black.

Chrome Diopside makes an excellent substitute for other green gemstones, mainly Emerald and Tsavorite, as it exhibits a similar color at a fraction of the cost. In fact, Chrome Diopside is the most affordable of all the rich green colored gemstones. Chrome Diopside is not treated. Unlike most other gems, which are heated, irradiated or oiled - there is absolutely NO treatment given to Chrome Diopside.

Chrome Diopside is a beautiful green stone. It is highly refractive which gives it great sparkle (nearly twice the refraction index compared to emerald). It is rare! Diopside is found all over the planet, but the rare top-gem-quality chrome diopside is found in Siberia. In Siberia, it is too cold to mine during the winter, making an extra task of keeping production levels even throughout the year. On the MOHS scale of hardness, it is rated a 6-6.5, and is suitable for jewelry.

It is best to cut the diopside in shapes with rounded corners -- such as oval or round. It has two planes, so you have to be extra careful when you facet it. This is also why there is approximately 90% loss on the rough. (So to cut 10 carats of polished Chrome Diopside will require 100 carats of the rough.)

A faceted cut with shallow angles is needed to improve both the brilliance and the color of the stone, particularly in larger sizes where the color can appear too dark. Popular cuts for chrome diopside include oval, cushion, emerald cut(octagon), and rounds. Chrome Diopside is also occasionally cut into cabochons. The best shape to cut chrome diopside in is oval, and round. Anything with a rounded edge is easier and provides a better return on the rough. However, due to demands in the jewelry industry, it is cut into all shapes; but remember some may be darker than others.

But chrome diopside in small sizes jumps with vivid, fresh green color and sparkles with brilliance. It is the most affordable gemstone with a pure rich green color. It's availability makes it the perfect green gem for stud earrings and pendants.
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