Labradorite Stone

About Labradorite

For dreamers and doers, this gemstone is pure magic!

Labradorite is a kind of gemstone belonging to the feldspar mineral family. It is popular for the flashes of colours that it exhibits due to the play of light on its surface. The effect is termed labradorescence and is a key characteristic of the Labradorite.

• While some gemstones owe their beauty to body color or clarity, Labradorite is different because it changes significantly depending on the viewing angles. For example, a stone appearing dull grey or dark from one angle will reveal vivid colors such as blue, green, yellow, orange, and even violet from another angle.
• Labradorite is a calcium and sodium-rich plagioclase feldspar. Its inner structure comprises very thin layers with different compositions. The interplay of light with the layers results in colorful optical effects.
• The Labradorite which most people know is the one whose color ranges from light grey to dark grey with blue or green flashes. However, yellow, gold, orange, violet and multi-color flashes may also be seen. There are great differences in terms of the intensity, coverage, color and play of the labradorescence within individual pieces.
• Labradorite is widely used for cabochons, freeform, beads, carved and slab forms. The proper orientation of the material is very critical since the colorful flash can weaken or even disappear if the material is cut at an incorrect angle.

Labradorite is often associated with transformation, intuition, protection, creativity and self-discovery in modern spiritual practice. All the above associations are not scientific facts but simply the folklore of the gemstones and beliefs of individuals.

Physical Properties of Labradorite Gemstone

Labradorite is part of the plagioclase series of feldspars. It is made up of elements that lie between those found in the sodium-rich albite and the calcium-rich anorthite varieties of this mineral group. Labradorite has a hardness of about 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

Labradorescence in Labradorite

What makes Labradorite unique is the way light causes color flashes within the stone as it moves in certain directions relative to the mineral, not the color itself. One part of a stone could suddenly be very blue, while another becomes green, yellow, orange, or a combination of colors.

• What Is Labradorescence: Labradorite has thin layers that develop due to the growth process of feldspar. The light interacts with the layers and creates an interference and diffraction of light waves resulting in various colors becoming visible through certain viewing angles.
• Directional Nature of Labradorescence: Labradorescence is highly directional, which means that a mineral could have beautiful colors only at a certain viewing angle and look relatively plain if viewed from a different angle. This is why Labradorite photos should be taken from different angles.
• Cutting Process: A cutter examines the rough material and determines the angle at which the flash would be seen most vividly. Proper cutting technique allows getting the best color across the surface, while the wrong technique would make Labradorite lose much of its optical effects.

History and Cultural Importance of Labradorite

The mineralogy of Labradorite is related to the discovery of material in Labrador, Canada, which first came into recognition during the eighteenth century. Over the years, deposits of Labradorite have been discovered in many regions of the world, and the gemstone has gained popularity as jewelry, and mineral specimens.

• Origin of Name in Canada: Labradorite is named for Labrador, where iridescent feldspar has become very well-known. This area is still linked strongly with the history and importance of the gemstone.
• Spectrolite of Finland: The Spectrolite variety of Labradorite has made Finland well-known. This variety of Labradorite is known for being able to display beautiful flashes of blue, green, yellow, orange, and other colors of the spectrum.
• Symbolism and Gemstone Lore: In modern spirituality, Labradorite is commonly referred to as a transformation stone, as well as an intuition stone, imagination stone, protection stone, and a personal growth stone. These meanings add to the cultural importance of the stone, even though they are simply traditional symbolism.

Labradorite Gemstone Benefits

The most important advantages of Labradorite gemstone include its labradorescence, unique coloration, jewelry appearance, and symbolism. Different colors like blue, green, gold, orange, and violet give Labradorite an amazing visual look, while according to modern crystal practices, it is believed to be a transformational and creative stone.

Visual Distinctiveness

One of the main advantages of Labradorite is its unique color changing effect. As the gemstone moves under the light, various flashes of colors may appear, and therefore this stone becomes even more attractive as jewelry or collector's item.

Creativity and Inspiration

The use of Labradorite by artists, designers, writers and all other creative people is mainly connected with symbolism of imagination and inspiration. According to modern crystal practices, it is believed to be an inspirational, creative, and transformational stone, although this is just belief and not a proven fact.

Personal Development

Labradorite is often regarded as a stone of transformation in various spiritual contexts due to its color-changing properties, which have become symbolic of adjusting to change and developing personal potential. The stone often becomes a significant piece of jewelry in times of change and important events in people's lives.

Intuition and Self Awareness

In modern traditions of gems, Labradorite is frequently connected with intuition, awareness of one's inner feelings, and reflection. Some people use Labradorite during meditations for the same symbolic reasons. All these associations come from cultures' spiritual interpretations but are not based on science.

Protection and Positive Energy

Labradorite is often considered a stone capable of protecting a person from negative energy and keeping emotional balance. This opinion has led to the popularity of pendants, bracelets, rings, and talismans made of Labradorite. These are beliefs related to crystals and not medically proven facts.

Pricing Details of Labradorite Gemstone

Labradorite stones can have a high variation in terms of their pricing based on the intensity of the labradorescence effect, color distribution, transparency, cutting, size, source, and general appearance. Labradorites that show flashes of bright colors all over the stone will cost more than those with faint or narrow flashes.

The gemstone is still quite inexpensive when compared to most precious gemstones. The buying guide shows that prices of Labradorite gems in India begin at INR 430 and can go up to INR 27,800 or even more, depending on the specific gemstone.

Note: This pricing range is merely indicative and cannot be taken to be a standardized classification or pricing of gems. Labradorite prices depend greatly on the size of the gemstone, flash quality, color range, cut, origin, and general appearance.

Factors that Affect Labradorite Price and Quality

When determining the value and quality of Labradorite, one should never consider only the carat or color of the gemstone. The best aspect of Labradorite is the way light interacts with the gemstone.

Labradorescence

Labradorescence is the most crucial element that defines the quality of Labradorite. Good-quality specimens show bright flashes that are easily observable when the mineral specimen is rotated in a light source. A large coverage of a rich color usually enhances a stone's appeal over weak, scattered or hard to spot flashes.

Flash Color

Blue flashes are common in Labradorite, while green, yellow, gold, orange, violet and multiple colors are also possible. As per GemPundit, those stones that exhibit strong red, copper and orange flashes are particularly desirable and fetch higher value since these colors are rare.

Color Coverage

The same blue flash may be observed in two Labradorite stones of very different quality based on the coverage of color. It is desirable that the color covers a big area of the stone, unlike when a small part of the surface shows it from a particular angle.

Body Colour

Labradorite could have a grey, dark grey, greenish, colourless or slightly brownish body colour. A nice body colour is one which goes well with labradorescence and doesn't detract from the beauty of the stone. A very dark stone with strong contrasts will yield very exciting results.

Transparency & Internal Characteristics

Labradorite varies in transparency and opacity. It is possible for the stone to contain some natural inclusions, layers or cracks; however, too many cracks will decrease its durability and visual attractiveness. The right balance is achieved when the stone still has an attractive body colour and labradorescence.

Cut & Orientation

Cutting is crucial for Labradorite due to its directional labradorescence. The cutter needs to orient the stone properly in such a way that the most attractive colour would be revealed at the surface of the stone. A fine rough specimen will become much less attractive after cutting if the surface of the stone was oriented away from the flash.

Weight and Size

The weight and size of Labradorite crystals allow even large-size stones to be rather common and inexpensive. However, the value of the gemstone is defined by additional properties such as vivid labradorescence, bright color, good cutting, and absence of any distracting fractures.

Spectrolite Characteristics

A Spectrolite is called Labradorite with intensive labradorescence and different colors. This name has been introduced in relation to the Finnish specimens only; however, nowadays Spectrolite has become a commercial name for highly valued Labradorites with various color displays.

Origin

Labradorite is found in Canada, Finland, Madagascar, Norway and some other areas. Origin of the gemstone can affect collectors' interest especially when it concerns unique material such as Finnish Spectrolite. However, origin itself cannot be considered to add extra value to the gemstone.

Treatments and Authenticity

Buyers must make sure that the Labradorite is natural and that treatments are reported properly. There are various coatings, synthetic combinations, glass, and other imitations that can reproduce the colorful optic phenomena.

Gemological Certification

In case if the Labradorite is valuable or colorful or even a collector, then the gemological certificate might serve for confirmation of identification, dimensions, weight, and other parameters analyzed at the lab. Certification may be helpful if the seller makes some significant claims concerning the variety or natural character of the gemstone.