Morganite

Morganites range from $100 per carat to $400 per carat in the US market. Morganites with high clarities, good cutting and a well saturated color will command prices at the higher end of this scale and desaturated colors in stones containing inclusions will be at the lower end of the scale. It is a fairly rare gemstone, being mined in only a few locations worldwide, which translates into higher prices.

Yes, Morganite is a real gemstone. It belongs to the mineral species “Beryl” which is the same species as Aquamarine and Emerald. It was named after the well known financier J.P. Morgan who was also an avid collector of gemstones. It is a relatively hard gemstone, rated 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale so is very suited to jewelry.

Traditional sources have been Brazil, Afghanistan, USA and Namibia, although the latter produce little these days and production was always sporadic and limited. Recently discovered deposits in Africa, in Mozambique and Ethiopia have become the principal suppliers to the world market.

Yes, Morganite can be worn on a daily basis. It is 7.5 - 8 on the Mohs scale so is considered suitable for jewelry. The best way to clean your Morganite is actually with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Grease can stick to the back of a stone in a setting, so make sure you clean the back of the stone as best you can in order to allow it to sparkle again, if it becomes dull.

Madagascar became the original source of Morganite when a deposit of pink Beryl was discovered in 1910 on an island adjacent to Madagascar. In December of that same year, it was officially given the nomenclature "Morganite" by the New York Academy of Sciences in honor of J.P.Morgan. Due to its scarcity, Morganite has remained a little known gemstone in the jewelry market until 2011, when newer deposits in Africa and the resulting increased supply to the market drove a deeper appreciation and greater exposure to the beautiful gem type. Since 2011 its popularity has increased to such an extent that according to a 2017 survey, Morganite is the second most popular non-diamond stone, after Sapphire.