ROMANCE, HISTORY & LORE

Like the alluring emerald, the recently-discovered gemstone chrome diopside boasts a mesmerizing deep green. This precious stone gets its color from the mineral chromium. It ranges in color from light, bright green to almost black, with color growing darker as the gem size increases. The clarity of chrome diopside ranges widely, from transparent to opaque.

ORIGINS

Chrome diopside is mined almost exclusively in a region of Eastern Siberia known as Inagli—an area better known for its impressive diamond deposits. In recent years, deposits have also been found in Pakistan.

CARE

With a hardness of 5 to 6, chrome diopside should be worn with some caution. Remove chrome diopside jewelry before strenuous activity and store it separately from other gems and jewelry. For safe cleaning, wash chrome diopside pieces in a solution of mild dish soap and warm water, using a soft brush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect. Like all fine jewelry, this gemstone should be removed before sleeping.