Is Labradorite widely considered to be a gemstone?
Most of us picture Labradorite as a solid grayish or even greenish rock, usually found as tumbled pocket stones in your local crystal shop. It’s hard to imagine these typical quality bits of Labradorite could be considered a gem! The coveted semi-precious gemstone title is only truly applicable to a certain quality of Labradorite, can be described as ‘Triple A Grade’ (which is more of a colloquial term.) An excellent quality Labradorite would be clear to slightly gray in appearance, usually cut small with its only ‘imperfections’ being the layer of microscopic inclusions that cause the stones Labradorescence. When cut into facets or cabochon, a slight gray tint may be the only visible difference between a Labradorite and a more classic gemstone like Moonstone (which is in an alternative birthstone for June.) It can be truly miraculous how much the quality and value of these precious stones can fluctuate piece to piece. Even the regular quality of Labradorite has become a popular commodity in the handmade jewelry industry! Cabochons of Labradorite are frequently found desirable for their metaphysical properties and hidden flashes of bright colors. From the popular dark ‘Hades Blue’ all the way to the popularized ‘Mermaid Purple’ Labradorescence is gorgeous no matter the quality of the Labradorite it resides inside! Lucky for us, nowadays you can find many small artists who make masterful Labradorite jewelry in bracelets, pendants, and much more!