Chrome Diopside History

Chrome diopside gemstones have been around a long time, but were only officially discovered in 1988. Originally, chrome diopside was sourced from Russia's Eastern Siberia, but deposits have been found elsewhere in the world. Pakistan is now considered a significant supplier for gem-quality chromium diopside. Other locations of chrome diopside rough include Australia, Russia, Canada, Madagascar, Brazil and South Africa. Chrome diopside has been growing in popularity for jewelry due to its affordability and striking resemblance to more expensive gems such as emerald and tsavorite garnet.

The term diopside comes from the Greek words "di" and "opsis," which mean "two" and "vision." It's no surprise then that this stone was viewed as one of visualization and was sometimes placed on the forehead to help encourage good dreams by ancient peoples. Other cultures believed green diopside had come from the tree of life. Many people buried their dead with the gemstone to ensure renewal of their life.

Chrome Diopside Metaphysical Properties

Chrome diopside has long been used to boost creative vision and awareness. This green gemstone is also thought to be able to improve intellect and encourages the desire of one to learn. According to metaphysical beliefs, chrome diopside is used to help alleviate aggression or stubbornness while in turn enhancing love and commitment. Green diopside is said to be connected to the heart chakra.

Those who use gemstones for healing have been known to use chrome diopside in the treatment of headaches, to regulate blood pressure, to encourage recovery after illness and to help those who suffer from addiction. Chrome diopside is not a traditional birthstone, but it is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces as well as Gemini and Virgo.

Chrome Diopside Geological Properties

Diopside is a monoclinic pyroxene mineral that occurs naturally in a variety of colors such as green, yellow and brown. Green is the most commonly found diopside color, which gets its beautiful hue from traces of the element chromium; hence the name chrome diopside. This chromium-rich diopside is transparent to translucent in appearance with a good chance of high visual clarity. The most valuable chromium diopside gems have a deep forest green similar to tsavorite garnet.

While chrome diopside is not difficult to come by, medium green stones over 2 carats are incredibly rare as the larger the stone the darker it tends to be, even appearing nearly black. Chrome diopside does not receive enhancements to increase color or clarity, making it a naturally lovely untreated stone option for jewelry.

Proper Care of Chrome Diopside

Though chrome diopside is a favorite gemstone replacement for stones such as emerald, they are not nearly as hardy. Chrome diopside has a Mohs hardness of about 5 to 6 with a brittle tenacity and good cleavage. It's best to remove any chrome diopside jewelry before engaging in sports or other activity that could cause the stone to receive a sharp blow. Remove chrome diopside jewelry when using household cleaners (especially bleach) since the potentially harsh chemicals could cause adverse effects. Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners. The best method for cleaning chrome diopside is to use a mild soap and lukewarm water. Use a soft cloth to remove dust, fingerprints and other grime. Store chrome diopside gems and jewelry away from other gemstones and materials that could scratch the surface. Velveteen trays or soft pouches are best for storing chrome diopside jewelry.

To learn more about chrome diopside and other gemstones, order your copy of Walter Schumann's revised and expanded edition of Gemstones of the World.

Designing with Chrome Diopside

The rich green of chrome diopside makes it an appealing gemstone to use in jewelry. Chrome diopside looks great alongside most metal tones, but is predominately paired with silver or gold hues. If the chrome diopside is your main focus, try pairing it with clear cubic zirconia rhinestones or other clear stones such as quartz. Chrome diopside is sometimes paired with pink gemstones such as tourmaline, purple gemstones like amethyst, lighter blue stones including aquamarine or even opals. For more chromatic designs peridot is a great choice and lemon quartz or citrine provide a little added zest. Though red is the complementary color of green, this combination is not commonly seen for everyday jewelry though it can be utilized for Christmasy designs.