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• The Mercedes Benz of the Green Gem Stone, Natural, No Treatment
  
  
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Pray tell how a little-known gem widely available for $20 to $60 per carat, depending on the size, quality, and quantity bought, rubs shoulders with vastly more expensive emerald in the top tier of Russian-mined gems? "It is a commment more on chrome diopside's future than its past."

"The Russians believe this gem has tremendous upside potential and have given it a stature among export commodities commensurate with their faith in it."

Finally, after 30 years of mining chrome diopside, the Russians' high opinion of this gem is being echoed elsewhere, principally in America. But don't look to New York or Los Angeles to find the new pockets of interest in this gem. Look to the heartlands.

THE MAGIC OF CHRONIUM
Russia mines chrome diopside at one remote mountain location in a mineral-rich area known as Imagli in the state of Sakha (formerly Yakutia) which is best known for diamonds. Russia's diopside is the only one in the world colored by chromium (also emerald's coloring agent). Information about Siberian diopside production is hard to come by. Indeed, the mine is officially listed as closed and an armed watchman is posted there with a dog most of the year to keep gem poachers away. Since the area is snow-covered for at least six months of the year, nature also lends a hand in protecting Sakha's diopside interests.

It may very well be that much, if not most, of the steady stream of diopside currently coming from Russia is drawn from stockpiles in both state and private lands. As things stand, Russia has plenty of takers for the rough it is willing to sell. Further, supplies are enough to meet and nurture demand.

If Chrome diopside presents problems, they have far more to do with processing than supply. With a hardnes between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale, this stone is somewhat delicate. Chrome diopside steadily darkens as sizes become larger (few stones over 3 carats have lively color) and has sp-so brilliance, big-bottomed stones with stones with light-leaking windows and dead zones are no-no's. Good cutting is mandatory, even though it usually means losing 90 percent of the rough. The fact that chrome diopside is Braunwart's second biggest selling gem indicates his cutters have learned their lessons well.