Chrome Diopside: A Juicy Gem for Welcoming Spring
Six strands of rough chrome diopside crystal beads in jewelry designer Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s workshop. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
Luscious and juicy chrome diopside offers gemstone and jewelry lovers the perfect shade of green for welcoming spring.
History and Lore
Chrome diopside is a stunning green gemstone associated with the Tree of Life, Mother Nature, renewal, prosperity and abundance. The name diopside comes from the Greek words “di” meaning “two” and “opsis” meaning “appearance or face” which refers to the way diopside’s crystal prism is orientated. As with other green gems and minerals, chrome diopside is believed to support the heart chakra and increase loving compassionate emotions and clear thinking. Wearing chrome diopside, specifically placing a piece of it on one’s forehead, during meditation is thought to improve one’s creative visualization skills and encourage good dreams. While not assigned to a specific month as a birthstone, chrome diopside is connected to the zodiac signs of Pisces, Gemini, and Virgo.
Work in progress: An 18 karat gold 4-prong setting, in its early stages, sit on jeweler Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s workbench waiting to be set with a rough chrome diopside gem. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds
Origins and Geology
Chrome diopside is a calcium magnesium silicate (CaMgSi2O6) and a member of the pyroxene group of minerals. Traces of the mineral chromium produce chrome diopside’s signature vivid green color which is gorgeous in its natural rough or “raw” crystal state or intricately faceted. Faceted chrome diopsides larger than 2 carats are very rare as the larger the stone the darker the green tends to be with very large chrome diopsides appearing as black. Chrome diopside was discovered in 1988 and is predominately mined in Russia’s Eastern Siberian region known as Ingali, giving it the nickname Siberian Emerald. Deposits of chrome diopside have recently been found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Pakistan and South Africa.
Unlike other green gems, such as emeralds which are often enhanced with oils or resins, there are no known treatments for enhancing the color of chrome diopside so the vivid green you see is exactly how Mother Nature intended these gems to be.
Caring for Chrome Diopside Jewelry
On the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness, chrome diopside ranges from 5.5-6.5 which means it can be scratched by harder gemstones like sapphire, ruby and diamond so it’s best to store your chrome diopside separately from your other gems and jewelry. Jewelry featuring faceted or rough uncut chrome diopside gems can be safely cleaned with a mixture of mild soap and warm water, using a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush, to gently scrub where needed.
Why I Love Designing with Chrome Diopside
I began using chrome diopside in my jewelry designs in 2017 and was immediately smitten with its signature vibrant juicy almost electric green color. Chrome diopside’s unique shade of green instantly reminds me of spring and is unlike other green gemstones that have more blue in them, such as emeralds, or more yellow/lime tones such as peridot. My favorite style of chrome diopside is rough uncut or “raw” crystals because their unique textures and shapes make each gem a rare one-of-a-kind treasure.
Please note, all metaphysical and healing properties listed are collected from a variety of sources and shared for educational, historical and entertainment purposes only. The authors and Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Studios LLC do not guarantee the validity of such statements nor is any of this information meant to treat medical conditions. If you have a medical concern, please consult your medical provider for appropriate treatment options.
