Spodumene is formed from the crystallization of lithium-rich igneous and metamorphic rocks. The first recorded discovery of these rocks was in 19th-century Sweden. Much later on, its different colored variants were discovered at several rock deposits around the world.
Kunzite was first documented in 1902 at one of the spodumene mine deposits in San Diego, California. During this time, spodumene minerals were already being used as a source of industrial lithium. Kunzite was found to be easier to cut and has more aesthetic appeal due to its color spectrum, which opened the way for this stone to be used for jewelry-making.
The name “kunzite” was derived from the surname of George Frederick Kunz, the mineralogist who founded the stone. Since then, kunzite has been a popular gemstone find high-class jewelry and more deposits have been discovered in countries like Pakistan, Brazil, Afghanistan, and, Madagascar. You can usually find them cut in cushion, emerald, or oval forms for jewelry.
Most kunzite deposits are large and difficult to cut, but the beautiful color and natural clarity of this stone offset the difficulty in cutting it due to its perfect cleavage. These pink-to-purple gemstones are popular among upper-class families and high-end jewelry collectors. One example is the 47-karat sample in a ring at the estate auction of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1996 that was sold for more than $410,000.
Aside from its decorative function, kunzite and other spodumene variations are used in creating certain medicines, vehicle batteries, ceramics, and smartphones due to their rich lithium composition. You can also find a large, heart-shaped kunzite specimen weighing 880 carats on display inside the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
Most of the kunzite available in the jewelry market are priced moderately, except for the deeper-colored versions; these rare forms tend to be more expensive than ones that come in pale colors. Nevertheless, most of the accessible kunzite jewelry still contains abundant energies for emotional healing.