Seraphinite Jewelry
A deep green Siberian stone swept with silvery, feather-like patterns
Unearthed Gemstones Seraphinite Jewelry
Click the photos for a closer look of the jewelry pieces
Hardness
2 - 4 (Very Soft to Soft): Handle with extreme care; Easily scratchable.
Toughness
Poor (Fragile — Can chip or break easily; Treat gently and store separately)
Mineral Family
Chlorite (Clinochlore)
Transparency
Opaque
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Lustre
Silky
What Is Seraphinite?
Seraphinite is a gem variety of clinochlore, a chlorite mineral, found in the Korshunovskoye mine region near Lake Baikal in Siberia. Its deep forest green is swept through with silvery, feather-like fibres that shimmer as the stone moves, and those angelic plumes inspired the name, after the seraphim. The chatoyant feathers are mica-like fibres reflecting light. It is a genuinely Russian speciality, and fine, strongly feathered material is becoming harder to source.
Is Seraphinite Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?
Beauty comes with fragility here: seraphinite is only about 2 to 4 on the Mohs scale, among the softest stones set in jewellery. It should live in pendants, earrings and brooches, never daily rings. It is cut exclusively as cabochons and beads to show the feathering.
How to Care for Seraphinite Jewelry
Store it alone in a soft pouch. Keep it away from water soaking, chemicals and heat, and clean it with nothing more than a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth.
Gemstones Similar to Seraphinite
Charoite is another Siberian gemstone, and nephrite matches its deep forest green with far more toughness.
