{"title":"Natural Sphene Gemstones","description":"\u003cp\u003eSphene is the gem name of titanite, a calcium titanium silicate (CaTiSiO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c\/sub\u003e). Its yellow, green, orange and brown stones have a dispersion higher than diamond's, so a well-cut stone throws bright flashes of spectral color, and its resinous to adamantine luster adds to the effect. With a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5, it is a softer gem best suited to pendants and earrings, and it is valued above all by collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout sphene\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTitanite occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks around the world, but crystals clean and large enough to cut are uncommon. Gem material comes from places such as Madagascar, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Brazil. Heating can turn yellow or brown sphene orange or red.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDid you know?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSphene takes its name from the Greek for \"wedge\", after the shape of its crystals. Since 1982 the official mineral name has been titanite, but the gem trade still says sphene.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSphene's strong dispersion and strong pleochroism rarely show at their best together, so a cutter often has to favor one over the other.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to recognise sphene\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSphene has very strong double refraction, so looking through the top of a faceted stone you can often see the back facet edges doubled. Strong pleochroism can show different colors from different directions, and its dispersion is higher than diamond's. Eye-clean stones are rare, so inclusions are normal for this gem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCaring for sphene\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSphene is soft and has distinct cleavage, so it can scratch easily and chip if knocked. Choose protective settings, clean it with lukewarm soapy water and a soft brush, and avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Harder stones can scratch it, so keep it apart from them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery stone is natural, and each listing gives its weight, size, origin and treatment, with photos of the actual stone.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sphene-1-04ct-oval-cut","title":"Natural Sphene 1.04ct Oval Cut","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis oval sphene has a medium olive-green body color with a muted, smoky character that shifts between yellow-green and deeper olive tones depending on the light angle. Natural inclusions are visible through the body consistent with SI clarity, giving the interior a somewhat textured, hazy quality, but sphene's signature spectral fire still makes its presence known in scattered golden and warm green flashes across the facets. The 7.5x5.5mm oval is a practical shape with conventional proportions and a standard crown height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSphene, also known by its mineralogical name titanite, is prized above all for its extraordinary dispersion, which exceeds that of diamond, producing vivid rainbow fire in well-cut stones. African localities contribute sphene to the gem trade in a range of yellow and yellow-green tones, and this stone's olive character is a naturally occurring color within that spectrum. It is entirely untreated. Sphene is best appreciated in pendants, earrings, or collector settings rather than rings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural sphene (titanite)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.04ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 7.5x5.5mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Olive green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oval\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e SI\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Untreated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-5.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural sphene (titanite), untreated, sold loose.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lapis Magica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55725658603845,"sku":"ot1533","price":10.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/8576\/8517\/files\/natural-sphene-1.04ct-oval-cut-loose-gemstone.jpg?v=1780784815"},{"product_id":"sphene-0-95ct-5-8mm-round-cut-vs","title":"Natural Sphene 0.95ct 5.8mm Round Cut VS","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis round sphene has a rich, warm golden-yellow body color with a buttery, honeyed quality that catches light well. The VS clarity is immediately apparent in the stone's open, transparent character, and the facets show cleanly through the body without the haziness typical of SI material. Sphene's extraordinary dispersion is prominently on display here, with vivid spectral flashes of orange, green, and rainbow colors playing across the crown in direct light. A lively and appealing stone with notably clean material for its type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSphene, also called titanite, holds the distinction of having dispersion significantly higher than that of diamond, making rainbow fire and spectral play its defining characteristic as a gem species. A warm golden-yellow tone is a crowd-pleasing color in sphene that flatters yellow gold and rose gold settings equally. This stone is untreated, its color entirely natural. VS clarity is worth noting for sphene, where cleaner material is less common than SI in African parcels of this type. Sphene works beautifully in pendants, drop earrings, and collector settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural sphene (titanite)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.95ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.8mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Round\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e VS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Untreated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-5.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural sphene (titanite), VS clarity, untreated, sold loose.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lapis Magica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55725659095365,"sku":"ot1538","price":15.3,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/8576\/8517\/files\/natural-sphene-0.95ct-5.8mm-round-cut-vs-loose-gemstone.jpg?v=1780784780"},{"product_id":"sphene-1-00ct-oval-cut","title":"Natural Sphene 1.00ct Oval Cut","description":"\u003cp\u003eVibrant and fiery, this oval sphene has a bright yellow-green body color with strong spectral dispersion that draws the eye immediately. Blue-green and orange rainbow flashes are prominent across the facets, giving the stone a lively, animated quality that defines sphene's appeal as a collector gem. The body color sits at a pleasing medium yellow-green, brighter and more saturated than an olive tone, with good transparency through the stone. Natural inclusions are present consistent with SI clarity, visible on close inspection but secondary to the stone's vivid fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSphene is among the rare gem species with dispersion exceeding diamond's, and this piece demonstrates why the species appeals to collectors who value optical character alongside color. African sphene in yellow-green tones has a natural earthy warmth that works well in both casual and statement settings. This stone is untreated, with no treatment applied at any stage. Pendants and earrings are the recommended setting types, where the stone's fire can be appreciated without the wear risk of a daily-use ring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural Sphene (Titanite)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.00ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.2x5.5mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow-green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oval faceted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e SI\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Untreated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-5.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural sphene (titanite), untreated, sold loose.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lapis Magica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55725659193669,"sku":"ot1539","price":12.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/8576\/8517\/files\/natural-sphene-1.00ct-oval-cut-loose-gemstone.jpg?v=1780784780"},{"product_id":"yellow-sphene-1-42ct-marquise-cut","title":"Natural Orange Sphene 1.42ct Marquise Cut","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis marquise sphene stands apart with a deep, warm amber-orange body color, a rich cognac tone with strong orange-red undertones that gives it a distinctly different character from the lighter yellow-green sphenes. The elongated marquise shape displays the color and fire together well, and sphene's characteristic spectral dispersion is visible in vivid red and orange flashes across the facets. Natural inclusions are present consistent with SI clarity, and the body has a textured, lively depth to it. At 10.3x4.8mm, the slender marquise silhouette is naturally suited to pendant or drop earring designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis warmer, more orange-saturated color is a natural occurrence within African sphene, where body color ranges from pale yellow through yellow-green to richer amber and orange tones depending on the specific locality and crystal chemistry. Sphene, also named titanite, is celebrated for dispersion that exceeds diamond's, and the warm amber body color of this piece sets off orange and red fire with particular warmth and intensity. The stone is entirely untreated. Sphene is best suited to protected settings such as pendants or drop earrings; the marquise shape works naturally as a pendant center stone or statement earring piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStone type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural sphene (titanite)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.42ct\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.3x4.8mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orange\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marquise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e SI\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Untreated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5-5.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural sphene (titanite), untreated, sold loose.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lapis Magica","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56655322022213,"sku":"ot1590","price":15.3,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/8576\/8517\/files\/ot1590.jpg?v=1765829585"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/8576\/8517\/collections\/natural-sphene-1.04ct-oval-cut-loose-gemstone.jpg?v=1793880898","url":"https:\/\/lapismagica.com\/collections\/sphene.oembed","provider":"Lapis Magica","version":"1.0","type":"link"}