- Stone type
- Natural Diopside
- Weight
- 2.47ct
- Size
- 9x7mm
- Color
- Black
- Cut
- Oval cabochon
- Clarity
- Opaque
- Treatment
- Untreated
- Origin
- Africa
- Hardness
- 5.5-6
- Phenomenon
- Asterism (4-ray star)
Natural Black Star Diopside 2.47ct 9x7mm Oval Cabochon
€8.00 EURSKU: ot1558-2
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An oval black cabochon with a four-ray star where the arms appear broad and silky in character, spreading softly from the center rather than forming sharply defined lines. The star is fully visible across the dome and the golden-bronze rays carry a gentle, diffuse quality. The stone is opaque with a deep black body color and a well-polished surface.
The phenomenon at work here is asterism, in which a direct light source interacts with fine, parallel needle-like inclusions inside the stone to form a bright, moving ray across the surface of the polished dome. Black diopside from Africa forms its four-ray cross from two intersecting sets of rutile needles within the crystal structure, and the width or softness of these arms reflects how the inclusions are distributed in each individual stone. The stone is untreated.
Natural black star diopside, asterism, sold loose.
We ship worldwide from Sofia, Bulgaria. Every order is packed in a protective box with bubble wrap. Orders within Bulgaria are dispatched within 1-2 business days and international orders within 2-3 business days. Free shipping is applied automatically at checkout, and the threshold applies to the order value after any discounts.
Delivery within Bulgaria
- Delivered by Speedy, Econt or Box Now, to a courier office, a locker or your address.
- Fixed prices: Box Now locker €1.60 (free on orders from €25), Speedy office €3.20, Econt office or locker €4.00, Speedy to your address €4.50.
- Free shipping on orders over €50, with any courier and at any weight.
- Cash on delivery is available.
- Delivery normally takes 1-2 business days after dispatch.
- Hardness
- 5.5-6
- Cleavage
- Good
- Durability
- Fair
- Soapy water
- Safe
- Ultrasonic
- Avoid
- Steam
- Avoid
About diopside
Diopside is 5.5 to 6 on the Mohs scale with good cleavage along two planes, so it needs protection from knocks and scratches.
Cleaning
Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap and a soft brush, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners: vibration and sudden temperature changes can crack it.
Wear and storage
The four-rayed star comes from fine needle-like inclusions inside the stone. They make it slightly more brittle, so treat the domed surface gently. With a hardness below 7 it can be scratched even by quartz, which is found in household dust, and a knock can split it. Wipe it gently and store it on its own in a soft pouch. It suits pendants and earrings better than an everyday ring.
For your jeweler
This diopside is untreated. Diopside should be kept away from the torch flame, acid pickle and the ultrasonic bath. Ask for gentle pressure when setting, since a hard push can split it.
Scale
True to scale: 9 × 7 mm
Shown next to a €1 coin (23.25 mm) in the exact ratio, so you can picture the real size.
