Pretty in Pink: The World of Morganite Hues

A Matter of Chemistry

What exactly is Morganite? Morganite belongs to the beryl family, which also includes popular stones like aquamarine, emerald, yellow beryl, and heliodor. From a scientific standpoint, beryl is a mineral boasting a chemical formula of Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈, consisting of beryllium aluminum silicate. This gives it a hardness level of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.

Although softer than a diamond—rated at a hardness of 10—Morganite is frequently used in jewelry such as earrings and necklaces. While durable, Morganite jewelry requires regular cleaning and a robust setting to maintain its appearance.

How Morganites Form

Morganite belongs to the beryl mineral group, which produces various colorful gems. Similar to a diamond, its formation involves hundreds of years of heat and pressure beneath the Earth’s crust, producing colorless, pure beryl. However, pink beryl, or Morganite crystal, forms when pure beryl interacts with other substances.

The original style of clip-on earrings, screw-back clip-ons, feature a simple, small screw on the earring’s back, pressing the earring onto the lobe. One advantage of this style is the ability to adjust for comfort by tightening or loosening the screw.

Pure beryl lacks color and is a clear crystal. Morganite develops its stunning pink hue when it meets manganese or caesium. Like other beryl shades, Morganite requires a unique geochemical environment for its formation, often found in granitic pegmatite—a rock formed by magma crystallization.

Occurrence of Morganite

Morganite is mined on six continents but remains a rare semi-precious gem. The largest producer is Minas Gerais, Brazil, with other sources including Namibia, Mozambique, Afghanistan, and the United States. Madagascar, where Morganite was first discovered, is also a minor producer. Madagascar’s gems set the “gold standard” for Morganite quality.

Modern-Day Morganite Mining Deposits

Currently, the largest Morganite producer is Minas Gerais in Brazil. Morganite deposits can yield crystals both large and small. One notable discovery was in Buckfield, Maine, United States, in 1989, where a fifty-pound crystal weighing 115,000 carats was found. Unfortunately, it was broken due to disputes over ownership.

While Morganite may be found on numerous continents, high-quality natural Morganite with rich color saturation remains scarce.

Morganite Valuation and Treatments

Cut

Morganite can be fashioned into various shapes, both traditional and fancy. Given Morganite’s association with love, a heart shape can be an appropriate cut for a Morganite ring. Other favored shapes include oval, cushion, and emerald. Since Morganite changes color when viewed from different angles, precision in cutting and faceting is crucial for gem cutters. Key considerations include windowing, the passage of light through the stone, and extinction, areas where light is trapped inside the stone.

Color

Morganite typically exhibits pink hues, ranging from pale pink to pink, peachy-pink, peach, salmon, and violet pink. The colors are generally pastel and lighter. Saturation plays a significant role in pricing and valuing Morganite, with vivid and brightly colored stones being rare. Those interested in Morganite jewelry often look for pastel pink shades, with pastel pink Morganite engagement rings becoming increasingly popular. Peach Morganite, particularly untreated, is the second most sought-after shade.

Clarity

Cut and faceted Morganite is often “surface clean,” meaning the inclusions, if present, are invisible to the naked eye. The usually inclusion-free Morganite enhances its light color’s appeal. Unlike diamonds, Morganite doesn’t have specific clarity ratings; look for stones that are visually flawless.

Carat

Morganites come in various sizes, with larger gems usually displaying more vivid colors. Many Morganite deposits produce larger stones, so a bigger carat size doesn’t automatically mean it’s more expensive.

Treatments

Heat treatment is commonly accepted for colored gems, including Morganite. Whether heat-treated or not, this process enhances Morganite’s pink shade. Consequently, peach Morganite stones are often untreated. Extremely pink stones usually undergo treatment. Heat treatment is generally undetectable and does not diminish a Morganite’s beauty or value.