'A rose by any other name.'

This rosy colored gemstone has a somewhat mysterious and in many ways dubious past. It has been sold under various names such as andesine, Congo sunstone, red labradorite, red feldspar until finally Andesine-Labradorite was chosen as the correct term.

Andesine Labradorite Colors

Andesine-Labradorite is usually a reddish color. The red tones can range from yellow to orange to honey-red and can feature amber to champagne and even green tints. Andesine-Labradorite can also have a metallic schiller when viewed from different angles.

Read more about Gemstone Colors here

Andesine Labradorite Species

Andesine is a member of the plagioclase feldspar group which is a mixture of albite and anorthite minerals, with andesine-labradorite being 50-70% albite and 30-50% anorthite.

There are a number of other feldspars which can also be made into gemstones – some with similar dazzling phenomena:

• Labradorite – The northern lights trapped in a stone
• Sunstone - Colorful metallic flakes glitter from within.
• Spectrolite – A high quality labradorite form Finland
• Rainbow Moonstone – A gemstone with a blue glow
• Moonstone – An ethereal gemstone with liquid looking surface

Andesine Labradorite Price

The price of gemstones tends to be determined by the color, clarity and size with the quality of the cutting also playing a major part.

With Andesine-Labradorite, a strong red color is most valued and coupled with excellent clarity they can reach upwards of $30 or $40 per carat. Good clarity gemstones with a golden color will be a little bit cheaper at around $20 per carat while translucent stones with a good red tone will be $10 - $15 per carat.

Totally untreated Andesine-Labradorite with excellent clarity and a carat weight above 5 to 10 carats are a stunning and rare gemstone that can fetch very high prices – hundreds if not thousands of dollars per carat – but must be approached with caution. Buy Andesine Labradorite from trusted source only.

Andesine Labradorite Treatments

Andesine-Labradorite have a very controversial past so as a precaution, all of the gemstones are described as 'diffused', reinforcing our guarantee of full disclosure of any enhancements made to our gemstones.

Through the process of lattice diffusion, copper-bearing agents enhance labradorite colors from a dull gray to a reddish hue and can also improve the clarity. Labradorite is a natural gemstone, but it is through color-enhancing treatment that labradorite becomes andesine-labradorite.

Many stones are claimed to be 'heated' only, and there are claims of untreated specimens, but we would recommend approaching these very expensive items with caution. If you ever see 'untreated' Andesine-Labradorite without a hefty price tag you can be almost certain they are falsely labeled.

Where is Andesine Labradorite found?

The sources of Andesine-Labradorite remains a little uncertain and the Congo, China, Mongolia, Tibet and India have all claimed to be the true origin.

What jewelry is Andesine Labradorite suitable for?

Andesine Labradorite gemstones are rated at 6 - 6.5 on Mohs hardness scale which means they are hard enough for most types of jewelry. They tend to be cut into faceted oval shapes which are ideal for earrings, pendants and brooches and make an excellent affordable alternative to rubies, spinels and other red gemstones. Care should be taken if used for rings.