Kyanite Is the Gemstone Designers Just Can't Quit

A big takeaway from the jewelry shows in Las Vegas? Blue is the color to invest in, from opals to turquoise, but I’ve been quietly tracking the prevalence of another, more humble but still very beautiful blue gemstone since late last year: kyanite. It’s mainly popping up at the studio designer level The best examples display a gorgeous cornflowery shade of blue and streaky inclusions, and the stone is just as irresistible faceted as it is in its rough or cabochon states. But in speaking with designers, I’ve learned that the stone is kind of a heartbreaker As in, it’s been known to shatter on the bench.

And it’s not cheap, which makes working with it kind of a gamble. California-based jewelry designer Margaret Solow agrees “Yes, kyanite is a pain,” she says “With the lower-quality, earthier-looking kyanite, it can crack when bezeling the stone.

So kyanite takes effort to source because you . Source