faceted phenakite - Russiafaceted phenakite - Russia

Phenakite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information


Rare phenakite is a very hard gem material suitable for jewelry. Usually colorless, cut stones have little fire but can be very bright.

2 Minute Read

HomeGemstonesPhenakite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Rare phenakite is a very hard gem material suitable for jewelry. Usually colorless, cut stones have little fire but can be very bright.

faceted phenakite - Russia
Phenakite, 12.69 cts, Takowaja River Area, Ural Mountains, Russia. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Start an IGS Membership today

for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).

Phenakite Value

phenakites - rough and cut - Colorado
Phenakites: Colorado (stone ~2.5). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

What is Phenakite?

Phenakite lends its name to the phenakite mineral group. The gemstone known as phenakite itself is the beryllium analogue of this group. The gem willemite is the zinc analogue. (Although a very rare element, beryllium also occurs in well-known gemstones such as emeralds and alexandrites).

Does Phenakite Make a Good Jewelry Stone?

Phenakites can show pale yellow, pink, and brown colors, as well as no color. (You'll seldom see very rare red gems cut from Russian material). With little dispersion, these gems hadn't generated much excitement beyond collectors of unusual minerals. However, the surge of New Age interest in crystals in the 1990s caught up with this stone. With or without mystical auras, exceptional hardness (7.5 to 8) and indistinct cleavage make this a good, if unusual, stone for any type of jewelry.

Recently, gemological laboratories have confirmed cat's eye gems cabbed from phenakites from Madagascar and Sri Lanka. The potential for this striking visual effect has contributed to phenakite's new appeal.

phenakites - rough and finished - Nigeria
This phenakite rough, 127 cts, from Nigeria (top) yielded this beautiful finished gem, 35.95 cts, 21 mm. © Dan Stair Custom Gemstones. Used with permission.

Are Phenakites Safe to Wear?

As finished gemstones, phenakites pose no health hazards. Concerns have been raised over the safety of these gems since they contain beryllium. However, this element is stable within phenakite and isn't bio-reactive.

On the other hand, faceters should take precautions against inhaling and accidentally ingesting particles when working with phenakite. Of course, faceters should take these same precautions when cutting any gem material.

The Mindat forum contains an informative thread regarding phenakites and purported health risks.

Are There Synthetic Phenakites?

Labs have synthesized this mineral, starting with a seed of willemite, no less. However, there's no known jewelry use for this material.

When found in emeralds as inclusions, phenakites themselves commonly indicate synthetic origins.

Radiation treatments can turn colorless phenakites yellow-brown.

Distinguishing Phenakite from Quartz and Diamond

Whether rough or finished, this mineral can live up to its etymology as a "deceiver." You might encounter quartz gems erroneously or deliberately presented as phenakites, since they can resemble each other. However, phenakites have higher refractive indices, birefringence, and specific gravity values than quartzes.

phenakite - Nigeria
This phenakite specimen's combination of brightness and colorlessness results in a beautiful crystal that's hard to photograph. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

In at least one case, near-colorless phenakite rough was submitted for gemological analysis as suspected diamond. Despite outward similarities, including trigon-like features, these gems have very different optical and physical properties. For example, phenakite has lower dispersion, hardness, and specific gravity than diamond. Diamond also has no birefringence.

phenakite crystal - Brazil
"If you didn't know it was a phenakite," quips Rob Lavinsky, "you would swear it was a killer Herkimer Diamond." Indeed, this observation points to two possible misidentifications for these gems. People have confused phenakites, like this beautiful Brazilian specimen, with both quartz and diamond gems. (So-called "Herkimer Diamonds" are actually double-terminated, water-clear quartz stones). © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Where are Phenakites Found?

Gem-quality sources include the following:

  • United States: Pala County, California; Colorado (Pike's Peak area); Lords Hill, Maine; New Hampshire; Virginia (crystals up to 2 inches across).
  • Habachtal, Austria: small gemmy colorless or yellowish crystals.
  • San Miguel de Paracicaba, Brazil: large colorless crystals, often clean and cuttable.
  • Russia: reddish color gems.
  • Czech Republic; France; Madagascar; Myanmar; Klein Spitzkopje, Namibia; Nigeria; Kragero, Norway; Slovakia; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Usugara district, Tanzania.

Stone Sizes

Faceted gemstones normally range between one and five carats in size.

Crystals up to 5 x 10 x 18 cm have been found, although usually heavily flawed. The largest known rough was a pebble found in Sri Lanka. Weighing in at 1,470 carats, it cut a 569-ct clean gem and several smaller stones. The large stone has many needle-like inclusions.

  • Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC): 22.2 (colorless, Russia); 21.9 (colorless, Brazil).
  • National Museums of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario): 23.41 (colorless, Brazil).
  • Private Collection: 21.21, 19.17 (colorless, Russia).

Caring for Phenakites

These gems require no special care. See our Gemstone Jewelry Cleaning Guide for care recommendations.

This video shows the finished 35.95-ct Nigerian phenakite in full view. Video © Dan Stair Custom Gemstones. Used with permission.


Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA

Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.

Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com


International Gem Society

Related Articles

More Articles
Black Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Black Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Black is a color that can say a lot. Wearing black diamond jewelry communicates a sense of unique strength and...
Read More
Chameleon Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information1.50-ct diamond</a> usually has a pleasing, gentle Fancy Gray-Yellowish Green color, but looks completely different if you leave it in your jewelry box for a few weeks." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Chameleon Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Professionals will tell you never to trust a trade name used to describe the appearance of a fancy colored diamond....
Read More
Gray Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Gray Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Diamonds with a pure gray hue are a rare treasure indeed. More often, gray is mixed with blue or violet...
Read More
Green Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information1.40 Fancy Intense Yellowish Green gem</a> are rare treasures. " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Green Diamond Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Green diamonds are the oddballs of the fancy colored diamond varieties. Their rare color is usually the result of damage...
Read More

Latest Articles

More Articles
Classic Engagement Ring StonesPastel purple sapphire</a>, 1.08 cts, 5.8 mm, round cut, Sri Lanka. © <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/phenakite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.thegemtrader.com/">The Gem Trader</a>. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Classic Engagement Ring Stones

Emerald, ruby, sapphire, and diamond are the most popular choices for classic engagement ring stones. Learn more about these traditional...
Read More
Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Broken Bangle — The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature: Book Review

Is fei cui a better term for "pyroxene jade" than jadeite? Jeffery Bergman reviews Broken Bangle, a new book on...
Read More
Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry InformationJoel E. Arem</a>, PhD, FGA. Used with permission." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Cuprite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

One of the rarest of all facetable gems, cut cuprites can show magnificent deep red color. However, these beautiful stones...
Read More
Gemstone Radiation TreatmentPhoto courtesy of <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/phenakite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/">liveauctioneers.com and <a href=https://www.gemsociety.org/article/phenakite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/"https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1081/eros-auctions-inc/">Eros Auctions, Inc</a>." src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" decoding="async" data-nimg="responsive" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%"/>

Gemstone Radiation Treatment

Gemstone radiation is a common but little understood technique for altering colors. Learn how it works and what gems usually...
Read More

Never Stop Learning

When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.

Become a Member

Get Gemology Insights

Get started with the International Gem Society’s free guide to gemstone identification. Join our weekly newsletter & get a free copy of the Gem ID Checklist!