SARA HANDMADE JEWELLERY
Morganite
Australian made
20 Years experience
Ethically sourced gemstones
Created to last a lifetime
What is Morganite?
Morganite lacks the name recognition afforded to a host of other gemstones, but increasing appreciation of this beautiful blush pink stone means that it is unlikely to keep its low profile much longer.
A member of the beryl family of minerals (which includes emerald and aquamarine) it was originally simply known as pink or rose beryl. The first discovery of large good quality deposits occurred in 1910 on the east African island of Madagascar. This led famed gemologist George Kunz to propose it be named Morganite in honour of his friend, the American financier, philanthropist and gem collector, JP Morgan.
Where is Morganite from?
Beryl is a colourless mineral that gets its colour from trace elements within its crystal structure. In the case of morganite, it is manganese which gives it its rosey hue. Chrome and/or vanadium creates an emerald and if iron is present we have an aquamarine.
Just like its cousin the aquamarine, most of the morganite on the market today comes from the pegmatite mines in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. Afghanistan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia and the US are also minor sources.
Custom Morganite Jewellery
A member of the beryl family of minerals, morganite are prized for their peach and pink hues. Pink morganite’s is highly sort as a diamond alternative in coloured stone engagement rings.
What Our Customers Say
What Colour is Morganite?
Morganite covers a range of pastel shades from purplish-pink to pink, to orangey-pink. It has a strong pleochroism, which means that different colours (pale pink and a more intense purplish-pink) can be seen depending on which angle you are looking at the stone. Strong colours are rare in morganite and gems generally need to be of a larger size to achieve more intense colours. Fortunately morganite crystals tend to be very big.
As the market prefers pink and rose-pink gems over their peach and salmon siblings, morganite is often heat treated to remove orange tones. This can also be used to intensify the colour. Crucially, this treatment is permanent and the new colour will not fade.
Gems from the Brazil mines tend to have more of a peachy tone, while the original Madagascan stones still set the standard for the ideal richly hued, pink morganite.
Is Morganite Expensive?
The good news for those after large gems with excellent clarity is that, unlike with most gemstones, neither is a major factor in the value of a morganite. As with aquamarine, the large crystals they are cut from are generally eye-clean (inclusions would only be visible under a jeweller’s loupe or microscope).
Those large crystals also mean that there isn’t an exponential increase in price per carat as you would find with a diamond. In fact smaller stones (around a carat) that have good colour are so rare that they can be more expensive than their larger counterparts.
Across all sizes morganites with strong pure pink tones are the most in demand and thus the most valuable.
Morganite’s current popularity took off around 2010, led by the vogue for blush pink and aided by the opening of new mines and the development of new techniques to improve colour. The demand was fueled in a large part by the engagement ring market and the trend for non-traditional rings. In general you could expect a morganite to cost around a tenth of what a similar weight diamond would set you back.
Our Services
Sara Handmade Jewellery offers bespoke jewellery, custom designs and everything in between to keep you sparkling
Is Morganite Good for Jewellery?
Morganite is a beautiful choice for all types of jewellery, it’s soft blush colour an elegant and understated accompaniment to any outfit. It looks wonderful set in rose gold and accompanied by a diamond halo and also works well with white gold and platinum.
Durability is a key factor when choosing an engagement stone as you can expect your ring to receive heavy daily wear over the course of many years. Morganite is nowhere near as hard as a diamond, but, at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is still suitable for an engagement ring as long as you take a little care to protect it against hard knocks and scratching. Gardening in your morganite engagement ring is not recommended.
We also suggest morganite as a pink diamond alternative for some clients. The few times we have people ask for pink diamond, we try to establish if they like the colour or the fact it is a pink diamond. Pink diamonds can be around 20 times the price of a white diamond, so if colour is the only reason, morganite can be a great, affordable alternative.
-
Bespoke & Custom
Have a piece jewellery custom designed and created just for you. Become a part of the design process for your new special piece.
-
Engagement Rings
We will find the perfect gemstone to create you an engagement ring that expresses your love and will be treasured forever.
-
Jewellery Remodelling
Have family heirlooms, sentimental jewellery and unworn pieces remodelled into something new. Add gems and give the design your own personal touch.
-
Repairs & Restoration
Repair or restore your damaged jewellery to look like new. Resizing, rhodium plating, re-tipping as well as replacing damaged and missing gemstones.
-
Dress & Cocktail
Big, bold and beautiful dress rings designed to make a statement. We can help you create your own bespoke statement ring.
-
Gemstone Sourcing
We will find the precious and semi-precious gems you are looking for in any colour, size, shape or clarity.
FAQs on Morganite
-
Morganite engagement rings are increasingly popular for a good reason: they are much more affordable than diamonds and incredibly beautiful. It is important to remember that morganite is not as a durable as a diamond so some care is required to protect it from damage.
-
If colour is your main priority, then definitely. Morganite’s pink tones compare favourably with pink diamonds, but at a fraction of the cost.
-
The most valuable morganites are those that are a pure pink. This is entirely down to market forces and has nothing to do with intrinsic quality. The best colour morganite is the one that you think is the prettiest. If we don’t have the exact shade you are after in stock, we will happily source it for you.
-
Morganite is not a birthstone.
-
Morganite is the gemstone for the 32nd wedding anniversary.
Get in touch
Get in touch to book an appointment, ask us a question or start creating the perfect piece of jewellery.