Sphene, also known as titanite, is a rare gemstone characterized by its brilliant fire, which exceeds that of diamond, due to its high dispersion. While mineralogists call it titanite, gemologists often use sphene, a name derived from the Greek word for "wedge" due to the shape of its crystals. It typically occurs in shades of yellow, green, and brown, with potential for color zoning, and can also be colorless, red, or black. However, its low hardness (5-5.5 Mohs) and high birefringence(double refraction) make it difficult to polish and prone to inclusions, with only larger, clean stones fetching higher prices.

Key Characteristics:

• Brilliant Fire:

  Sphene has exceptionally high dispersion, creating more fire than a diamond.

• Birefringence:

  The stone exhibits double refraction, splitting light into two rays, which can make facets appear doubled or cause a hazy look.

• Color:

  Commonly found in yellow, green, and brown hues, with variations in color zoning due to iron and rare-earth element impurities. Chrome sphene is an intense green.

• Hardness:

  With a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5, sphene is considered a brittle and relatively soft gemstone, which makes it challenging to cut and prone to damage.

• Inclusions:

  Most sphenes contain visible inclusions like needles or fingerprints, making clean specimens particularly rare and valuable.

Factors Affecting Value:

• Color:

  Bright yellow to green shades are popular, with chrome green being highly sought after.

• Clarity:

  Higher clarity, meaning fewer inclusions, significantly increases a sphene's value.

• Cut:

  A well-cut sphene can beautifully display its high dispersion and adamantine luster, though cutting is difficult.

• Origin:

  Sphene is found in various locations, including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar.