Between sessionsThe next catalogue is in preparation
Sun, 2 Aug · AWST
Teals
Diopside

Loose diopside at auction in Australia

Chrome diopside is a deep forest green stone coloured by chromium, the same element that colours emerald. Most of the gem material comes from Siberia, and the supply is genuinely narrow, which is why the stone is far less familiar than its colour deserves.

It is untreated, and it darkens quickly with size. Beyond roughly two carats most chrome diopside reads closer to black than green, so the small stones are frequently the better-looking ones.

What to look for in diopside

  • Weight against tone. Under two carats is usually where the colour still reads green.
  • Cleavage and softness, which make it a poor candidate for a knuckle ring.
  • That the green is chrome green rather than a dull olive.

What diopside has sold for at Teals

We have not sold diopside at auction yet. When we do, every lot and the price it realised will be listed here. The full record book carries every session we have run.

Diopside open for bidding

No diopside is on the block at the moment. The saleroom opens at 7pm AWST, and the session board lists every catalogue you can browse and bid on early.

Reading on diopside

Eye-clean, or included

Why coloured stones do not use the diamond clarity scale, and how we grade with two honest words instead of ten misleading ones.