| Spectrolite~ The Finnish Stone of Light
Spectrolite was discovered by accident in 1940 during the Second World War, when stones were being quarried along Finland’s eastern border to form antitank obstacles. The name Spectrolite was given by Professor Aarne Laitakari. Spectrolite, the most valuable and rare form of labradorite, is a beautiful semi-precious gemstone with an iridescent play of color. Spectrolite is a member of the feldspar labradorite stone family, but it has many differences that set i apart from the more common labradorite. Spectrolite was entitled a gem name of its own because of the rainbow rich variety and depth of colors.The base color of spectrolite ranges from medium gray to a dark gray/black. As you move the stone in and out of light at different angles you will see the brilliant and unexpected flash of color, an effect known as "Labradorescence" or "Schiller". The appearance and disappearance of color-play is its most striking feature in this gemstone. This stone belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group. Other examples of popular feldspar varieties include sunstone, moonstone, amazonite and noble orthoclase.
Spectrolite is found only at Ylamaa, a remote location in eastern Finland. The most valuable and rarest spectrolite displays an amazing combination of shades of red, magenta, pink, purple, violet, bright teal blue,green, yellow and orange.... virtually the entire color spectrum.
Spectrolite gems polished on both sides. Photos by Jessica Dow.
This two sided polished gem is both bizarre and beautiful! This gem has the usual directional flash that is expected with Finnish spectrolite but each side is split in two and flashes separately when moved through different light sources. It's an amazing effect and this is the strongest example of a color split spectrolite I have ever seen.
Rare Cobalt Blue/Purple Cabochon
"Grape Jelly Spectrolite"
"Flaming Magenta Spectrolite"
Rough Spectrolite prior to being cabbed~
These are cabs cut from the rough shown above. Cabs by by Mark Anderson
My favorite from the batch of cabs~
*~Jewelry by Jessica Dow and Mark Anderson of Different Seasons~*
*~Cabochons cut by Mark Anderson or lapidary artisan Gail Clark~*
"Spectrolite Cadenza"
Pierced reversible spectrolite pendant with faceted pink spinel, peridot, amethyst and spassartite garnet and inset the gems into the back of the pendant.
Necklace includes a tube set gem connector which enables the wearer to flip the pendant to either side without removing the necklace. We chose a gorgeous rhodolite garnet for the gem connector which matches the spectrolite cabochon perfectly.
*~Hot Pink Spectrolite Ring~*
~Two more examples from our series of reversible specolite pendants~*
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: "A man is like a bit of Labrador Spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand until you come to a particular angle, then it shows deep and beautiful colors." | 
