Copyright KPP 2023
Please note that the image found below is not currently optimized for mobile mode, it is designed to be viewed on desktop or "desktop mode" on a mobile browser. While in Desktop or "desktop mode"
viewers are able to click on each individual/square image
to A.) view image on a larger scale and B.) obtain the detailed information on each of the individual Labradorite hues that form a colour wheel! Each hue is categorized using the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) colour identification system. (Detailed explanation at end bottom of page.)
Please note that the image found below is not currently optimized for mobile mode, it is designed to be viewed on desktop or "desktop mode" on a mobile browser. While in Desktop or "desktop mode"
viewers are able to click on each individual/square image
to A.) view image on a larger scale and B.) obtain the detailed information on each of the individual Labradorite hues that form a colour wheel! Each hue is categorized using the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) colour identification system. (Detailed explanation at end bottom of page.)
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1st Colour Wheel for Labradorite
(copyright KPP 2023)
What, no colour wheel (2020) for one of the world's most colourful minerals, Labradorite? Well then, why don't we try and build one for everyone to enjoy!
We start by A.) spending a few years buying a wide variety of colours of Labradorite, B.) months creating our own professional full spectrum/true colour images, C.) more months analyzing colour...we eventually settle on the GIA's, Gemological Institute of America's colour system, an international world standard for categorizing colours (detailed explanation at bottom of page) , D.) still more time getting them in the correct sequence, and E.) last but not least building the internet's first (see above images) for the mineral Labradorite.
We hope you like our multiyear effort to build our original Labradorite colour wheels.
Many thanks to our wonderful team for completing the Labradorite Colour Wheel project:
Leaders: David Hayashida & Linda Yates, Photos & IT: Kaitlin A. Cusick (KAC), Assistant manager: Sandi Yates
(copyright KPP 2023)
What, no colour wheel (2020) for one of the world's most colourful minerals, Labradorite? Well then, why don't we try and build one for everyone to enjoy!
We start by A.) spending a few years buying a wide variety of colours of Labradorite, B.) months creating our own professional full spectrum/true colour images, C.) more months analyzing colour...we eventually settle on the GIA's, Gemological Institute of America's colour system, an international world standard for categorizing colours (detailed explanation at bottom of page) , D.) still more time getting them in the correct sequence, and E.) last but not least building the internet's first (see above images) for the mineral Labradorite.
We hope you like our multiyear effort to build our original Labradorite colour wheels.
Many thanks to our wonderful team for completing the Labradorite Colour Wheel project:
Leaders: David Hayashida & Linda Yates, Photos & IT: Kaitlin A. Cusick (KAC), Assistant manager: Sandi Yates
NEW Labradorite Studio
We are makers (see above image), buyers and (retail) sellers of Labradorite based on the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Featuring 20 different producers, our labradorite is sourced from all around the world but also includes local island locations, Labrador sites, as well as a very limited supply of rare vintage material mined in the 1960's from Tabor Island, (near Nain) Northern Labrador, Canada. A great debt of gratitude goes out to field geologist and MUN professor Heward "Pete" Peters (a.k.a. Uncle Heward) who was working with the mining company Brinex over 60 years ago and returned with what is now our finite supply of authentic Northern Labrador sourced Labradorite/Aurora Lattice Labradorite.
We are currently (August 2023) one of the only sellers of authentic raw Northern Labrador labradorite Collector Specimens on the internet. (On the other hand Northern Labrador Labradorite jewellery is available through multiple sources.)
Our prices start from just around $1 to over $1,000 and our selection just keeps on growing every year. Given that in 1975 Labradorite was named the official mineral emblem for our Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the nick name for our province is "The Rock", our family tree is chock full of rock hounds, and the mineral was named after the Labrador portion of our very own province, it is no wonder that we are obsessed with the endless different looks of Labradorite!
We are makers (see above image), buyers and (retail) sellers of Labradorite based on the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Featuring 20 different producers, our labradorite is sourced from all around the world but also includes local island locations, Labrador sites, as well as a very limited supply of rare vintage material mined in the 1960's from Tabor Island, (near Nain) Northern Labrador, Canada. A great debt of gratitude goes out to field geologist and MUN professor Heward "Pete" Peters (a.k.a. Uncle Heward) who was working with the mining company Brinex over 60 years ago and returned with what is now our finite supply of authentic Northern Labrador sourced Labradorite/Aurora Lattice Labradorite.
We are currently (August 2023) one of the only sellers of authentic raw Northern Labrador labradorite Collector Specimens on the internet. (On the other hand Northern Labrador Labradorite jewellery is available through multiple sources.)
Our prices start from just around $1 to over $1,000 and our selection just keeps on growing every year. Given that in 1975 Labradorite was named the official mineral emblem for our Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the nick name for our province is "The Rock", our family tree is chock full of rock hounds, and the mineral was named after the Labrador portion of our very own province, it is no wonder that we are obsessed with the endless different looks of Labradorite!
The story of "Labradorite".
Preface: Labradorite has now been found in over 62 different countries and over 500 distinct locations. We respectfully acknowledge that all these countries include cultures past and present that have had their own distinct words and specific histories to describe this amazing mineral. The following is the European origin story with roots on the North Eastern coast of North America. (see above map)
1.3 billion years ago this mineral formed in the area that would eventually become known as Northern Labrador. The unusual material would certainly have caught the attention of a number of different local indigenous groups (ie. Inuit, Innu, Beothuck, ...) and given many names over the thousands of years before western contact. Our European portion of the story started in 1770, when Moravian/German missionaries sent back samples of this newly "discovered" material back home from Ford Harbour, Paul Island (near Nain), Labrador, Canada. This intensely colourful mineral caused quite a stir back in Europe and quickly became highly sought after, particularly in France and England. In 1780 the mineral was officially named "Labradorite" by the famous German geologist, Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817) after the region from where the samples had originated.
Preface: Labradorite has now been found in over 62 different countries and over 500 distinct locations. We respectfully acknowledge that all these countries include cultures past and present that have had their own distinct words and specific histories to describe this amazing mineral. The following is the European origin story with roots on the North Eastern coast of North America. (see above map)
1.3 billion years ago this mineral formed in the area that would eventually become known as Northern Labrador. The unusual material would certainly have caught the attention of a number of different local indigenous groups (ie. Inuit, Innu, Beothuck, ...) and given many names over the thousands of years before western contact. Our European portion of the story started in 1770, when Moravian/German missionaries sent back samples of this newly "discovered" material back home from Ford Harbour, Paul Island (near Nain), Labrador, Canada. This intensely colourful mineral caused quite a stir back in Europe and quickly became highly sought after, particularly in France and England. In 1780 the mineral was officially named "Labradorite" by the famous German geologist, Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817) after the region from where the samples had originated.
An Indigenous perspective:
A genuine fragment of the Northern Lights is how one indigenous group perfectly describe the stunning visual impact of this mineral. Their accounting suggests the following:
The aurora borealis froze and fell to the earth, becoming entrapped as fire stone or fire rock. As luck
would have it, a wandering Inuit hunter was able to free almost all of the northern lights back into
the sky with a mighty strike from his spear. A small portion of the Aurora did remained trapped in
some rocks and that is what we find in jewellery made from Labradorite, a kaleidoscope of the
aurora's fire dancing in the palm of our hands.
In 1975 Labradorite was named the official mineral for the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Quarry rights to the Nain Labradorite belong to the Labrador Inuit Association.
A genuine fragment of the Northern Lights is how one indigenous group perfectly describe the stunning visual impact of this mineral. Their accounting suggests the following:
The aurora borealis froze and fell to the earth, becoming entrapped as fire stone or fire rock. As luck
would have it, a wandering Inuit hunter was able to free almost all of the northern lights back into
the sky with a mighty strike from his spear. A small portion of the Aurora did remained trapped in
some rocks and that is what we find in jewellery made from Labradorite, a kaleidoscope of the
aurora's fire dancing in the palm of our hands.
In 1975 Labradorite was named the official mineral for the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Quarry rights to the Nain Labradorite belong to the Labrador Inuit Association.
Labradorite Q & A:
Q) : How many colours are there?
A) : As many colours as there are in a rainbow! Technically speaking sunlight/white light is bent/diffracted into a wide range of colours/hues by the mineral. It may seem somewhat ironic that neither a rainbow nor a piece of Labradorite possesses physical (colour) pigments, and yet the visual impact of the colours emitted by both are among the most spectacular to be found in nature!
Q.) What are the most common to the rarest colours?
A.) Greys (and or clear/white/black) are most common, followed by greens, yellows, blues, oranges, violets, purples, and finally reds are the most rare.
Q) : How many colours are there?
A) : As many colours as there are in a rainbow! Technically speaking sunlight/white light is bent/diffracted into a wide range of colours/hues by the mineral. It may seem somewhat ironic that neither a rainbow nor a piece of Labradorite possesses physical (colour) pigments, and yet the visual impact of the colours emitted by both are among the most spectacular to be found in nature!
Q.) What are the most common to the rarest colours?
A.) Greys (and or clear/white/black) are most common, followed by greens, yellows, blues, oranges, violets, purples, and finally reds are the most rare.
Q.) What is labradorescence?
A.) It is a type of iridescence that is exclusively used to describe the mineral Labradorite. (Iridescence is the optical phenomenon where vivid flashes of colour appear as either the angle of illumination or angle of view is altered.) The unique set factors that allow this to occur are first the slow cooling of two different types of feldspar, followed by the development of not one but two (alternating) crystal structures. White light upon entering the mineral is diffracted back out into specific wavelengths based on the varying thickness of the crystal layers and their refractive indices. While it is not a common occurrence, labradorite can have more than one angle of flash.
A.) It is a type of iridescence that is exclusively used to describe the mineral Labradorite. (Iridescence is the optical phenomenon where vivid flashes of colour appear as either the angle of illumination or angle of view is altered.) The unique set factors that allow this to occur are first the slow cooling of two different types of feldspar, followed by the development of not one but two (alternating) crystal structures. White light upon entering the mineral is diffracted back out into specific wavelengths based on the varying thickness of the crystal layers and their refractive indices. While it is not a common occurrence, labradorite can have more than one angle of flash.
Q.) What is Aurora Lattice Labradorite?
A.) Aurora Lattice Labradorite, features two types of iridescence, (the expected) labradorescence plus the addition of (the unexpected) aventurescence. Aventurescence is created by tiny mineral platelets oriented in such a way as to create a delicate whisper of shimmer. To 99% of us, it will seem all but invisible until we are alerted to look for this secretive second type of iridescence. Each (of the 2 types of) irridescence has their own separate and distinct viewing angles. The micro lattice pattern for Aurora is predominately a 90 degree grid pattern (see enlarged image above) in contrast to rainbow lattice (a related stone from the Southern Hemisphere) which has a more robust diagonal pattern. Our northern gemstone was named 'Aurora' to honour the local indigenous folklore which suggested the Aurora Borealis (Lights of the North) was the source of the stones heavenly iridescent qualities. While not exclusive to Northern Labrador Labradorite, Aurora Lattice is a feature that is frequently found in authentic Labrador sourced specimens.
A.) Aurora Lattice Labradorite, features two types of iridescence, (the expected) labradorescence plus the addition of (the unexpected) aventurescence. Aventurescence is created by tiny mineral platelets oriented in such a way as to create a delicate whisper of shimmer. To 99% of us, it will seem all but invisible until we are alerted to look for this secretive second type of iridescence. Each (of the 2 types of) irridescence has their own separate and distinct viewing angles. The micro lattice pattern for Aurora is predominately a 90 degree grid pattern (see enlarged image above) in contrast to rainbow lattice (a related stone from the Southern Hemisphere) which has a more robust diagonal pattern. Our northern gemstone was named 'Aurora' to honour the local indigenous folklore which suggested the Aurora Borealis (Lights of the North) was the source of the stones heavenly iridescent qualities. While not exclusive to Northern Labrador Labradorite, Aurora Lattice is a feature that is frequently found in authentic Labrador sourced specimens.
Q.) The price of Labradorite?
A.) In order of importance, the following are the 5 key factors that will determine price:
1.) Colour: While less common colours ( ie. red, violet, orange, purple...) , darker colours with intense colour flashes ( ie. dark purple, royal blue, fuchsia) , and multi colour (ie. rainbow effect) pieces generally tend to command a higher price, still it is personal colour preference that should be the most important factor in selecting your piece of labradorite.
2.) Clarity: While some gemstones may have nearly invisible imperfections, most Labradorite has some visible imperfections. In general the fewer the visible imperfections, the higher the price.
3.) Size: Larger sized crystals are more rare and so larger polished/finished pieces are more valuable than smaller pieces.
4.) Shape: Perfectly defined shapes like round, marquis, pear and oval tend to be more valuable than freeform shapes.
5.) Origin: High quality Labradorite sourced from either Finland (a.k.a. spectrolite) or Northern Labrador typically tend to command some of the highest prices.
A.) In order of importance, the following are the 5 key factors that will determine price:
1.) Colour: While less common colours ( ie. red, violet, orange, purple...) , darker colours with intense colour flashes ( ie. dark purple, royal blue, fuchsia) , and multi colour (ie. rainbow effect) pieces generally tend to command a higher price, still it is personal colour preference that should be the most important factor in selecting your piece of labradorite.
2.) Clarity: While some gemstones may have nearly invisible imperfections, most Labradorite has some visible imperfections. In general the fewer the visible imperfections, the higher the price.
3.) Size: Larger sized crystals are more rare and so larger polished/finished pieces are more valuable than smaller pieces.
4.) Shape: Perfectly defined shapes like round, marquis, pear and oval tend to be more valuable than freeform shapes.
5.) Origin: High quality Labradorite sourced from either Finland (a.k.a. spectrolite) or Northern Labrador typically tend to command some of the highest prices.
Q.) What birthstone would labradorite be?
A.) As Labradorite is not a traditional birthstone, it has become associated with a very wide range of months, zodiac signs and even a day of the week.
Months:
February, March, June, July, August, September, October.
Zodiac signs:
Pices (February 19 - March 20), Cancer (June 22- July 22), Leo (July 23b - August 22), Libra (Sept 23- October 22)
Days of the week:
Saturday
A.) As Labradorite is not a traditional birthstone, it has become associated with a very wide range of months, zodiac signs and even a day of the week.
Months:
February, March, June, July, August, September, October.
Zodiac signs:
Pices (February 19 - March 20), Cancer (June 22- July 22), Leo (July 23b - August 22), Libra (Sept 23- October 22)
Days of the week:
Saturday
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Chasing the fire:
the art & science of making jewellery from Labradorite
While it is well known to lapidary (jewellery cutting) professionals that it requires a very specialized skill set to work with Labradorite, the average customer may not know why this is the case. The following is a list of the top 5 challenges to overcome, to reveal the optimum fire or flash:
1.) Against all odds. If we assumed for a brief moment that Labradorite existed as a 2 dimensional object there would only be 360 different degrees /angles of choice for cutting, of which only 1 would achieve the optimum outcome. The reality of course is Labradorite is a 3 dimensional object, so the number of wrong directions is exponentially greater than 359! Knowing these odds, it is easy to understand why the learning curve to acquire the necessary skills to work with the mineral is both time consuming and very costly.
2.) No two alike. To make matters even more challenging is each piece of raw Labradorite is unique or put another way, totally unpredictable . Meaning even if you are able at some point to find the one correct cutting angle, typically it is almost never the exact same angle for the very next slice of the raw material. The optimum angle of flash can vanish, scatter or return a millimeter at a time.
3.) Triclinic. This next issue is a challenge times three. Typically a mineral can naturally break in just 1 direction. Labradorite breaks in 3 different directions (Triclinic) meaning all things being equal you are likely to experience at least 3 times the loss of final product when working with Labradorite over a mineral with a single direction of fracture.
4.) When perfect isn't perfect? Even if you that have beat the odds and revealed the optimum flash, surprise, you are sometimes still not near the finish line. There may be a long way to go because the perfect flash is only perfect if it flashes in the proper position. For example if it is a pendant, does it optimally flash in the 10 degrees tipped back from vertical position? If it does not then sorry, start over.
5.) Rare. In the particular case of Northern Labrador Labradorite, NLL is currently in very short supply and we are not aware of any active quarries in Labrador that are offering raw gem quality material. Hopefully commercial sources of NLL will once again become available but until that time it is a complicated and certainly an expensive process for those hoping to learn to work specifically with NLL.
These are the top 5 issues that discourage most local crafts people from chasing the elusive fire of Labradorite. For those dedicated few fortunate enough to have access to NLL, who are willing to invest the years of effort, to slowly learn the necessary art and science (of which there are perhaps less than two dozen jewellers in our province cabbing NLL,) it is an extremely challenging labour of love.
the art & science of making jewellery from Labradorite
While it is well known to lapidary (jewellery cutting) professionals that it requires a very specialized skill set to work with Labradorite, the average customer may not know why this is the case. The following is a list of the top 5 challenges to overcome, to reveal the optimum fire or flash:
1.) Against all odds. If we assumed for a brief moment that Labradorite existed as a 2 dimensional object there would only be 360 different degrees /angles of choice for cutting, of which only 1 would achieve the optimum outcome. The reality of course is Labradorite is a 3 dimensional object, so the number of wrong directions is exponentially greater than 359! Knowing these odds, it is easy to understand why the learning curve to acquire the necessary skills to work with the mineral is both time consuming and very costly.
2.) No two alike. To make matters even more challenging is each piece of raw Labradorite is unique or put another way, totally unpredictable . Meaning even if you are able at some point to find the one correct cutting angle, typically it is almost never the exact same angle for the very next slice of the raw material. The optimum angle of flash can vanish, scatter or return a millimeter at a time.
3.) Triclinic. This next issue is a challenge times three. Typically a mineral can naturally break in just 1 direction. Labradorite breaks in 3 different directions (Triclinic) meaning all things being equal you are likely to experience at least 3 times the loss of final product when working with Labradorite over a mineral with a single direction of fracture.
4.) When perfect isn't perfect? Even if you that have beat the odds and revealed the optimum flash, surprise, you are sometimes still not near the finish line. There may be a long way to go because the perfect flash is only perfect if it flashes in the proper position. For example if it is a pendant, does it optimally flash in the 10 degrees tipped back from vertical position? If it does not then sorry, start over.
5.) Rare. In the particular case of Northern Labrador Labradorite, NLL is currently in very short supply and we are not aware of any active quarries in Labrador that are offering raw gem quality material. Hopefully commercial sources of NLL will once again become available but until that time it is a complicated and certainly an expensive process for those hoping to learn to work specifically with NLL.
These are the top 5 issues that discourage most local crafts people from chasing the elusive fire of Labradorite. For those dedicated few fortunate enough to have access to NLL, who are willing to invest the years of effort, to slowly learn the necessary art and science (of which there are perhaps less than two dozen jewellers in our province cabbing NLL,) it is an extremely challenging labour of love.
What is a GIA Color Grade and How do we Read it?
The Gemological Institute of America, GIA Color Grade scale is used to read the color of a gem. The color grade system may at first appear complicated but in reality it has only 3 aspects: a.) hue, b.) saturation, and c.) intensity. GIA Color Grades are described in the following way:
Hue Letters (Hue #) Saturation amount#/Intensity amount# Saturation description, intensity description, Hue description.
The read out for each of the 3 aspects is given both as a number and as a word designation (so there ends up to be 7 bits of information to (re)confirm what the 3 aspects are.)
Numerical values for each item in this formula can be found in the GIA Color Grade Chart below.
The Gemological Institute of America, GIA Color Grade scale is used to read the color of a gem. The color grade system may at first appear complicated but in reality it has only 3 aspects: a.) hue, b.) saturation, and c.) intensity. GIA Color Grades are described in the following way:
Hue Letters (Hue #) Saturation amount#/Intensity amount# Saturation description, intensity description, Hue description.
The read out for each of the 3 aspects is given both as a number and as a word designation (so there ends up to be 7 bits of information to (re)confirm what the 3 aspects are.)
Numerical values for each item in this formula can be found in the GIA Color Grade Chart below.
To read the GIA Color Grade of a gemstone, we must break the grade down into 3 pieces; hue, saturation, intensity. (Hue has 31 options, Saturation has 7 and intensity has 6.) For example, a gem stone with a grade of rO (4)8/1 Very dark, very faint, reddish Orange would have a very dark, but very faint, reddish orange hue.
To better understand this, we can use the GIA Color Grade formula to break down the color grade.
Color Grade: rO (4)8/1 Very dark, very faint, reddish Orange
Formula: Hue (Hue #)Saturation amount#/Intensity amount# Saturation description, intensity description, Hue description.
rO - Hue Letters
(4) - Hue Numbers
8 - Saturation Amount
1 - Intensity Amount
Very dark - Saturation Description
vary faint - Intensity Description
reddish Orange - Hue Description
If we have a stone that is a vivid, dark, reddish purple, we would consult the chart to find the GIA formula.
Reddish purple - hue - rP (28)
dark - saturation - 7
vivid - intensity – 6
We would write the formula for this stone as;
rP (28)7/6 Dark, intense, reddish Purple.
Special thanks to the GIA for creating the Gemewizard app which allowed us to create our colour wheel for Labradorite.
To better understand this, we can use the GIA Color Grade formula to break down the color grade.
Color Grade: rO (4)8/1 Very dark, very faint, reddish Orange
Formula: Hue (Hue #)Saturation amount#/Intensity amount# Saturation description, intensity description, Hue description.
rO - Hue Letters
(4) - Hue Numbers
8 - Saturation Amount
1 - Intensity Amount
Very dark - Saturation Description
vary faint - Intensity Description
reddish Orange - Hue Description
If we have a stone that is a vivid, dark, reddish purple, we would consult the chart to find the GIA formula.
Reddish purple - hue - rP (28)
dark - saturation - 7
vivid - intensity – 6
We would write the formula for this stone as;
rP (28)7/6 Dark, intense, reddish Purple.
Special thanks to the GIA for creating the Gemewizard app which allowed us to create our colour wheel for Labradorite.
