A Peach of A Gem
Morganite — named after financier J.P. Morgan — is most often pale pink to orange-pink. Although saturated colors are rare and desirable, a lighter color called blush in the trade is popular among jewelry lovers. Morganite is a variety of beryl, a mineral species that includes aquamarine and emerald. It has high hardness (Mohs 8), clarity and durability and often comes in large sizes, making it a good choice for all types of jewelry including rings.
Color Morganite’s color range includes pink, rose, peach, and salmon. In today’s market, the pink and rose tints are more fashionable. The peach and salmon hues seem less popular, but some collectors value untreated peach-colored material more highly than heat-treated pink stones.
The gem is almost always heat-treated to improve the pink color. The treatment is not detectable. Heat drives off the yellow or orange tinge, leaving a purer and more attractive pink. The resulting color is stable and won’t fade.
Clarity Like aquamarine, another beryl variety, faceted morganite usually does not have inclusions that are visible to the eye. Less-transparent material is often carved or cut as cabochons.
Cut Because morganite has distinct pleochroism—pale pink and a deeper bluish pink—it’s necessary to orient the rough carefully for fashioning. Strong hues in morganite are rare, and gems usually have to be fairly large to achieve the finest color. Morganite is cut in all standard shapes and sizes as well as in unique designer cuts.
Carat Weight Morganite crystals can be very large, so large faceted stones are more common than with many other gemstones. Larger sizes are also more likely to show strong color.