Kunzite, aka spodumene, is colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac. The yellowish-green or emerald-green variety is called hiddenite. It forms in prismatic crystals, as long as 47 feet- not a practical size for jewelry, of course, but wonderful when broken down into shards and drilled. It is best protected from sunlight when not being worn.

Kunzite was named after George Fredrick Kunz, who was Tiffany and Company's chief jeweler in 1902. He was a noted minerologist, as well as a jeweler.

On the Mohs scale, kunzite ranges 6.5-7, and is a brittle stone.