Chrome Diopside (aka 'Russian Emerald') fashion Ring, 6.1 mm x 0.98 Carat, Round Cut, Art Deco Revival Style Sterling Silver Ring

Also known by the trade names 'Russian Emerald' and 'Vertelite', Chrome Diopside is a calcium, magnesium silicate mineral conspicuous for its intense, deep glowing forest green colour. Prior to 1980 it was one of the worlds' rarest gems and regarded only as a 'high end' collector's stone but Perestroika in the former Soviet Union in the late 20th century liberalised supply and eroded its value. These days its price has dropped to an affordable $70/carat for clean well-cut Russian specimens and half that for lower grade specimens from Pakistan. Along with treated green topaz, Chrome Diopside is now the most affordable alternative on the market to Emerald and Tsarvorite for those looking for a super-saturated rich green gemstone.

This ring features a genuine chrome diopside gem set in an engraved Art Deco revival style sterling band. The gem was earth-mined in Russia (Siberia) and is 100% natural, meaning that no heat or radiation treatment processes were applied to it to improve its naturally intense colour. It measures 6.1mm diameter, weighs 0.98 carat and is a well-cut stone, with a smooth unblemished surface and facets that show neat proportions and symmetry. It displays eye clean (VSI*) clarity and the classic rich, emerald green hue that quality diopside is famous for, along with a clean vitreous (glassy) luster and some nice lime and neon green fire spark firing away in its depths.

The sterling silver band is one of my favourite 'cast' designs - a richly engraved and oxidized American Art Deco revival style. I've applied some jeweller's oxide to the recesses of the metalwork then polished the raised surfaces to a high shine to lend the design some depth and contrast. This antiquing process can be expected to increase naturally over time too. It'll give the ring an increasingly medieval - or at the least 'heirloom' - look.

All up the ring weighs 2.8 grams. The band measures around 6.5mm wide at the crown, tapering to 2.5mm wide at the base; and the top surface of the gem would sit about 6mm to 7mm above the top of your finger.

As with all Salon Petite rings, both the prong tips and band edges have been micro polished to limit the chances of the metalwork catching in hair or on clothing, and to assure the ring slips easily on and off the finger.

The inside diameter of this ring is 17mm which translates to the following sizes :
Size 7 (US)
Size 14 (China and Japan)
Size N 1/2 (United Kingdom)

~

* 'VSI' is a technical gem grading term that means 'Very Slight Inclusions'. It indicates that the gem contains microscopic spots fashion or bands deep within it that are visible on close inspection with a jeweler's loupe. These technical flaws do not however diminish the overall beauty of the gem, which to the naked eye appears flawless.