Sri Lankan sunstone captivates attention with its distinctive shimmer. Delicate, glittering crystals pepper the body of this gem, producing a sparkle resembling brilliant confetti.
Sunstone also goes by the name Heliolite, from the Greek "helios" meaning sun and "lithos" meaning stone. A member of the feldspar family of minerals, this gem formed from volcanic lava flows and has close ties with the popular moonstone. Sunstone's unique look is attributed to a phenomenon called schiller. A golden-bronze iridescent luster is created by microscopic copper platelets that are naturally infused in the stone. This phenomenon makes the stone appear to glow as if it had its own internal light source.
LOCATION: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and the U.S. state of Oregon are two major sources of sunstones. Any stone larger than two carats is considered very rare and valuable. This all natural stone receives no form of treatment to bring out its brilliance.
Unfortunately, supply of this stone has dried up. We purchased Sri Lankan sunstone from a private collector who held on to the supply for more than 15 years. Once these stones are exhausted, we will be unable to share this beautiful gem with the public again until a new source has identified.