If you're a Gem Breakfast queen, you've seen many a magical morganite ring cross your IG feed. With an irresistible balance between ballet slipper pink and orange creamsicle energy, she's a gemstone treat that's hard to beat. Keep reading for everything you need to know about this dreamy, peachy-pink stone including:
What is morganite?
Morganite is a romantic pink gemstone that ranges in color from the softest ballerina pink to a vibrant watermelon and from perfectly peachy to a punchy salmon. Part of the beryl family, the same mineral that creates emeralds and aquamarines, morganite is also known as a pink emerald, pink beryl, rose beryl, or cesian beryl.
Morganite was named after the famous financier and gem collector, J. P. Morgan. Discovered in 1910, morganite a is relatively new gem in the jewelry industry but has quickly captured the attention of gem-lovers with its twinkling fairytale pink magic.
Why we love a morganite gemstone
AN ODE TO PINK
Giving effervescent pink champagne energy, morganite is a pink-lover's paradise. With every shade of peachy pink under the sun, it's the dreamy, soft sunrise stone that just can't be outdone.
LESS EXPENSIVE
If you're looking for a pink gemstone on a more modest budget, morganite is it. Less expensive than pink sapphires and a fraction of a pink diamond's cost, have your glowy pink sparkle for much less.
TWO COLORS, ONE STONE
As a pleochroic gemstone, morganite shows two or more different colors depending on the angle it's viewed from. Two for one, anyone?
What does morganite symbolize?
Connected with the heart chakra, morganite is the stone of love, compassion, and successful relationships. It's long been said to attract new love and strengthen existing relationship by opening the heart, encouraging vulnerability, and undoing the tangled non-truths in the mind that block us from giving and receiving love.
How to choose a morganite
Morganite color
All morganite stones are a shade of pink, however the range of tones is truly endless - think baby pink, peachy-pink, pure peach, salmon, coral, bright orangey-pink; the limit really does not exist. Most morganite is on the paler end of the spectrum, but bright hues do exist and they're much-beloved by the morganite mavens of the world.
Morganite and all colored gemstones are evaluated for color using 3 different attributes - hue, tone, and saturation. Let's start with hue:
Hue
"Hue" is the actual color of the morganite. Morganite only has two hues to choose from - pink or peach with many variation within those two groups. Pink morganites are more valuable than peach morganites but both are stunning.
Saturation
Saturation measures how vivid a color is - think of a strongly saturated morganite as a vivid pink dress on the day you bought it vs that same dress that's now dull-ified after 20 washes. The most valuable morganite are more saturated, though many people prefer the soft, romantic look of a less saturated morganite.
Tone
Tone measures how light or dark a gemstone is - think a pale pink vs a flamingo pink. Most morganites have light tones, though the darker morganites are the most valuable.
Pleochroism in morganite
Morganites are pleochroic, meaning they can show multiple colors depending on the angle they're viewed from - generally this will be multiple shades of pink with the occasional purple.
Morganite clarity
Clarity is a measure of imperfections or inclusions in a gemstone. The GIA categorizes gemstones into 3 types depending on their likelihood of containing inclusions:
-
Type 1 gems rarely contain inclusions in nature
-
Type 2 gems usually contain inclusions
-
Type 3 gems are almost always included
Morganite is a type 1 gem, meaning it's usually eye-clean, but some morganite might have liquid inclusions or fractures that are visible to the naked eye. Faceted morganite is almost always eye-clean however.
Morganite cut
A well-cut morganite will sparkle and shine in every light and will be cut to show off the gem's color in the most aesthetic way. Because of its pleochroism, morganites need special attention in cutting to show the desired face-up color.
Sometimes pale colored morganites will be cut deeper to intensify the color, and more saturated colors can be cut shallower - all while maintaining the proportions and faceting that maximizes light performance.
Morganite carat
Carat is completely up to you and your budget! Keep in mind, carat refers to weight and not size, and since morganite is a lighter gemstone, it's usually measured in mm rather than carat weight to reflects its diameter instead of its weight, which can be misleading. Since larger morganites are more frequently found in nature, the price doesn't rise dramatically with larger sizes.
Morganite treatments
Morganite is almost always heated treatment to intensify and improve its color - often to remove orange and yellow tones, creating a purer pink. Heat treatments don't affect the durability or value of the stone, and if it isn't specified as unheated or untreated morganite, you can assume it's been heat treated.
Morganite sparkle
A gemstone's sparkle is partly measured by its refractive index - essentially how it reflects light. The higher the refractive index, the more brilliance and lustre. Morganite has a refractive index of about 1.57 to 1.60, which creates a stunning soft sparkle.
For context, diamond, the sparkliest stone of all, has a refractive index of 2.41 to 2.42, making them about 60% more brilliant than morganite. And sapphires, which also come in pink, have a refractive index of 1.76-1.77, so if you're a more-is-more sparkle fan, sapphires are a great stone to consider.
Durability of morganite
Gemstones are rated in four areas for durability:
-
Hardness – resistance to scratches. With a hardness of 7.5 – 8, morganite can be scratched by materials harder than it and should be worn with care and placed in a protective setting.
-
Toughness – resistance to breakage. Morganite has 'fair' toughness, meaning it can be chipped or cracked with rough handling or any significant impact.
-
Cleavage - like a wood's grain, these are the points where a stone can smoothly split. Morganite has poor cleavage in one direction, which is actually a good thing in terms of how easily it will break under an impact.
-
Stability - how well a gemstone can withstand light, temperature, humidity, and chemicals. Morganite is not the most stable gemstone - extreme heat can fade its color, extreme temperature changes can cause it to crack or break, and certain chemicals can damage the stone.
If you're looking for a more durable pink gemstone, considersapphires which are rated a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, have excellent toughness, great stability, and come in all shades of pink from ballet slipper to barbie pink. Pink sapphires are our preferred stone for last-forever engagement rings. Read our blog onPink Sapphires to learn more!
Caring for morganite jewelry
To keep your morganite ring shining its brightest for a lifetime (or several), you'll want to care for it carefully:
Avoid harsh chemicals
Keep your morganite away from any potentially damaging chemicals like household cleaners, perfumes, chlorine, and other harsh chemicals.
Avoid extreme temperatures and too much sun
Morganites don't react well to excessive heat or sudden temperature changes - even too much sunlight can cause the stone to fade over time. Take your stone off for long days in the sun and keep it away from the campfire or BBQ.
Take it off for any potentially damaging activity
Always take off your morganite rings before working out, swimming, DIY-ing, cooking, and any other activity that could damage the stone.
Store morganite away from other jewelry
Morganite is not the hardest gemstone out there, and other gemstones and objects can scratch its surface. To keep it safe, store it in a jewelry box or on a ring holder, not touching your other jewelry.
Clean regularly
Though it starts off sparkly, Morganite attracts dirt and dust very easily, creating a cloudy, dull appearance. This can easily be rectified with a quick cleaning, but it's something to keep in mind if you're a looking for a lower maintenance, stay-sparkly stone that you don't have to scrub constantly.
How to clean your morganite jewelry
Clean your morganite ring with warm water, a mild dishsoap, and a soft brush. Clean both on top and beneath the stone to remove all dirt and debris and restore its sparkle and shine. Then, gently pat it dry with a lint free cloth or let it air dry. Keep your morganite away from ultrasonic cleaners.
YOUR MORGANITE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Is morganite a valuable stone?
Morganite is a valuable stone, however it's all relative in the gemstone world. While it's worth about 10% as much as diamonds right now, as its popularity continues to rise, so will its value.
Is morganite as good as a diamond?
While morganite wins in terms of cost, clarity, and rarity, diamonds win in hardness, durability, and sparkle.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF MORGANITE?
Morganite is not the most durable gem and it can fade or crack with exposure to extreme heat, sudden temperature changes, and harsh chemicals, so if you're not a careful ring wearer, morganite might not be the best stone for you.
what are the benefits of wearing morganite?
Physically, morganite is said to help balance the nervous system and improve heart health. Emotionally, it's said to help soothe stress and encourage self-love and compassion.
What is the spiritual meaning of morganite?
Considered the stone of love, morganite helps balance and unblock the heart chakra to allow the giving and receiving of love.
Are morganite rings good?
Morganite is a stunning, fairly durable, and inexpensive pink gemstone that we love.
Can morganite be worn every day?
With proper care and caution, morganite can be worn every day.
Does morganite lose its sparkle?
Morganite can appear cloudy when dirt, oils, or grime accumulate under the stone. Give it a quick clean with a soft bristle toothbrush, and a warm water + dishsoap solution to instantly restore its sparkle.
Can I shower with my morganite ring?
We recommend removing your morganite rings before showering to avoid the buildup of soaps and other products that can dull the shine of your stone. Certain chemicals in cosmetics and body care products can also harm your stone.
WHERE TO BUY MORGANITE rings
If you're a Gem Breakfast diner, you've seen many a morganite ring cross our buffet. Whether it's a one-of-a-kind morganite ring created by our roster of independent female designers or a OOAK morganite ring created by our in-house line, Made by Gem Breakfast, there's a morganite morsel for every palette.
Thinking of treating yourself or someone else to a morganite ring? Browse our selection of one-of-a-kind gemstone rings or book a free consultation to chat about creating something custom. Keep in mind, there's no up-charge to creating custom, so if you see something you like on the site, we can usually recreate that recipe for around the same price.