Chrome Diopside is the intense chrome green colored variety of Diopside, an inosilicate mineral that grows in prismatic monoclinic crystals. Chrome Diopside originally was only found in kimberlite shafts in the mountains of Siberia. In the late 80’s, an incredible new variety of gem started to emerge out of Russia. It resembled tsavorite and chrome tourmaline in its richness of color and luster.

Chrome Diopside has prismatic cleavage making it very difficult to facet into gemstones with over 80% waste the norm. It is a gem which is never treated and cannot be improved through heating, diffusion or other processes, thus it is always natural. It has a high refractive index leading to its especially brilliant fire after cutting.

Although eastern Siberia is still a main source for gem quality Chrome Diopside, rough material is also sourced from Australia, Canada, Madagascar and Brazil. This gem continues to grown in popularity due to its relative affordability and resemblance to much more expensive gems like Emerald and Tsavorite Garnet.