Sunstone: meaning, properties, care & jewellery

Sunstone is one of the most vibrant natural stones in jewellery. The feldspar with a warm shimmer and glittering light effect inspires with its sunny colour palette, its natural luminosity and its special radiance. Whether in delicate peach nuances, warm orange, gold tones or reddish-brown variants: Sunstone gives pieces of jewellery a radiant, elegant and expressive touch. Sunstone is classified gemmologically as feldspar; its typical glittering effect is described as aventurescence.

In this guide you will learn what characterises sunstone, how genuine sunstone can be recognised, how to care for sunstone jewellery properly and which pieces of jewellery with sunstone are particularly popular at COEUR DE LION.

Note: Symbolic and spiritual meanings of the sunstone come from tradition and esotericism. They are not scientifically proven and do not replace medical advice.

• Sunstone is a feldspar, mostly from the plagioclase group.
• Typical is the aventurescence: a fine, glittering light effect.
• The effect is created by fine, orientated inclusions, often from haematite, goethite, partly also ilmenite; at Oregon Sunstone, copper inclusions are also present.
• Typical are peach-coloured, orange, golden, reddish, brown and partly also greenish colour shades.
• The following are sufficient for care: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.

Sunstone is famous for its warm, glittering colour effect and its lively charisma is particularly popular for elegant genuine stone jewellery. Discover real stone chains, real stone earrings and real stone bracelets with a natural look. You can also find many designs in our FINE EDITION and in models of the birthstone collection.

Mineralogically, sunstone is a variety of the feldspar, mostly from the plagioclase group (e.g. labradorite, oligoclase). It forms predominantly in igneous rocks such as basalts and lavas. Sunstone is particularly interesting for jewellery because it combines colour and play of light. Depending on the cut, the stone can have a soft glow or a clear sparkle. Especially cabochons, pearls and smoothly polished stone elements bring out the aventurescence particularly well; Britannica explicitly mentions the cabochon cut as a typical finish.

Typical properties of sunstone:

• Mineral class: Feldspar (plagioclase or orthoclase)

• Hardness: approx. 6 on the Mohs scale - thus sufficiently hard for jewellery, but more sensitive than quartz

• Lustre: glassy lustre, with characteristic metallic sparkle on the inside (aventurescence)

• Transparency: transparent to translucent

Particularly well known is the Oregon Sunstone, a copper-bearing labradorite feldspar that is famous for its unique copper flakes and play of colours.

Sunstone appears in a wide range of colours. Particularly well-known are peach-coloured, orange, golden, red-brown and copper-coloured variants. Depending on the origin and type of inclusions pink, red, greenish or blue-green tones occur. It is precisely this variety that makes sunstone particularly exciting in jewellery.

Known above all is Oregon Sunstone, which is characterised by copper inclusions and partly transparent to intensely coloured qualities. Other sunstones show their glittering effect more through haematite or goethite platelets, which often results in a warm, reddish-golden impression.

Sunstone has long been known as jewellery and ornamental stone. It is particularly popular because of its warm colour and glittering effect, which clearly distinguishes it from other feldspars. In jewellery, sunstone looks lively, elegant and natural at the same time.

Historically, sunstone was particularly important as a jewellery stone where feldspar-rich deposits with a highly visible glittering effect were available. In addition to classic deposits in Europe, more recent finds from the USA became particularly important for the modern jewellery market. Especially Oregon sunstone received international attention because it is a natural and untreated US gemstone and is characterised by copper-related shimmer effects.

To this day, Sunstone stands for a form of radiant, modern elegance, which can be interpreted in both subtle and expressive ways. The stone is particularly effective in combination with gold tones, warm metals and light natural colours.

The typical glitter effect of the sunstone is called aventurescence. It is created by tiny, parallel orientated platelets or crystals in the feldspar that reflect the light. These are often haematite, goethite or ilmenite; at Oregon Sunstone, copper discs are responsible for the effect. These inclusions give the stone a sparkling, iridescent or warm glow, depending on the viewing angle.

The effect varies depending on the size, density and orientation of the inclusions. Some sunstones only show a gentle glow, others a clear, lively sparkle. It is precisely this natural variability that makes sunstone so special in jewellery.

Anyone who wants to buy sunstone jewellery should look out for some typical characteristics. Genuine sunstone usually shows a natural, moving glitter effect, harmonious colouring and a lively depth. Depending on the material, the stone can appear translucent or opaque. Above all, it is important that the effect does not appear artificially uniform, but naturally embedded. The aventurescence is a key distinguishing feature.

Pay attention to:

• Natural eventfulness: finely glittering and lively instead of artificially coarse.
• Warm colour effect: peach, gold, orange, red or brown instead of unnaturally bright.
• Careful polishing: it brings out the glamour and play of light to optimum effect.
• Transparent material specifications: For high-quality pieces, the origin and type of sunstone are relevant quality features.
• Trusted dealers: Clear declarations are particularly important.

At COEUR DE LION, sunstone is produced in precisely honed, harmoniously combined designs together with tiger's eye, Crystal Pearls by Swarovski® and crystals - the focus is on material quality, balanced colour worlds and a durable base made of gold-plated stainless steel.

Sunstone is a decorative gemstone and should be treated with care. So that sunstone jewellery stays beautiful for a long time, simple care steps are recommended. The following are sufficient for cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. The piece of jewellery should then be carefully dried.

Avoid aggressive cleaning agents, heavy chemical exposure and unnecessarily hard knocks as far as possible. It is best to store sunstone jewellery separately in a soft pouch or case to protect the polished surface and preserve its natural lustre.