Chrome Diopside (Pronunciation: \dī-'äp-,sīd\): Beautiful Gem, Ugly Name

Chrome diopside won't win any contests for the most beautiful name. To most people, it sounds more like a car polish rather than a gemstone. But don't jump to any conclusions! Chrome diopside has a beautiful rich green color and an amazingly low price. It is the most affordable gemstone with a pure rich green color.

There are a few drawbacks. The chrome diopside is most available in small sizes: in the rare large sizes, the color becomes so rich it is too dark. But for bright green accent stones, chrome diopside is ideal. However, it is relatively soft, with a hardness of 5.5, so it is a better choice for earrings or a pendant than for a ring which will receive a lot of wear. Chrome diopside is mostly mined in Yakutia and Siberia and the liberalization of the economy of the former Soviet Union has made it more available than even before.

Source: International Colored Gemstone Association