Turkish Diaspora
Transparent crystals of diaspore in sizes suitable for jewelry purposes were only recovered from mining operations on Ilbir Mountain near the village of Pinarcik, Milas District, Muğla Province, Turkey. Gem diaspore from Turkey has been reported since the late 1970s, but it was not until commercial mining began in 2005 that a consistent supply became available and was subsequently marketed under various trade names, including Zultanite and Csarite.
The birthplace of major civilizations, including the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Turkey is not usually a country associated with gemstones, until now.
In homage to its country’s history, Zultanite was named in honor of the 36 sultans who ruled the Ottoman Empire. Anatolia, literally meaning ‘sunrise’ in ancient Greek, is blessed with majestic and beautiful landscapes that perfectly complement such an extraordinary gemstone.
This stone was mentioned by ancient Eastern sages. Sultans wore rings with this rare stone, presenting it to their wives and concubines.
The meaning of the word Diaspore is dissipation. This is one of the oldest versions of the stone name. Indeed, with proper cutting, the dazzling play of light can be achieved. This jewelry production suffered from heavy losses in processing. This is due to the increased fragility of the stone; as a result, the correct facet can be done only by recognized experts in their field. The chemical composition of the stone is aluminum oxide with a water content.
Natural Diaspore, under daylight or fluorescent light, displays a pale green color with flashes of yellow. Under incandescent lighting, it has a golden champagne color, and when looked at under softer lighting, such as candlelight, it shows a pinkish-red color. The larger the stone, the more pronounced the color change effect will be. In recent years, it has become possible for small stones also to have the color change effect with some treatments in the laboratory.