Andesine is a (relatively) newly discovered gemstone, first marketed in 2002, then the subject of scandal when in 2008 it suddenly became the official gemstone of the Beijing Olympics and was sold there in huge quantities. The only problem - China doesn't have naturally occurring Andesine, and it turns out that everything sold there was fake and dyed red.

Real Andesine is in the Feldspar family and comes in a variety of colors from the Andes (hence the name). Most have undertones of peach or red. Like other Feldspars, it rates a 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it suitable for jewelry. It is rare to find it in gem form in good size, and this piece is a beauty. 5.14 carats of lustrous champagne pink/yellow Andesine in VVS clarity in a beautifully cut cushion shape, ready to make into a ring or pendant. Measurements are 12.75 X 10.23 X 6.8 mm. No treatment or enhancement of any kind.

See this beauty in motion here: /watch?v=ilB-UTVSPw4

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