Charoite is valued for its unique lavender colour with white, brown and black veining. The purple-coloured hues are due to the high content of manganese and other chemical elements such as barium and strontium.
Charoite is one of the rarest stones in the world, although the first evidence of its mining and use only dates back to 1940s. Its only deposit of prime quality is in Yakutia, Siberia, which is characterised by a very inhospitable climate and poorly accessible terrain. It takes its name from the Chara River, in the region of which it is mined. This exclusive stone is set in jewellery by world-famous jewellers such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Lorraine Schwartz Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Bulgari, or Harry Winston.
