Titanite · CaTiSiO₅ · 5 to 5.5
Updated
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Sphene, the mineral titanite, splits light into colours more strongly than diamond does: its dispersion is about 0.051, against diamond’s 0.044. Cut well, a yellow-green or green sphene throws flashes of fire that few gems can match. It is soft, at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale, so it suits pendants and earrings better than everyday rings. It is not grown in labs, and good stones are sold mostly by specialist gem dealers.
From the rock to the finished piece. Where gems are mined.
01 In the ground (step 1 of 2)
Sphene crystals growing on their host rock.
Real specimen. Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0.
02 Crystal (step 2 of 2)
A gem sphene crystal in the wedge shape that gave it its name, from the Greek sphenos, a wedge.
Real specimen. Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0.
| Sphene | Diamond | |
|---|---|---|
| Fire (dispersion) | 0.051, more than diamond | 0.044 |
| Hardness | 5 to 5.5: scratches easily | 10 |
| Double refraction | Very strong: facet edges look doubled | None |
| Best for | Pendants and earrings | Anything, including everyday rings |
| Grown in labs | No | Yes, widely |
Treatments. Sphene is usually untreated. Some brownish material is heated to turn it orange to reddish. Because it is soft and can chip, keep it away from hard knocks and ultrasonic cleaners. All gem treatments explained.
Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Sphene is cut to show off its fire, usually in round, oval or cushion shapes with many facets. Its very strong double refraction makes the back facets look doubled, so cutters orient the stone carefully. Because it is soft, the facet edges can wear, which is why it is better in protected settings. See cuts from easiest to hardest and whether cutting your own is cheaper than buying cut.
Listing photos; prices are rounded. How we choose.
Amazon prices as of . Prices and availability are accurate as of that date and time and are subject to change; the price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase applies.
Our first pick
See price on Amazon
A loose green pear of sphene, about 3.9 carats, sold by GlobalGemsindia. The listing has no buyer reviews yet, so look the stone over carefully when it arrives.
See it on AmazonAlso good
See price on Amazon
A big green cushion that the seller lists as semi-transparent, so expect a cloudier stone with less fire than a clean sphene. Same seller, also no reviews yet.
See it on Amazon
LookGemOro 10x triplet loupeabout $15
LookDARKBEAM filtered 365 nm UV flashlightabout $13
HandleHonoson locking tweezers, 3 packabout $10
StoreTeensery gem display boxes with clear lids, 10 packabout $9
ShowComXim motorized turntable, adjustable speed and directionabout $14
MeasureGemOro Platinum XP500 pocket scale, 0.01 gabout $40In short
Sphene is the mineral titanite, with more fire than diamond but a soft 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. It is not lab-grown and rarely sold in mass-market jewellery, so buy from specialist dealers and wear it in pendants or earrings.
See our first pick: Globalgems sphene (titanite), 3.90 ct pearYes. Sphene’s dispersion, the measure of how strongly it splits white light into colours, is about 0.051, higher than diamond’s 0.044. A well-cut sphene can show more coloured flashes than a diamond of the same size.
Not for daily wear. At 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale it scratches and chips far more easily than sapphire or diamond. A protective setting helps, but it is best in pendants and earrings.
Nothing: they are the same mineral. Titanite is the official mineral name, from its titanium; sphene is the older name, used mostly for the gem, from the Greek word for wedge, after its crystal shape.
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