This gem was discovered around the early 1900's and named after G.F. Kunz, who was Tiffany's chief gemologist at the time. It requires special skills of the cutter to bring out the beauty of this gem. Kunzite's cellular structure gives it perfect cleavage and so it is very sensitive to pressure along this cleavage plane. Orientation of the gem material is critical to successful faceting of this material. Kunzite is in the spodumene group and the lithium in its chemical composition gives it a wonderful pink-violet color that compliments either fall or spring wardrobes. It shows its color well in larger sizes. Since it is a pastel gem, small sizes tend to be very pale. Kunzite needs a certain amount of mass to bring out its color. Keep kunzite out of direct sun or high heat because it can fade.