Earth Treasures: Raspberry Gemstone
By Chisom Ibemere
Raspberry beryl or red beryl, otherwise known as Pezzotta is a rare gemstone belonging to the beryl mineral family. It was discovered in 2002 by Italian mineralogist Federico Pezzotta, in whose name after whom it is named.
It exhibits a vibrant red to pink colour, resembling raspberries, which makes it highly desirable among gemstone collectors and jewellery enthusiasts.
Raspberry is basically used for its vibrant pink to reddish-pink colour. It is a sought-after gem among collectors and jewellery designers.
It can be faceted into various shapes, such as round, oval, or cushion cuts, to enhance their beauty and lustre. It is also occasionally used as a collector’s mineral due to its rarity.
It weighs 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for use in jewelry. It is transparent which improves its sparkle.
Raspberry is a rare stone with beautiful colours which makes it highly sought after by collectors and jewellery enthusiasts.
The value may vary depending on factors such as size, cut, clarity, and overall quality. Larger, well-cut Raspberry gemstones with intense and evenly distributed pink colour command higher prices.