Sunstone: Glittering Feldspar

Sunstone is a feldspar with a secret inside: countless tiny platelets of hematite or copper, all aligned. When light hits them they reflect together, giving a glittering, spangled effect called aventurescence. The body colour runs from pale peach through orange to reddish brown, warm like late afternoon light in Lahore's old city.

Different sources give different looks. Indian sunstone tends to be orange with dense glitter; Oregon sunstone in the United States can be transparent and red or even green, coloured by copper. Our listings describe what each stone shows.

Real sunstone or goldstone?

The most common imitation is goldstone, a man-made glass with copper flakes. It looks spectacular but too perfect: the sparkles are evenly spread, all the same size, in a uniform reddish brown body. Natural sunstone has irregular, layered glitter and slight variations in colour. Goldstone is cheap and widely sold as sunstone, so it is worth knowing the difference.

When choosing, look for a lively, even shimmer across the face, a pleasant warm colour, and a smooth polish. Transparent stones with visible flakes are prized; opaque stones are more affordable.

Sunstone has no strong place in classical astrology here, but its warmth and sparkle make it a cheerful gift and a good choice for people who like a lively, informal stone.

Sunstone sits at 6 to 6.5 for hardness and has cleavage like other feldspars, so it needs a little thought. Bezels protect rings, and pendants and earrings are the easiest way to wear it. Clean with mild soap and water; skip ultrasonic cleaners.