Crack in a Labradorite – How Did it Happen?

by Barbara Jacquin.
(Uzes in the south of France)

Before the labradorite stone cracked

A question for you lapidary experts: One of my best customers bought a labradorite pendant, one of my nicest I think, several months ago but recently showed it to me with its new crack, vertical from top to bottom in the very middle of the stone.

There was no crack, only the natural horizontal lines typical of a labradorite.

I set it well with no forcing or undue pressure and have never had a lab break before.

The labradorite stone before it cracked

The customer is almost sure that it wasn’t dropped but neither of us can understand how this happened.

I know that labradorites can break during cutting and polishing because they’re not the hardest of stones.

Does anyone have another explanation?

Barbara Jacquin
Barbara’s Bijoux