Spectrolite quarried from the rugged bedrock of Ylämaa in the South East of Finland is a Finnish gemstone which meets the three basic requirements: beauty, hardness and rarity. Spectrolite is labradorite feldspar, a member of the albite-anorthite series with approximately 55 % anorthite. Its composition is Na(AlSi3O8), Ca(A12Si2O8), hardness 6-6,5, refractive indices 1.56-1.57, specific gravity 2.69-2.70 and double refraction 0.008.

Spectrolite was found in 1941 during World War II when the Finns built a defence line on the eastern border. Spectrolite crystals were found in stones raised as antitank obstacles. After the war, the quarrying of the precious stone started on a small scale, increasing in the 50s. In 1973 the first cutting and polishing workshop started to make spectrolite jewels in Ylämaa.

The fascination of spectrolite lies in its richness of colour and changing tones, which are more remarkable the larger the stone is. The colours have all the shades of the spectrum and reflect the rich hues of Finnish scenery – from golden browns to darkest blues. What causes the play of colours is not yet quite known, but interference of light waves in thin layers of material where light is reflected seems to play a role.

Spectrolite is regarded by gemmologists as the world’s most beautiful labradorite. As each country is entitled to name its own gemstones, professor Aarne Laitakari, then Director of the Geological Survey of Finland, chose the name “spectrolite”, obviously having in mind the spectrum, the colours of which are visual poetry. This name has been accepted by European gemmologists.

An oval-cut large spectrolite is an enticing object and when set in a gold or silver choker or a bracelet it becomes a stunning piece of jewellery. Spectrolite is also very attractive in smaller sizes. This is the reason why it has gained more and more popularity world-wide, drawing people to visit Ylämaa, the place where it is quarried and cut.