Discover Oregon Sunstone
Oregon Sunstone is a rare and naturally beautiful gemstone found in the high desert of southeastern Oregon. A member of the feldspar family, it is prized for its remarkable range of natural colors and the tiny copper inclusions that make Oregon Sunstone unlike other varieties of sunstone found around the world.
What Makes Oregon Sunstone Unique?
One of the most fascinating things about Oregon Sunstone is its extraordinary variety. Stones can range from nearly colorless and pale champagne to peach, pink, orange and vivid red, with rarer stones displaying green or beautiful combinations of two or more colors.
No two Oregon Sunstones are exactly alike. Color, clarity, inclusions and patterns can vary dramatically from one stone to another—which is one of the reasons we love designing jewelry around them.
The Copper Connection
What truly distinguishes Oregon Sunstone is the presence of natural copper.
Copper is responsible for many of the gem's beautiful colors. In some stones, tiny visible copper inclusions also create a glittering or shimmering appearance known as schiller.
Depending on the stone and the light, schiller can range from subtle flashes to a dramatic metallic sparkle. For many collectors, these natural inclusions are part of the personality and beauty of Oregon Sunstone rather than imperfections.
A Gemstone Found in Oregon
Oregon Sunstone is mined in the remote high desert of southeastern Oregon, where ancient volcanic activity created the geological conditions in which these unusual feldspar crystals formed.
In 1987, Oregon designated Oregon Sunstone as its official state gemstone.
Today, Oregon Sunstone is treasured by gem collectors, jewelry designers and people looking for a beautiful American gemstone with a genuine connection to the place where it was found.
Natural, Untreated Beauty
One of the qualities we especially value about Oregon Sunstone is that its beautiful colors are natural.
At The Sunstone Store, the Oregon Sunstones used in our jewelry are genuine, natural and untreated. We source our stones from Oregon miners and choose each gem for the individual color and character it can bring to a finished piece of jewelry.
Oregon Sunstone Jewelry
Because every Oregon Sunstone is different, designing with this gemstone is especially rewarding. Rather than trying to make every stone look identical, we believe the individuality of each gem should be celebrated.
From subtle champagne and peach stones to brilliant reds, greens and striking bi-colors, Oregon Sunstone gives us an extraordinary palette for creating rings, engagement rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets.
For us, that individuality is part of the magic of Oregon Sunstone—and part of what makes a piece of jewelry created with it truly your own.