Turkish Diaspore

Turkish Diaspore: A Gem That Shifts With the Light

Step into the world of diaspore, Turkey’s mesmerising colour-change gemstone. Its name comes from the Greek word diaspora, meaning “to scatter” or “dispersion” — a nod to the way it seems to scatter light. Known for its chameleon-like beauty, this rare gem transforms before your eyes: glowing soft greens in daylight, then shifting to champagne, pink, and rich amber tones under evening light.

In this talk, we’ll uncover the science behind diaspore’s extraordinary optical effects, explore its discovery in the Anatolian mountains, and look at how it has been marketed as “Zultanite” in modern jewellery. We’ll also highlight its exceptional pleochroism and colour-change effect — revealing a spectrum of personalities from kiwi greens to warm champagne, raspberry pink, and rich cognac — along with its brilliant vitreous lustre, good durability (Mohs 6.5–7), moderate dispersion that gives it lively sparkle, and Turkey’s commitment to full transparency and ethical mining practices.

You’ll see why this gemstone, true to its name of “dispersion,” has become a stone of intrigue and desire, leaving gem lovers and jewellers seeing nature’s wonders in a whole new light.

Led by Fazil Ozen — a fourth-generation jeweller and founder of Harmony Gems — this session draws on over 40 years of hands-on experience in the gemstone trade. Having lived and worked in gem hubs like Bangkok, Jaipur, and Idar Oberstein, and trained over 3,000 students through Harmony Academy, Fazil brings deep field knowledge and global trade insight. With real examples to handle and plenty of time for questions, it’s a great introduction for jewellers, gem lovers and anyone curious about this fascinating gem.