Chrome Diopside is an excellent alternative to other Green Gemstones family, mainly Emerald and Tsavorite, as it displays similar intensity of color due to the chromium content, but at the same time at a fairly lower price. It is the most affordable gemstone with a pure rich green color. It is amazing to note that how a little known gem widely available for $20-$60 per carat, depending upon its size, quantity, quantity bought, rubs shoulders with vastly more expensive emerald in the top tier of Russian mined gems.

Chrome diopside, the deepest-green member of the pyroxene group is found only at one remote mountain location in a mineral rich area known as Imagli in the state of Sakha (formerly Yakutia) in Russia. Russia's diopside is the only one in the world colored by chromium which is also emerald's coloring agent. Information about the Siberian diopside production is hard to come by. Even though, the mine is officially listed as closed and an armed guard is posted there with a dog most of the year to keep gem poachers away. Since the area is snow-covered for at least six months of the year, nature also lends a hand in protecting Sakha's diopside interests.

However, if Chrome Diopside presents problems, they have far more to do with processing than supply. With hardness between 5 and 6 on the moh's scale, this stone is somewhat delicate, good cutting is important, even though it usually means losing 90 percent of the rough. Chrome Dioposide steadily darkens as sizes become larger (few stones over 3 carats have lively color) and has so-so brilliance, big bottomed stones with light-leaking windows and dead zones are no-no's. If stones do not get flat, sharp, angular facets, then they look waxy and bear no life in it.

The Russians believe this gem has tremendous upside potential and have given it class one export status among Russia's mineral resources, even though this kind of ranking is reserved for the likes of Diamond, Emerald and Alexandrite-Amethyst and Topaz, two of Russia's most famous native gems.

Finally, after 30 years of mining Chrome Diopside, the Russia's high opinion of this gem is being echoed everywhere, especially in America.