See also our page displaying collector quality kunzite gemstones and our kunzite pendants in sterling silver and 14k gold. Kunzite the pastel pink to lavender color of the mineral spodumene was virtually unknown to most gemstone buyers until the sotheby s auction of a very special kunzite ring in 1996 among the jewelry from the estate of jacqueline kennedy onassis was a ring with a 47 carat cushion cut kunzite stone surrounded by 20 round diamonds and set in 18k gold. It s named after famed gemologist george frederick kunz who was the first to identify it as a unique variety of spodumene.