Most specimens of fluorite have a single color but a significant percentage of fluorites have multiple colors and the colors are arranged in bands or zones that correspond to the shapes of fluorite’s crystals. The typical habit of fluorite is a cube and the color zones are often in cubic arrangement. The effect is similar to phantomed crystals that appear to have crystals within crystals that are of differing colors. A fluorite crystal could have a clear outer zone allowing a cube of purple fluorite to be seen inside. Sometimes the less common habits such as a colored octahedron are seen inside of a colorless cube. One crystal of fluorite could potentially have four or five different color zones or bands (bi color or multi color). There is also a rare color change fluorite that shifts from blue to purple, depending on the lighting.
Though Fluorite’s low hardness and good cleavage has limited its use in jewelry, its variable colorations and large sizes have nonetheless captivated jewelry designers and carvers the world over. Fluorite is most suitable for pendants and earrings which are not subject to wear and possible knocks or abuse.