Luxury Brands Have Adopted Sannan Skarn
High-end jewelers are increasingly utilizing this rare green stone as a unique, traceable alternative to malachite.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Jewelry
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Luxury jewelry houses including Van Cleef & Arpels, Messika, and Pomellato have begun incorporating sannan skarn into their collections. The coarse-grained stone, discovered in Pakistan in 2015, has seen a 70 percent increase in rough material sales over the last two years.
Why it matters
Jewelers are turning to the stone to provide consumers with aesthetic novelty and greater supply chain transparency. Many brands are prioritizing the material as a reliable alternative to malachite, which has recently faced significant supply traceability challenges.
Sannan skarn is a coarse-grained rock that owes its distinctive green hue to integrated chromium minerals. The material, which formed 50 million years ago, is sourced from a single mine in Balochistan, Pakistan, owned by Shahjee International Trade.
The players
Van Cleef & Arpels
This 120-year-old luxury jewelry house is known for its intricate designs and high-end craftsmanship.
Shahjee International Trade
This company owns and operates the only mine currently producing sannan skarn.
Messika
This modern jewelry brand focuses on contemporary diamond and gemstone designs.
Pomellato
This Italian jewelry company is recognized for its unique aesthetic and innovative use of colored gemstones.
The details
Brands select the rough material based on its specific granular pattern, color, and intensity, with craftspeople then custom cutting and setting each piece by hand. Designers have utilized the stone in various high-end applications, including watch dials and jewelry collections.
Timeline
50 million years ago, tectonic plate collisions formed the stone deposit.
The sannan skarn deposit was discovered in 2015.
Shahjee International Trade began supplying the market in 2016.
Messika released the Midnight Sun Opus I collection in 2023.
Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong occurred last month.
Roadmap
The adoption of sannan skarn reflects a broader industry shift toward material traceability and the sourcing of unique, traceable gemstones. As major houses move away from traditional stones like malachite, they are increasingly relying on specialized suppliers to secure exclusive alternatives.
Shoppers can expect to see this unique stone appearing in high-end collections alongside traditional materials. As jewelry houses adopt the stone for its aesthetic character, consumers should note that custom pieces featuring the material often highlight its intense, natural color variations.
The takeaway
Sannan skarn represents a growing desire among luxury houses to pair unique geological histories with modern traceability. Collectors interested in rare materials should look for the stone's distinct green chromium-based color patterns in upcoming high-end launches.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends in the industry by visiting the Jewelry section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Financial Times News.
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