5.52 Ct. Cabochon Agate from India

This piece is a translucent brown agate, oval in outline, weighing 5.52 carats, with exact dimensions of 12.32 by 11.19 by 5.51 millimeters. The cutting style is a classic cabochon, with a well centered dome and a medium to high profile that measures approximately forty seven percent of the mean diameter, providing a substantial three dimensional presence without compromising wearability. Color is graded as medium intensity, presenting warm honey to cognac tones that are evenly distributed across the table, punctuated by linear internal banding and soft color zones typical of agate growth structures. Clarity is very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, with inclusions confined to fine internal strands and occasional minute particulate nodes that do not distract from the overall visual appeal or light transmission. Surface finish is documented as excellent polish, producing crisp mirror highlights and smooth transitions across the dome, with no visible polishing laps or surface pits under standard retail viewing conditions. Enhancement status is none, the material is natural and untreated, and the origin is documented as India, a well established source for banded chalcedony varieties.

From a lapidary and craftsmanship perspective, this cabochon demonstrates disciplined preform orientation and controlled dome shaping, techniques employed to maximize the aesthetic continuity of the internal banding while preserving optimal thickness for durability. The cutter appears to have set the fiber axis parallel to the long oval, which accentuates the linear patterning and produces a harmonious play of light across the curved surface. Fabrication would have proceeded through conventional dopping, coarse grinding with silicon carbide, progressive sanding with aluminum oxide abrasives, and a final polish using cerium oxide or diamond pastes to achieve the documented excellent polish. Edge integrity is consistent, with a smoothly contoured girdle area that will seat securely in bezel mounts without the need for extensive additional finishing. Material hardness typical of agate, approximately six and a half to seven on the Mohs scale, provides a good balance of resistance to abrasion and amenability to hand setting, making this cabochon suitable for rings, pendants, and brooches, with bezel settings recommended for high wear pieces to protect the dome.

For designers and collectors considering complementary stones, note that our catalog also includes opal offerings, specifically White Opal, which provides a contrasting aesthetic and material behavior to chalcedony. White Opal is a hydrous amorphous form of silica that characteristically exhibits a body tone ranging from near colorless to milky white, and when present can show play of color dependent on internal microstructure. White Opal differs materially from agate in hardness and care requirements, with typical Mohs values closer to five and a half to six and a half, and higher sensitivity to sudden temperature change and household chemicals. When pairing this brown agate cabochon with White Opal in a multi stone design, consider mounting strategies that accommodate the opal s greater fragility, such as protective bezels and the use of soft gasket materials in between settings to isolate different expansion coefficients. Visually, the warm translucent brown of the agate creates a neutral amber field that can set off the pastel or iridescent flashes of White Opal, producing compositions that balance solidity and optical dynamism. The Natural Gemstone Company certifies the described characteristics and offers viewing under controlled lighting to appreciate translucency and banding, and our gem specialists can advise on specific setting techniques to preserve both aesthetic and structural integrity.