2.42 Ct. Red Cabochon Almandine Garnet from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 2.42 carat cushion shaped almandine garnet from Ceylon, Sri Lanka, offered by The Natural Gemstone Company, is a fine example of naturally deep red garnet in an unenhanced state. The stone measures 7.80 x 7.69 x 4.60 mm and presents a dark color intensity with a translucent body, allowing rich color transmission without appearing opaque. Clarity is graded as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, indicating only minute internal features that do not materially reduce brilliance or durability. The cutting style is a cabochon with an expertly domed crown and an excellent polish, delivering a smooth, lustrous surface that resists abrasion and highlights the stone’s intrinsic color. Because this garnet is untreated, its tone, saturation, and optical properties are entirely natural, attributes that discerning buyers prioritize when assessing long-term value and collectibility.

Although fashioned as a cabochon, this piece benefits from precision geometric faceting on its lower profile, a deliberate hybrid approach that maximizes internal light play while retaining the cabochon’s elegant domed silhouette. The faceted pavilion planes are arranged to encourage internal reflection and contrast, producing lively flashes and zones of velvety red that change subtly with movement and viewing angle. This geometric arrangement works in concert with garnet’s relatively high refractive behavior and solid durability, Mohs hardness approximately 7 to 7.5, to yield a gem that performs exceptionally well in a variety of settings. For the educated buyer, this stone’s appeal is multifaceted: provenance from Ceylon, natural and unenhanced condition, a clarity grade that preserves visual purity, exacting dimensions and weight, and a cutting strategy that amplifies brilliance while maintaining a classic cushion cabochon form. The Natural Gemstone Company stands behind the described characteristics and invites you to appreciate how the combination of origin, polish quality, and deliberate geometric faceting creates a garnet that is both a beautiful wearable gem and a sound acquisition for any serious gemstone collection.