2.14 Ct. Cabochon Chrysoberyl from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This brown chrysoberyl began its life deep in the gem gravels of Ceylon Sri Lanka, where centuries of gem hunting have shaped local lore and livelihoods. Seasonal rains loosened the ancient bedrock, and patient hands sifted the sediment until a small piece of rough revealed its quiet potential. That is the moment when the story of this stone began to change from geology into jewelry. The Natural Gemstone Company worked closely with local miners and graders to ensure the rough was responsibly sourced and carefully traced from the field to our workshop. The cultural significance of Sri Lankan chrysoberyl is woven into the hands that unearthed it, and every facet of this cabochon keeps a memory of the earth that formed it, from the mineral inclusions that give it character to the warm brown tones that echo Sri Lankan soil and sunlight.

In the lapidary studio the rough was studied for form and optical potential, and the decision to create an oval cabochon was made to best display the stone s natural chatoyancy. The finished gem is a translucent 2.14 carat oval chrysoberyl with dimensions of 8.39 by 8.35 by 4.08 mm. It carries a clarity grade of slightly included when evaluated at eye level, and those inclusions are actually part of its personality, creating the silky fibers that give rise to the striking band that runs across the dome. Color intensity reads as intense, a deep, appealing brown that holds nuance under varied lighting. The polish is excellent, a bright, even finish that allows the eye to travel smoothly over the dome and to meet the chatoyant line. There has been no enhancement, so what you see is a naturally occurring combination of color and optical effect, a gem that was shaped rather than altered.

When we compare this chrysoberyl to others in its category the differences in reflective quality become a key point of appreciation. Chrysoberyl is known for an adamantine to subadamantine luster, and even in brown tones that luster gives a resilience to reflection that is more crisp than the silky shine of tiger s eye quartz. Where tiger s eye relies on fibrous quartz to create its shimmer this chrysoberyl benefits from a higher refractive index that yields a sharper, more defined band. Compared to cat s eye chrysoberyl specimens that present as lighter honey or greenish hues this brown cabochon shows a denser, more concentrated band that sits boldly across the dome, rather than a diffuse sheen. Unlike alexandrite specimens that are prized for color change, this piece rewards with a single focused light line that appears like a quick stroke of silver when the stone is tilted. Against star sapphires that display multiple radiating rays, the single linear chatoyancy of this chrysoberyl reads as precise and intimate. The excellent polish and the stone s inherent hardness allow the band to remain distinct and resistant to wear, so the reflective character you enjoy on day one will persist through years of careful wear.

At The Natural Gemstone Company we present this oval brown chrysoberyl as a gem that speaks of place, craft, and time. It sits beautifully in a ring as shown in scale photographs, where the chatoyant band becomes a conversation starter, and it also translates elegantly into a pendant that allows light to travel across its dome freely. For the collector who seeks a natural, unenhanced specimen with intense color and a strong optical line, this stone offers rarity and presence. Care is simple, a soft cloth and avoidance of harsh chemicals will protect the surface and maintain the excellent polish, and routine inspections of any setting will keep the gem secure. If you are drawn to stones that carry both a visual effect and a story from mine to market, this 2.14 carat cabochon chrysoberyl from Ceylon Sri Lanka is a fine example, ready to be set into a piece that continues its journey with you, brought to you with provenance and pride by The Natural Gemstone Company.