7.18 Ct. Yellowish Green Cabochon Chrysoberyl from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This piece is a beautifully translucent 7.18 carat oval yellowish green chrysoberyl, precisely measured at 11.28 x 8.81 x 7.78 millimeters, cut as a classic cabochon to maximize optical phenomena and surface luster. The cabochon cutting style presents a smooth domed top and even proportions that allow the stone to display its chatoyancy with clarity, and the polish is graded excellent, producing an appealing adamantine to vitreous sheen on the dome. Clarity is evaluated as very slightly included when examined at eye level, with fine internal features that do not detract from overall transparency or the integrity of the cat eye effect. There are no enhancements applied to this gem, and its documented origin from Ceylon, Sri Lanka, adds provenance and desirability because Sri Lankan chrysoberyl is historically prized for its clean material and well defined optical effects. At The Natural Gemstone Company we present this stone as a natural, unheated, and untreated example of fine chrysoberyl suitable for collectors and connoisseurs seeking both aesthetic quality and geological authenticity.

The defining characteristic of this cabochon is its cat eye effect, often referred to by gemologists as chatoyancy, which appears here as a single, well centered band of light that transects the dome when the stone is viewed in reflected light. This visible band is produced by a dense array of very fine, parallel needle like or tubular inclusions within the chrysoberyl that reflect light collectively to form a sharp linear highlight. In this specimen the band is distinct and responsive, moving cleanly across the dome as the angle of illumination changes, and maintaining a crispness that indicates strong internal alignment and careful cabochon shaping. In practical terms, the sharpness and centering of the band are among the most important factors for value in cat eye chrysoberyl, and the combination of good translucency, light color intensity, and the excellent polish on this oval cab accentuates the contrast of the band against the body color, producing an effect that reads as both elegant and technically well executed.

When comparing reflective qualities to other gemstones in the chatoyant category, chrysoberyl occupies a superior position for several reasons related to optical physics and material properties. Chrysoberyl has a relatively high refractive index and an inherently bright luster that tends to produce a more focused, high contrast cat eye than many quartz group stones such as tiger eye or cat eye quartz, which typically show a softer, more diffuse silken band due to lower refractivity and different inclusion structures. Moonstone and other feldspar group gems are often appreciated for adularescence or schiller, which is a different type of light play and should not be confused with the sharp, linear band of true chatoyancy. Alexandrite with chatoyancy can be exceptionally rare, and while it may display both color change and a band, chrysoberyl combines relative accessibility with excellent durability and consistently high brilliance. The superior hardness of chrysoberyl contributes to its polish retention, meaning the reflective band will remain well defined after regular wear, whereas softer chatoyant gems require more careful handling. For an educated buyer comparing specimens, this piece shows a strong, well defined band similar to the best cat eye chrysoberyls and exceeds typical chatoyancy seen in most quartz or feldspar examples.

From a practical and investment perspective this chrysoberyl represents an attractive proposition for the educated buyer. The combination of a meaningful weight at 7.18 carats, a classical oval cabochon that highlights chatoyancy, very slightly included clarity at eye level, a pleasing light yellowish green hue, and an absence of enhancement creates a transparent value proposition. The Sri Lankan origin enhances marketability because Ceylon chrysoberyl has a long established reputation for producing clean material with excellent optical phenomena, and this provenance is the kind of detail collectors and serious buyers look for when assessing long term desirability. For setting advice, align the band perpendicular to the expected light source so the eye will read the cat eye when worn, and for care use warm soapy water and a soft brush to maintain the polish. At The Natural Gemstone Company we are available to provide additional images under controlled lighting or to coordinate gemological documentation for buyers who want independent verification, and we welcome inquiries from clients who prefer to view the stone in person or require specific mounting recommendations to best showcase the striking band and enduring brilliance of this fine chrysoberyl.