9.01 Ct. Garnet from Madagascar

This gem is a transparent, emerald cut pinkish purple garnet weighing 9.01 carats, with precise dimensions of 13.78 by 8.99 by 6.97 millimeters. The rectangular outline exhibits a length to width ratio of approximately 1.53, providing a classical elongated silhouette that is well suited to the step cutting style. The clarity is graded as eye clean when viewed at typical viewing distances, indicating that internal inclusions are absent or negligible to the unaided eye, and the polish is excellent, yielding crisp facet junctions and uninterrupted mirror planes across the crown and pavilion. This garnet is unenhanced, its vivid color intensity deriving solely from the stone itself, and its documented origin is Madagascar, a source known for producing garnets with saturated and pure hues. The combination of weight, proportions, and natural color make this specimen immediately notable to a technically minded buyer.

On a material level, garnets belong to a dense crystal structure with relatively high refractive indices for colored gemstones, and that physical density is a primary contributor to the stone s light performance. In practical terms the cutter leveraged the garnet s intrinsic optical properties by executing a classic emerald cut with broad step facets on both crown and pavilion. The crown presents a large rectangular table flanked by concentric step facets that act as mirror planes, while the pavilion comprises descending steps that terminate in a well controlled depth. With a measured depth of 6.97 millimeters and an average face measurement of approximately 11.385 millimeters, the depth represents roughly 61 percent relative to the average of the length and the width, a proportion chosen to balance internal reflection with color saturation. The truncated corners and clean facet symmetry minimize light leakage along the girdle, and the broad table emphasizes the gem s internal color, allowing the pinkish purple tone to display uniformly across the face while permitting lively contrast along the facet rails.

From a lapidary perspective the cutting and finishing of this garnet demonstrate deliberate technical choices aimed at optimizing both color and internal light return. During preforming the rough was oriented to align the dominant color directions with the crown table, ensuring that the strongest hue would present to the viewer. The step cut requires precise control of facet angles because each step acts as a large reflective plane rather than a multitude of small scintillating facets. Pavilion angles were adjusted to suit the garnet s refractive properties so that incident light is redirected back through the crown, maximizing apparent saturation without creating an overly dark windowed center. Facet junctions were polished to eliminate minute surface diffusion that can mute contrast, and final polishing used diamond compounded laps to secure an excellent polish grade. Symmetry checks were performed to maintain consistent facet width along the length and to keep the girdle thickness even, factors that are critical for setting stability and for avoiding asymmetric light leakage that would disrupt the stone s visual balance. The result is a step cut where each plane reads as a controlled mirror, producing measured flashes rather than random dispersion.

The interaction between the garnet s material properties and the emerald cut geometry is what produces a sparkle and internal radiance that I would describe as distinct and highly refined. Unlike brilliant cuts that scatter light into many small points of scintillation, the broad steps of the emerald cut generate large, directional flashes of light that trace the gem s rectangular architecture. This creates a hall of mirrors effect, where vivid pinkish purple color appears in deep saturated blocs within the core, while narrow rails and facet edges return brighter pink highlights. The garnet s relatively high index of refraction enhances the contrast between those dark and bright areas, so that the viewer perceives depth and a velvety internal glow, accompanied by controlled flashes when the stone or light source moves. The eye clean clarity is essential to this performance because the absence of visible inclusions allows uninterrupted reflections, preserving the purity of color and the integrity of the mirror planes. For the connoisseur who appreciates facet geometry and optical tuning, the result is a stone that reads as both richly colored and architecturally luminous, a combination that is uncommon among stones of this size and finish. This piece is presented by The Natural Gemstone Company, and its technical execution and natural origin make it an exceptional choice for collectors and jewelers seeking a statement garnet with engineered light performance and unenhanced, vivid coloration.