6.87 Ct. Kunzite from Afghanistan

This transparent 6.87 carat cushion shape kunzite from Afghanistan presents a technically refined example of modern lapidary technique, offered by The Natural Gemstone Company. The stone measures 11.37 x 10.21 x 8.13 mm, with a depth proportion of approximately 75.3 percent. The cutter elected a mixed brilliant cut configuration, combining a brilliant facet pattern on the crown with a modified pavilion geometry to balance white light return and color saturation. The combined effect of the brilliant crown and the angled pavilion facets produces both tight scintillation and broader flash zones, a desirable contrast for a cushion profile of this size. Facet junctions are crisp and the polish is graded excellent, which preserves the integrity of light transmission through the girdle into the pavilion. The piece has been heat treated as an enhancement, a standard and controlled intervention used to refine and stabilize the delicate pink hue that is characteristic of fine Afghan spodumene.

Clarity is described as very very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, and under magnification the inclusions are minute and generally confined to the stone interior, producing negligible impact on transparency. Spodumene exhibits modest refractive power and visible birefringence, which in this specimen manifests as a faint doubling of facet edges when viewed with strong magnification, yet contributes to internal sparkle under direct lighting. The mixed brilliant architecture emphasizes small, bright scintillation from the crown while the deeper pavilion produces more saturated internal color flashes as light traverses and reflects within the crystal. Color intensity is very light, yielding a delicate pastel pink palette that is nearly icy in tone. Heat treatment has been applied to reduce any brownish or muddy undertones and to stabilize the pink saturation, resulting in a cleaner, more uniform tone across the table and pavilion facets. The cutter retained substantial depth which enhances the perceived body color when the stone is set in open backed or low bezel settings.

Light response is nuanced and technically interesting, and will appeal to buyers who appreciate complex optical behavior. In natural daylight and cool white LED sources, the stone reads as a soft, pastel pink with high transparency and pronounced white light return from the brilliant crown facets. Under incandescent or warm halogen illumination the pink assumes a slightly warmer aspect, showing a touch more saturation and a subtle leaning toward a warm salmon pink, due to the spectral distribution of the light source and the stone pleochroism. When viewed under focused spot lighting the mixed brilliant cut produces rapid scintillation, crisp pinpoint flashes from the crown, and broader, more diffuse flashes from the pavilion that give a sense of depth. Because kunzite is pleochroic, rotation of the gem under directional light will reveal shifts between stronger and weaker pink axes, an effect that becomes more apparent in oblique lighting or when the stone is examined in different orientations on the finger or pendant.

Practical considerations for care and setting derive from the optical and physical properties of spodumene. The combination of very light color and a deep pavilion benefits from a mounting that allows light to penetrate the pavilion, while also providing protection to minimize long term exposure to direct sunlight, which can gradually fade the color of kunzite over time. Heat treated color is more stable but care should still be taken to avoid prolonged UV exposure and sudden thermal shock. Mechanical cleavage planes along crystal axes mean that settings with protective prongs or bezels are recommended to reduce risk of impact damage during wear. For routine cleaning use warm water with a mild detergent and a soft brush, avoiding steam and aggressive ultrasonic cleaners as a precaution. This 6.87 carat Afghan cushion, with its mixed brilliant faceting, excellent polish, and finely controlled heat enhancement, represents the kind of technically compelling material that The Natural Gemstone Company sources for discerning buyers who value facet engineering, optical nuance, and provenance.