9.34 Ct. Kunzite from Afghanistan

This 9.34 carat cushion shaped pink kunzite from Afghanistan presents as a technically refined example of mixed brilliant cutting and gemological refinement, offered by The Natural Gemstone Company. The measured dimensions are 12.54 by 10.72 by 8.81 millimeters, and the stone exhibits a mixed brilliant facet arrangement that combines a brilliant facet pattern on the crown with broad stepped facets on the pavilion. The cutter has maintained precise facet junctions and an excellent polish, which together produce crisp, well defined facet reflections and maximize light return through the table. Clarity is described as very very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, which in practical viewing means the stone is essentially eye clean with only minute internal features detectable under magnification. Color intensity is medium, presenting a true kunzite pink tone that is uniform across the table when viewed face up, and the piece has been heat treated to stabilize and enhance the pink saturation, a commonly disclosed enhancement for high quality kunzite.

From an optical and physical standpoint this kunzite displays the properties one would expect from gem quality spodumene while benefiting from skilled cutting. Refractive indices for kunzite typically fall in the range of low to mid one point six six values, with a modest birefringence that produces subtle doubling of facet reflections when viewed through the crown at oblique angles. Dispersion is low, so the gem renders color and scintillation more than spectral fire, and specific gravity places it in the higher light return family for its size. The pavilion step facets interact with the relatively deep profile of the stone, producing a depth ratio of about seventy five point seven percent based on the stated dimensions, which concentrates color and yields broad zone flashes when the gem is oriented face up. The mixed brilliant arrangement enhances scintillation on the crown while the step pavilion creates large, velvety color windows, giving the stone a sophisticated interplay of pinpoint sparkle and broader flashes of pink. The excellent polish sharpens facet edges and increases contrast between bright and dark planes, which is critical for a gemstone where color and cleanliness are paramount.

Under different lighting conditions this Afghan kunzite will display clear and predictable behavior, governed by its pleochroic nature and the cutter s facet geometry. In cool daylight sources, and under high color rendering index LED lighting, the stone reads as a clear, cool to neutral pink with maximum transparency and crisp facet scintillation, the medium color intensity appearing most true and evenly saturated. In warm incandescent illumination the pink will appear slightly warmer and richer, shifting toward a more salmon or peach influence at the table due to the warmer spectral distribution, and the step pavilion will emphasize broader patches of saturated pink. Fluorescent lighting can make the tone appear paler and more lilac, as lower red output reduces perceived saturation. When rotated or inclined the kunzite will show pleochroic shifts between paler and deeper pink axes, an effect enhanced by the mixed cut that reveals different facet planes and color zones as the stone moves. Many kunzites from Afghanistan exhibit some response to long wave ultraviolet, often a faint pinkish fluorescence, and when present this will boost apparent saturation under UV rich light sources. It is important to note that kunzite can be sensitive to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, with potential for gradual fading over extended periods, and the disclosed heat treatment has been applied to stabilize the medium tone in this specimen, a treatment fully documented by The Natural Gemstone Company. For jewelry design considerations an open back or partial gallery setting will allow the pavilion facets to interact fully with incident light and maintain lively face up color, while protective mounting and avoidance of continuous direct sunlight will preserve color over time.