16.81 Ct. Cabochon Moonstone from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

One beautiful translucent 16.81 carat peach moonstone is offered by The Natural Gemstone Company, presented in an elegant oval outline with dimensions of 20.09 x 14.79 x 7.53 mm. The overall tone is a gentle peach with light color intensity, distributed evenly across the table and pavilion, yielding a soft warm appearance under both daylight and incandescent illumination. The specimen is natural, with no enhancement, and the origin is Ceylon, Sri Lanka, a source known for producing moonstones with fine adularescence and clean material. This piece carries a clarity grade of very very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, indicating that any internal features do not detract from the gem when viewed without magnification, and the excellent polish enhances surface reflectivity and touch feel, making it suitable for high quality jewelry applications.

The cutting style is a classic cabochon, executed with precise curvature and proportional symmetry to maximize optical performance. The oval proportions approximate a 1.36 to 1 length to width ratio, which is an optimal balance for elongation and wearable aesthetics. The dome is moderately high relative to the length, the crown contour flows smoothly into a well defined girdle plane, and the base is flat to slightly convex to facilitate secure bezel seating. The cutter has centered the apex carefully over the optical center, ensuring that the adularescent band traverses the major axis uniformly when the stone is oriented correctly. Attention to outline symmetry and uniform thickness reduces the risk of uneven light transmission and preserves structural integrity during setting.

Optical and material properties deserve note for discerning buyers. The translucency allows internal light diffusion without appearing milky, enabling a pronounced but soft adularescence that shifts with viewing angle. The phenomenon results from lamellar intergrowths of feldspar constituents, producing a scattering interface that interacts with incident light to yield the signature moonstone glow. The clarity grade of very very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, implies that inclusions are predominantly microscopic platelets or minute accompaniments that do not interrupt the adularescence or the visual field at normal viewing distances. The refractive response of gem feldspar yields gentle play of light rather than sharp facet returns, and the excellent polish applied by the lapidary maximizes the surface luster, reducing microscopic abrasions that would otherwise dull the sheen. Specific gravity and hardness characteristics of moonstone place it in a category that requires mindful handling, however the present specimen exhibits robust material homogeneity and no detectable fissures that would compromise typical mounting operations.

From a craftsmanship and application standpoint, this peach moonstone is well suited to bezel and halo settings where the cabochon profile can be showcased and protected, but it can also perform beautifully in softly pronged mounts when secured properly. Given the relative softness on the Mohs scale compared with harder gem species, The Natural Gemstone Company recommends protective setting designs for daily wear, and advises cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft brush, avoiding ultrasonic washers and steam cleaning to preserve surface polish and internal structure. The light peach color and translucent body make this cabochon ideal for matching with warm metal tones such as 18 karat yellow gold or rose gold, where color harmony amplifies the gem character. For gemologists and jewelers requiring further technical details, The Natural Gemstone Company can provide additional images, oriented light studies, and measurement verification to assist in design planning and certification decisions.