2.36 Ct. Cabochon Moonstone from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This offering from The Natural Gemstone Company is a finely crafted translucent blue flash moonstone, presented in a marquise shape cabochon, weighing 2.36 carats, with dimensions 14.93 x 6.07 x 3.55 mm. The profile is a classical domed cabochon, cut to preserve translucency while optimizing adularescent behavior, with an excellent polish that produces a clean reflective surface across the dome. Clarity has been evaluated at eye level as very very slightly included, indicating only minute internal features that do not materially detract from the visual performance under normal viewing conditions. Color intensity is very light, which in this material emphasizes the blue flash rather than body color, and the stone is offered with no enhancement. For cataloging reference, opal type, White Opal, is included as part of the descriptive metadata for marketplaces that classify moonstone alongside common opal groupings.

Technically the blue flash observed in this moonstone arises from adularescence produced by submicroscopic lamellar intergrowths of alkali feldspar, primarily orthoclase and albite, that scatter light and generate the characteristic sheen. The marquise cabochon outline and proportional dome height have been executed to align the principal optical plane with the long axis of the stone, thereby concentrating the blue schiller along the length of the marquise form. Cutters paid attention to symmetry and to the curvature of the cap, the combination of which controls the apparent movement of the blue sheen as viewing angle changes. The translucency of the material is sufficient to permit depth and a soft glow beneath the surface, while remaining opaque enough to maintain contrast between body color and flash, a balance that is critical in moonstones intended for high end set pieces.

From a material science perspective the very very slightly included rating suggests inclusions are limited to growth related features such as fine exsolved lamellae or tiny fluid filled tubes, rather than fractures or foreign crystals, and these internal features are consistent with high quality Ceylon material. The excellent polish contributes directly to the perceived intensity of adularescence, because a smooth dome minimizes surface scattering and preserves the coherent scattering produced by the internal lamellae. The absence of enhancements enhances durability of color and optical properties over time, and assures that the stone retains original material characteristics for lapidary work and for appraisal. Mounting recommendations for optimal display are bezel settings that follow the marquise outline with minimal metal intrusion into the dome, or low profile prong settings that secure the ends, both approaches serving to position the optical axis for frontal viewing and to protect the delicate cap while allowing the adularescence to perform.

Provenance plays a measurable role in market perception and value, and Ceylon, Sri Lanka, has a longstanding reputation for producing moonstones of notable clarity and reflective blue sheen, which collectors and gemologists recognize as desirable attributes. The geological conditions in Sri Lanka favor the formation of coherent feldspar intergrowths that yield a clean adularescent response, and stones from this locality are often preferred by designers seeking material that combines subtle body tone with pronounced blue flash. For the discerning buyer this marquise blue flash moonstone represents a confluence of careful cutting, transparent material quality, and respected origin, attributes that The Natural Gemstone Company documents and stands behind. This piece is particularly well suited to bespoke ring and pendant commissions where the marquise silhouette and measured carat weight provide a striking focal point while preserving the integrity of the stone for long term wear.