6.17 Ct. Bluish Green Prasiolite from Brazil

This specimen is a transparent round shaped prasiolite weighing 6.17 carats, with precise dimensions of 11.74 by 11.70 by 8.37 millimeters, furnished by The Natural Gemstone Company. The cutting style is faceted using a mixed brilliant design, combining a brilliant cut crown with a modified pavilion arrangement to optimize both face up brilliance and depth of color. The cutter has executed proportional crown height and pavilion angles to create strong return of light through the table, producing crisp facet outlines and balanced scintillation. The table is well centered and the facet junctions are even, which together with an excellent polish yields high surface luster and minimal light leakage. Color presents as an intense bluish green, with saturation and tone selected to emphasize depth without sacrificing clarity, and the clarity grade is eye clean when viewed at normal eye level, free of inclusions that would interrupt the light path.

From an optical and material standpoint this prasiolite exhibits the expected properties of quartz family material, with a refractive index in the neighborhood of 1.544 to 1.553 which supports strong contrast at facet junctions, and a modest birefringence around 0.009 that avoids troublesome doubling while still allowing fine crispness to facet images. Dispersion is low, near 0.013, so the visual effect is driven more by facet architecture and scintillation than by spectral fire, which is appropriate for a richly saturated colored quartz. The intense bluish green hue has been produced by controlled heat treatment, a stable enhancement commonly applied to Brazilian amethyst material to create prasiolite, and the treatment in this instance has been performed to produce uniform color distribution without overstepping thermal thresholds that can introduce brittleness. Polish quality is excellent, which maximizes return of light and enhances perceived saturation, and symmetry is consistent, enabling a pleasing optical pattern from multiple viewing angles.

Regarding durability and suitability for daily wear, prasiolite offers robust practical performance when properly set and cared for. Quartz rates seven on the Mohs hardness scale, providing appreciable resistance to scratching from everyday materials and reducing the likelihood of surface wear when set in rings, pendants, or earrings worn frequently. Unlike minerals with pronounced cleavage, quartz lacks distinct cleavage planes and instead exhibits conchoidal fracture, which means the material will not split neatly along planes but can chip or fracture under significant impact. Toughness is therefore fair to good, but not impervious to hard knocks, and protective setting design is recommended for regularly worn jewelry. For highest durability in a ring application, a bezel or partial bezel setting is advisable to shield the girdle and pavilion from lateral blows, and well designed prong work with a raised gallery can protect the pavilion without obscuring the table. Routine activities that involve heavy impact or abrasive contact should be avoided, and exposure to strong acids, prolonged high heat, or harsh chemicals should be minimized to preserve both the integrity and the intense color.

Care and mounting guidance for this 6.17 carat Brazilian prasiolite reflects its properties and enhancement history. Cleaning with warm water, a mild soap, and a soft brush will maintain brilliance and color without risk, and ultrasonics are generally acceptable for stable quartz but should be used cautiously if the setting includes materials that could be affected. Steam cleaning is not recommended as a routine process for heat treated gemstones. For longevity, store the stone separately from harder gems to prevent abrasion, and avoid repeated thermal shock or direct exposure to very high temperatures that could alter the heat treated color state. This prasiolite, supplied by The Natural Gemstone Company, represents an exceptional combination of size, color saturation, cutter precision, and practical wearability, making it an excellent choice as a central stone in bespoke jewelry or as a distinctive statement gem for daily use. For custom mounting recommendations and additional technical photography, our team can provide setting templates and measured diagrams to ensure optimal protection and aesthetic presentation.