1.77 Ct. Rhodolite Garnet from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This gem is a transparent 1.77 carat rhodolite garnet, presented in a classic round shape with precise measurements of 6.96 by 6.97 by 4.92 millimeters. The crystal is a pinkish purple tone with medium intense color saturation, originating from Ceylon Sri Lanka, and it has undergone no enhancement. The cutter selected a mixed brilliant cut to balance color saturation with scintillation, and the finish is described as excellent polish. Clarity is characterized as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, producing an effectively eye clean appearance that preserves strong visual transparency. The measured depth of 4.92 millimeters relative to the diameter yields a depth ratio of approximately seventy point six percent, a proportion that intentionally concentrates light in the pavilion to enrich the stone color while maintaining lively return through the crown, a decision that speaks to deliberate cutting choices rather than a random proportion.

The mixed brilliant faceting on this round rhodolite uses a brilliant style arrangement on the crown combined with a modified pavilion schema, this approach creates a tight central pattern and controlled facet contrast that accentuates the pinkish purple hue. The crown facet angles and table relationship are calibrated to avoid excessive windowing, while the pavilion geometry is slightly deeper to push light back into the body color and enhance saturation without creating dead areas. Facet junctions are crisp and consistent, the table plane is true, and pavilion mains form a balanced star pattern when viewed through the crown, all indications of careful lapidary control. Excellent polish on all facets minimizes surface scattering, ensuring that internal light paths are preserved and that specular highlights render as sharp flashes rather than diffuse sheens, a technical quality that yields superior brilliance under both daylight and artificial lighting.

From a gemological perspective this rhodolite exhibits the robust optical behavior typical of garnet group minerals, where high refractive indices and strong light return yield vivid visual impact despite modest dispersion. The very very slightly included clarity evaluation indicates only minimal crystal signatures, generally confined to tiny pinpoint inclusions and rare needle like features that are not disruptive to light flow, and these internal characteristics serve as natural fingerprints that document growth conditions deep within the host geology. Sri Lankan origin contributes geological pedigree and a known manganese iron chemistry profile that favors pink to violet tones in rhodolite, the resulting hue complexity is multi layered with subtle undertones that shift slightly with light source, a quality that is difficult to emulate in manufactured materials. The lack of any post cutting enhancement further preserves the innate color balance and structural integrity, which is particularly important for collectors and jewelers who specify untreated provenance for long term value and stability.

When compared to lab grown alternatives, natural rhodolite offers a set of distinctive advantages that make it preferable to discerning buyers. Lab grown stones typically exhibit very uniform color and near perfect clarity because their growth is engineered for optical purity, this consistency can be advantageous for budget constrained or matched set projects, however it also removes the nuanced zoning, stochastic inclusions, and trace element complexity that provide natural stones with unique character and provenance. Natural material from Sri Lanka carries a geological history that cannot be replicated by growth chambers, and the inclusion patterns in a natural rhodolite are diagnostic to gemological laboratories, contributing to verifiable authenticity and long term collectability. Additionally, untreated natural garnets have a track record of color stability and physical resilience without reliance on surface or internal treatments, attributes that support higher resale retention for estate jewelry and single stone investments. At The Natural Gemstone Company we prioritize stones like this 1.77 carat rhodolite for clients who value the subtle interplay of cut, color, and origin, and who understand that the technical choices made by cutter and dealer directly influence both aesthetic performance and market longevity.