1.81 Ct. Rhodolite Garnet from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This transparent 1.81 carat heart shape rhodolite garnet measures 7.86 by 7.59 by 4.56 millimeters, and presents an intense pinkish purple hue with a clarity grade of very slightly included when evaluated at eye level. The stone is a mixed brilliant cut, combining a brilliant facet arrangement on the crown with a modified pavilion architecture, finished to an excellent polish. The gem has no enhancements, and its reported origin is Ceylon, Sri Lanka. Optical parameters typical for rhodolite garnet, including a refractive index in the range of approximately 1.74 to 1.76 and a specific gravity commonly near 3.7 to 3.8, support strong internal reflection and a lively visual presence, and the reported depth proportion for this heart shape is approximately 59 percent, a balance that promotes both saturated color and efficient light return.

The mixed brilliant cut is central to how this rhodolite harnesses and projects light. On the crown, the brilliant style with star facets and kite facets disperses incoming light across multiple small facets, producing concentrated points of brightness and dynamic scintillation as the stone moves. The pavilion employs a modified arrangement that controls the critical angles for internal reflection, redirecting light back through the crown rather than allowing it to leak from the girdle. Because garnet exhibits relatively low dispersion compared with high dispersion species, maximizing bright return and contrast becomes essential for perceived fire and brilliance. The combination of a moderately deep pavilion and a carefully proportioned table especially in a heart silhouette enhances color saturation by allowing longer light paths within the stone, while still preserving strong return so that sparkle remains vivid rather than muted. The excellent polish minimizes surface scattering and maintains crisp facet junctions, which increases specular reflection and allows the intense pinkish purple to read consistently under varied lighting, while the very slightly included clarity grade indicates only minor internal features that do not interrupt the primary light pathways.

Heart shapes demand precise symmetry and a refined cleft to achieve balanced light performance, and this example demonstrates meticulous cutting execution. The lobes are matched for contour and height, the cleft is well defined and centered, and the girdle profile supports consistent pavilion facet angles across the profile, which keeps contrast patterning even from table to culet. Such geometric control prevents localized light leakage that would otherwise produce dark windows or washed out areas, and it delivers the characteristic heart shape scintillation where small flashes follow the curve of the lobes and concentrate at the point of the heart. For mounting recommendations, an open setting that allows light to enter the pavilion from below and the sides will emphasize both the intense color and the engineered brilliance, while a well executed prong or partial bezel that avoids obscuring the cleft and lobes will protect the girdle without compromising light performance. At The Natural Gemstone Company we highlight this gem for its rare combination of intense natural color, precision mixed brilliant cutting, and excellent polish, all presented without enhancement and with documented origin. This makes the stone a technically refined choice for a collector or designer seeking a heart shaped rhodolite that showcases both saturated hue and sophisticated optical behavior.