0.38 Ct. Smokey Quartz from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This specimen from The Natural Gemstone Company is a transparent brown smokey quartz, weighing 0.38 carat, with precise dimensions of 6.03 by 4.06 by 2.09 millimeters. The gem is fashioned in an emerald cut, characterized by broad parallel step facets and neatly truncated corners that produce an octagonal outline. The length to width ratio is approximately 1.49, which yields an elegant elongated face up appearance, and the measured depth relative to the average of length and width is approximately 41.4 percent, reflecting a relatively shallow pavilion and a generous table. These proportions favor face up spread and a calm step facet aesthetic rather than scintillating brilliance. Clarity has been graded as eye clean at normal viewing distance, indicating an absence of inclusions visible to the unaided eye, while the polish is assessed as excellent, with crisp facet junctions and uniform mirror finish across crown and pavilion planes. Color intensity is described as light, presenting a delicate champagne to warm cognac tone, and the stone has been heat treated to stabilize and refine that light brown coloration. The material is sourced from Ceylon, Sri Lanka, a classic provenance for well cut quartz material, and each faceting decision reflects traditional lapidary practices applied to maximize clarity and color in step cut stones.

From a gemological perspective this smokey quartz exhibits the expected optical and physical parameters for quartz family material, which have direct implications for how the emerald cut performs under different lighting conditions. Refractive index values are approximately 1.544 to 1.553, producing a subtle, soft brilliance rather than the high dispersion flashes associated with higher refractive index gems. Birefringence is low, approximately 0.009, so doubling of facet edges is minimal and the step facets retain clear crisp lines without optical confusion. Dispersion is also low, approximately 0.013, which contributes to the gem producing a steady, lustrous appearance with warm body color as the primary visual interest. Specific gravity is near 2.65, which is consistent with quartz, and the material shows vitreous luster and excellent transparency, allowing the emerald cut table and broad facets to act as a window on the stone rather than a mirror that breaks up color. The cutter has emphasized parallelism of the step facets and careful pavilion angling to control light return and to avoid windowing effects, a consideration that is especially important for stones with light color intensity. The heat treatment applied is a controlled thermal process to achieve a uniform, stable tone, and because the material is structurally homogeneous the treatment yields a clean, natural looking color without compromising clarity.

Durability and practical wearability are key considerations for buyers who intend to set this gem into wearable jewelry, and here quartz performs predictably. Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, which places it well above many common gem materials and makes it considerably more resistant to scratching than gemstones with lower hardness. For context, diamond rates 10 on the Mohs scale, corundum including sapphire and ruby rates 9, topaz rates 8, while feldspathic gems and many organics occupy the 2 to 6 range. Quartz at 7 therefore offers a good balance for everyday jewelry use, resisting everyday abrasion and maintaining polish when compared to softer materials. Quartz also lacks true cleavage, so it does not split along defined planes in the way that cleavage minerals can, although it can chip or fracture under sharp mechanical impact, particularly at facet junctions and girdle edges. Given the emerald cut geometry and the shallow pavilion, I recommend protective setting choices for rings, such as a well engineered bezel, channel, or secure prong setting with low profile prongs, to reduce exposure of the corners to knocks. For pendants and earrings the stone is ideally suited due to lower impact risk and the broad table presenting an attractive, sober color. The heat treatment used to refine color is stable under normal conditions, but routine care such as avoiding prolonged exposure to strong chemicals and storing separately from harder gems will preserve the excellent polish and even color. For clients seeking a technically refined, understated warm brown stone with reliable durability and classical step cut lines, this Ceylon smokey quartz from The Natural Gemstone Company represents a precisely executed option for bespoke settings and artisan jewelry projects.