19.71 Ct. Smokey Quartz from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This specimen is a transparent 19.71 carat oval brown smoky quartz, with exact dimensions of 22.16 by 16.27 by 9.63 millimeters, presented in a mixed brilliant cut and finished to an excellent polish. At a clarity grade described as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, the stone reads as effectively eye clean, with only minimal pinpoints or extremely small healed feathers that do not affect durability or visual performance. The color is intense, a saturated chocolate to warm mahogany brown that remains lively across different lighting environments, and the gem has not undergone any enhancements, which preserves its natural character and provenance from Ceylon Sri Lanka. As a quartz species, the stone exhibits a refractive index in the expected range for quartz, strong vitreous luster, and a specific gravity near 2.65, combined with a Mohs hardness of seven, making it suitable for most types of jewelry with standard care.

The mixed brilliant cut employed on this oval is engineered to optimize light return while maintaining robust color saturation. The cutting geometry uses a brilliant style crown composed of kite and triangular facets that disperse incident light into controlled scintillation across the table, while the pavilion is modified to support deeper folding facets that channel light back through the crown without washing out the rich brown body color. Proportions are balanced for an oval of these dimensions, with a pavilion depth and girdle relationship that yields an overall depth approximately fifty percent of the average diameter, a proportion that enhances both brilliance and face up size. The table is sized to preserve brightness while allowing the intense color to remain uniform when set, and the facet junctions are sharp and even, evidence of precise lapidary control which is consistent with the excellent polish rating.

When considering a custom piece, pairing this smoky quartz with complementary gemstones can accentuate its warm tones and refined faceting. A considered pairing is with White Opal in small cabochon form, White Opal offering a translucent to milky white body tone with a variable play of color that introduces flashes of blue, green and red against the deep brown. Used as halo accents in cabochon sizes from two to four millimeters, White Opal will create contrast through both color and texture, the opal cabochons providing soft diffuse light next to the faceted brilliance of the smoky quartz. Design alternatives include a three stone composition, where two rounded White Opal cabochons flank the oval smoky quartz, or a station style pendant that alternates faceted smoky quartz with segmented White Opal elements, each opal protected within a low bezel to guard against impact and dehydration.

Beyond White Opal, secondary accent options can be selected to refine the visual language of the piece. Warm colored diamonds or champagne diamonds in single cut melee will echo the brown tones and add persistent white sparkle without introducing competing hues. Peach morganite or cognac topaz can extend the warm palette in an analogous arrangement, while a small group of green tsavorite garnets or chrome tourmalines can provide a vivid complementary contrast that makes the brown read more amber and alive. For metal selection, 18 karat rose gold will reinforce the warmth and create a continuous tonal field, while 18 karat yellow gold will present a classical, luminous backdrop. If a cooler presentation is desired, plated or solid white gold and platinum can be used, but in that case consider adding warm toned melee to prevent the piece from appearing too stark. Practical setting details are important, White Opal being less hard and more sensitive to thermal and chemical shock than quartz, it is advisable to mount opal accents in protective low bezels or within halo pavings that shelter their edges. The central smoky quartz, being harder, can be set with well spaced prongs to maximize exposure of the mixed brilliant cut and preserve scintillation, while a fine milgrain bezel or partial bezel can be used to protect the girdle in ring applications.

For proportions in a custom ring or pendant, the 19.71 carat center stone performs beautifully with a halo of thirty to forty small White Opal cabochons in the two to three millimeter range for a balanced visual mass and tactile comfort. Alternatively, three opal accents of four to five millimeters each will read as substantial side stones in a horizontal three stone setting, with accent melee of 1.2 to 1.5 millimeter champagne diamonds used to articulate shoulders or gallery work. In a pendant, consider a bezel cup with an open back or a pierced gallery to preserve light entry to the pavilion, while in a ring the gallery should include drainage and airflow to mitigate opal sensitivity. All soldering operations and any post setting finishing should be undertaken with temperature control in mind to avoid opal craze. Final finishing techniques such as textured shoulders, fine hand engraving, or selective rhodium plating can be used to direct eye movement to the mixed brilliant face, and stone orientation within the mounting can be adjusted to emphasize the center table and the crown facets for maximum face up brilliance.

The Natural Gemstone Company stands behind the materiality and origin information of this specimen, offering provenance documentation for the Ceylon source and confirmation of the no enhancement treatment status. If you would like technical drawings or CAD mockups, detailed measurements for bezel thickness and prong profiles, or recommendations for exact melee counts and carat budgets for a specific design, we can provide these services and work with your jeweler to ensure optimal facet orientation and setting geometry. For collectors and designers who value natural transparency, precise faceting and authentic origin, this 19.71 carat brown smoky quartz paired with White Opal and thoughtfully selected accents makes a compelling centerpiece, combining durability, exceptional polish and intentional color relationships into a custom object that performs both visually and technically. Contact The Natural Gemstone Company for further consultation, fabrication quotations and to arrange examination under standardized lighting conditions.