2.33 Ct.Tw.Total Carat Weight Grey Spinel Pair from Burma (Myanmar)

At The Natural Gemstone Company we present a matched pair of natural Burmese spinels that demonstrate both material quality and cutter discipline. These stones weigh 1.14 carats and 1.19 carats respectively, and they are fashioned into cushion outlines with dimensions 7.41 by 4.96 by 3.59 millimeters and 7.42 by 4.97 by 3.64 millimeters. Both stones employ a mixed brilliant faceting scheme, and their color falls into a medium intensity grey, delivering a cool, elegant tone that reads as neutral yet lively under varied lighting. Clarity is graded as very slightly included at eye level, a standard that indicates minor internal features that do not materially interrupt the overall transparency or brilliance. Polish is graded excellent, and there has been no enhancement applied to either stone, confirming that the visual properties are native to the material. Origin is Burma Myanmar, a source recognized for producing spinel of notable crystal quality, which in turn allows cutters to execute more refined faceting plans.

From a cutting and optical engineering perspective the mixed brilliant solution chosen for these cushions is deliberate. The mixed brilliant approach combines a brilliant style crown with a pavilion architecture that incorporates both brilliant and subtle step elements, optimizing both scintillation and broad flash behavior for a material with spinel refractive indices in the mid one point seven range. The cutters established a table size and crown height relationship that favors controlled light entry, while the pavilion depths are tuned to favor internal return rather than light leakage. Given the dimensions of these stones the depth proportions work out to approximately forty eight to forty nine percent relative to length, a proportion that stabilizes contrast and face up spread in the cushion outline. Facet junctions are kept precise, with symmetry lines aligned to the cushion axes, which reduces parasitic light return and creates clean, directional scintillation. The excellent polish contributes to crisp facet reflections, so internal characteristics that are present read as attractive inclusions rather than distractions.

Comparing the cutting techniques used on this pair to more conventional cushion cuts highlights the cutters refined choices. A classic cushion brilliant pushes more towards smaller, more numerous crown facets and a pavilion geometry that maximizes sparkle at the expense of broad flash. A step pavilion cushion emphasizes large flashes and a velvety appearance, often requiring deeper pavilion depths and larger tables. In contrast the mixed brilliant strategy employed here negotiates a middle path, introducing nuanced pavilion facetting that tempers flash size while retaining lively scintillation on movement. The result in this matched pair is that one stone shows a touch more depth of tone due to a marginally deeper pavilion and slightly reduced table area, while the companion stone favors a slightly brighter face up appearance through a marginally shallower pavilion and a marginally larger effective table. These adjustments are the work of experienced cutters who work the rough to preserve weight and color distribution, while achieving optical harmony between two separate crystals. Attention to girdle uniformity, corner faceting, and pavilion culet treatment ensures that the pair performs coherently when set side by side.

For the practical buyer and designer these technical choices have immediate benefits. The cushion proportions and balanced depth deliver secure setability for paired ring designs, three stone compositions, or matched stud applications, with the dimensions providing a comfortable vertical profile at just over three and a half millimeters in depth. The medium color intensity of Burmese origin ensures the grey reads as sophisticated and versatile with metals from white gold to blackened silver, and the mixed brilliant faceting offers lively movement without the sometimes aggressive contrast that can obscure subtle color in lower dispersion gems. Because there is no enhancement the stones will age with predictable stability, and the very slightly included clarity grade means that normal wear will not reveal new visual issues, provided standard care is observed. At The Natural Gemstone Company we can provide additional facet maps and setting recommendations on request, and we stand behind the origin and natural status of these spinels. These two stones represent a considered balance of material selection and cutter expertise, an ideal pairing for clients who appreciate the refined technical nuances of precision faceting.