0.61 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 0.61 carat oval spinel from Ceylon Sri Lanka exemplifies disciplined lapidary technique and extraordinary natural color, presented by The Natural Gemstone Company. The gem measures 6.68 x 4.46 x 2.79 millimeters, producing an overall depth of approximately 50 percent when measured against the average diameter, a proportion that balances table size and pavilion volume for optimal light return. The cutter employed a mixed brilliant faceting scheme, combining a full brilliant crown to maximize scintillation with a modified pavilion design that conserves weight while preserving strong internal reflection. The result is a stone that reads as lively and bright for its size, with facet junctions executed to tight tolerances and symmetry that supports evenly distributed brilliance across the oval outline. Polish quality is excellent, producing crisp facet windows and saturated flashes of light, and the clarity grade is eye clean when evaluated at eye level, indicating the absence of visually detectable inclusions that could interrupt light paths or require concealment during setting.

Color characteristics are central to this spinel, which displays a pinkish purple hue with intense color intensity and a well controlled tone that sits between lively and profound. The hue balance favors a purple core with a pinkish overtone, creating a temperament that reads as both feminine and authoritative, depending on lighting and mounting. Spinel is singly refractive with a refractive index near 1.718 and a modest dispersion, attributes that yield a combination of strong brilliance and refined fire rather than overt spectral separation. Because spinel generally lacks the pleochroism seen in corundum, the observed color is stable across viewing angles, an advantage for designers and clients who require predictable color performance. The gem has not undergone any enhancement, the color and clarity are natural, and the absence of treatment ensures that the intense saturation and even tone are intrinsic to the material, enhancing long term value and collector appeal.

From a craftsmanship standpoint the mixed brilliant execution deserves close attention, as the cutter intentionally tailored crown facet angles to enhance flash, while controlling pavilion angles to prevent light leakage in an oval geometry. The faceting pattern produces a balanced spread of light, avoiding dark areas often seen in shallower ovals, and the crown to pavilion relationship supports both scintillation and depth of color. The girdle appears well proportioned, allowing secure bezel or prong settings without excessive elevation, and the minimal culet contributes to uninterrupted internal reflection. Given the eye clean clarity, small natural inclusions if present are internal fingerprints to the crystal rather than stability concerns, and they are neutralized by the gemological integrity of the piece. For setting recommendations, the stone’s dimensions and weight suit a refined solitaire or halo design, with metal choices of 18 karat yellow gold to warm the pink tones, rose gold to amplify the pinkish aspect, or platinum and white gold to emphasize the cooler purple notes, each approach creating a different visual narrative while retaining the gem’s bold persona.

Beyond the technical specifications, the rich bold color of this Ceylon spinel functions as a symbol of personal power and distinction, an assertion conveyed through saturated hue and polished precision. For the discerning buyer who values provenance, the Ceylon origin offers both historical significance and gemological quality, as Sri Lankan spinels are renowned for clean material and vibrant colors. Collectors and connoisseurs will appreciate that The Natural Gemstone Company presents this stone with transparent grading statements, full disclosure of no enhancement, and careful photographic documentation that reflects in situ appearance. As a tactile emblem of confidence, the intense pinkish purple tone commands attention without ostentation, serving as a wearable talisman or a refined center piece for bespoke jewelry, while the technical virtues of cut, clarity, and polish ensure the gem performs in light and in design, embodying distinction through both nature and human craft.