0.66 Ct. Spinel from Tanzania

This transparent 0.66 carat purple spinel from Tanzania, offered by The Natural Gemstone Company, is cut in a classic emerald shape with dimensions of 5.69 x 3.78 x 3.81 mm. The step faceting typical of an emerald cut has been executed to emphasize clarity and color, producing broad, parallel facets that generate a refined hall of mirrors effect rather than a brilliant sparkle. The cutter retained a relatively deep pavilion, yielding a total depth of approximately 67 percent, a proportion that enhances color saturation and minimizes windowing for this intense color intensity stone. Clarity is graded as very slightly included at eye level, meaning the inclusions are minor and generally unobtrusive when set, and the excellent polish delivers crisp facet junctions and strong facet contrast. The gem is unenhanced, showing its natural color and internal structure, and its Tanzanian provenance aligns with the region known for producing lively purples and pinkish purples in spinel material. Optical parameters that contribute to the gem character include an isotropic crystal structure and a refractive index in the range typically cited for spinel, approximately 1.712 to 1.718, with modest dispersion near 0.018, which produces a clean, saturated color presentation rather than pronounced fire.

From a durability and wearability perspective this spinel performs exceptionally well, due to the inherent hardness of spinel at about 8 on the Mohs scale. This places spinel harder than common jewelry materials such as quartz at Mohs 7, and slightly softer than corundum varieties like sapphire and ruby at Mohs 9, and much softer than diamond at Mohs 10. Practically this means the gem resists scratches in everyday wear, and is well suited to ring, pendant, and earring applications, provided standard precautions are observed to avoid hard knocks and abrasion against materials of equal or greater hardness. For setting recommendations, a bezel or secure prong setting will protect the step facets and the girdle, and the emerald cut geometry accommodates low profile settings that emphasize the stone table and color. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this purple spinel as a technically refined choice for collectors and connoisseurs who value precise cutting proportions, natural intense color, and robust physical properties.