0.91 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 0.91 carat cushion shape pinkish purple spinel from Ceylon Sri Lanka is a study in measured proportions and optical integrity, presented by The Natural Gemstone Company. The stone measures 6.04 x 5.98 x 3.51 mm, and it is cut as a mixed brilliant that combines a brilliant faceted crown with a modified pavilion arrangement to optimize light performance within a compact profile. The medium color intensity sits squarely in the sweet spot for collectible spinel, producing a balanced saturation that reads as pinkish purple under neutral light, and the clarity is graded as very slightly included at eye level, indicating only minimal internal disturbances that do not detract from overall transparency. The polish is excellent, which maintains uninterrupted facet junctions and mirror like surfaces, and the stone is untreated, which preserves the natural lattice and inclusion pattern typical of Sri Lankan spinel.

From a structural and optical perspective this spinel demonstrates the properties that make spinel exceptional for lively brilliance, and the faceting strategy amplifies those innate attributes. Spinel is isometric and essentially isotropic, which removes double refraction and allows for very clean internal light paths, and its relatively high refractive index promotes strong total internal reflection when facets are cut to proper angles. The mixed brilliant cut used here creates a shallow table relative to pavilion depth, which increases the number of internal reflections visible through the crown, and the crown facet array is arranged to produce rapid contrast scintillation that reads as pinpoint flashes and broad flashes in alternating motion. The polished facet planes are executed with precise geometry, yielding tight facet junctions that reduce light leakage at facet boundaries, and the modified pavilion geometry introduces additional mirror planes that redirect light back through the table rather than into the girdle. Because the stone is free of enhancement, its dispersion and inherent fire are expressed without modification, and the slight inclusions present act only as internal markers rather than scatterers, preserving strong light return and crisp brilliance across viewing angles.

The resultant visual effect is a sparkle that is technically driven and distinct, due to the interaction between the spinel crystal system, the refractive behavior of the material, and the cutter s decisions. The isotropic lattice means that light interacts uniformly with the gem s volume, so the brilliance arises from carefully executed facet geometry rather than internal birefringent complexity, and this yields a clean, scintillating performance that is both lively and controllable. In practical terms the gem presents pronounced white light return from the table and crown facets, interleaved with vivid colored flashes that enhance the pinkish purple hue without muddying it, and the balance of pavilion depth to crown height delivers a dynamic, three dimensional play of light that remains stable when set in prong or bezel mountings. For designers and discerning buyers who value technical excellence, this spinel offers a rare combination of natural origin, no enhancement, excellent polish, precise mixed brilliant faceting, and minimal eye visible inclusions, making it suitable for a center stone in a ring where optical performance is paramount.

When evaluated against comparable gems the engineering of this cushion spinel is notable, because many stones in this size class sacrifice either color saturation or facet precision to preserve weight. This example maintains medium saturation while employing a pavilion and crown architecture that maximizes light return, and the result is a gem that can rival the visual presence of larger stones when viewed in hand or in settings. The provenance of Ceylon Sri Lanka contributes to the overall character, as Sri Lankan spinel frequently displays clean crystalline material and attractive pastel to medium tones that respond well to mixed brilliant cutting strategies. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this stone with full disclosure of its characteristics, and we recommend viewing under neutral daylight or a daylight corrected illuminant to appreciate the balance of pink and violet, and to confirm the lively scintillation produced by the precise facet relationships. For collectors and jewelers seeking a technically superior, untreated spinel with enduring optical appeal this 0.91 carat cushion shape specimen represents an exceptional opportunity.