1.05 Ct. Grey Spinel from Burma (Myanmar)

This gemstone is a transparent 1.05 carat cushion shape grey spinel, with exact dimensions of 5.33 x 5.08 x 4.57 mm, cut as a faceted stone in a mixed brilliant style. The cushion outline combines softened corners with a slightly squared silhouette, producing a classic pillow form that enhances table presence while preserving strong light return. The cutting style is mixed brilliant, incorporating a brilliant crown that maximizes face up scintillation and a precisely faceted pavilion that balances light return against color saturation. Clarity is graded very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, which for this material translates to an effectively eye clean appearance and excellent visual performance in typical jewelry settings. Color intensity is described as dark, resulting in a deep, even grey that reads as sophisticated and neutral in a wide range of lighting environments. The polish is excellent, with crisp facet junctions and mirror like facet planes, and the stone has received no enhancement, originating from Burma Myanmar, a provenance known for historically important spinel finds.

From a technical perspective the mixed brilliant scheme has been optimized for spinel optical properties, with facet orientation selected to exploit spinel refractive index and isotropic behavior. Spinel is a singly refractive, isotropic mineral with a refractive index in the range expected for gem quality material, which means that well proportioned brilliant style facets will produce consistent light return without pleochroic color shift. The cutter has managed table size and crown height to produce a lively interplay between brilliance and color saturation, a critical balance for a dark grey spinel where overly large tables can wash out face up depth. Pavilion geometry has been controlled to maintain total internal reflection at the angles appropriate for spinel, generating a pleasing network of flashes across the table and facets, while facet symmetry and proportioning minimize extinction and produce even contrast across the face up view. The mixed brilliant approach yields a compact, dense pattern of scintillation on movement, and the specific small scale dimensions of 5.33 x 5.08 x 4.57 mm allow the stone to sit perfectly in medium to fine settings without losing optical performance.

The craftsmanship is of particular note, and this is where the stone demonstrates a practically flawless execution, even while retaining a natural very slightly included clarity signature. Flawless in this description refers to the finishing quality, the symmetry tolerances, the polish uniformity, and the care with which facet junctions and girdle execution have been completed. Excellent polish delivers mirror sharp facet reflections that enhance the perception of depth and clarity from every viewing angle. The minor internal inclusions do not interrupt the play of light and are located and oriented so as to be inconsequential to overall light performance, leaving the stone effectively clean to the unaided eye. The girdle appears to be evenly faceted and well finished, providing both aesthetic balance and practical durability in a mounting. Because the stone is untreated, the natural crystal habit and color expression are preserved, making it an excellent choice for collectors and connoisseurs who prioritize provenance and natural character, especially given the Burmese origin which is associated with well formed crystals and historical desirability.

In combination and design terms this grey spinel pairs elegantly with other gem types, and one attractive complement is white opal. White opal is a light body tone opal with a soft translucent to opaque base, often exhibiting play of color that ranges from subtle flashes to vivid patches depending on cut and light. White opal offers a delicate, diffuse luminescence that contrasts with the focused, mirror like brilliance of the mixed brilliant spinel. When set as accent stones or in a halo, white opal will introduce warm color life and iridescent contrast around the cool neutral of the grey spinel, producing a sophisticated color dialogue between body tone and reflected light. For bespoke jewelry design The Natural Gemstone Company can propose proportions and mounting strategies that preserve the spinel polishing and reveal the opal play of color without compromising durability, taking into account the spinel hardness and opal sensitivity. If you seek a stone that combines technical precision, exceptional finish, natural Burmese origin, and the flexibility to pair with complementary materials such as white opal, this 1.05 carat cushion grey spinel is an exemplary choice, and our specialists at The Natural Gemstone Company are available to provide further measurements, additional photographs under controlled lighting, and bespoke setting recommendations to maximize the stone beauty from every angle.