1.05 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This listing from The Natural Gemstone Company presents a beautifully transparent 1.05 carat radiant shape pinkish purple spinel, carefully cut to dimensions of 6.36 by 5.16 by 3.76 millimeters. The stone exhibits a radiant cut with precise facet junctions and an excellent polish, characteristics that allow the gem to deliver crisp facet reflections and lively scintillation. Clarity is described as very very slightly included evaluated at eye level, which for an educated buyer means the inclusions are minute and do not interfere with the face up appearance or light return when viewed without magnification. Color intensity is medium intense, a bracket that for pinkish purple spinel balances saturation and tone to provide an immediately appealing and wearable hue. Importantly this spinel is untreated, with no enhancement applied, and originates from Ceylon Sri Lanka, a source renowned for producing spinels with attractive color and clean material. These combined attributes make this gem a strong candidate for a fine piece of jewelry that prioritizes natural color and integrity.

From a cutting and light performance perspective, the radiant cut chosen for this stone is a highly effective style for medium intense color. Radiant cuts blend the geometric outline of step cuts with the light return of brilliant faceting, concentrating color while opening up multiple internal pathways for light to reflect back to the eye. Given the stone proportions, the pavilion depth relative to the average of length and width yields an efficient depth that supports balanced face up color without sacrificing brilliance. Spinel is an isotropic mineral with a refractive index in the region of about 1.71 to 1.74 and a modest dispersion, properties that support a bright, lively appearance when the material is well cut. The excellent polish reported here further enhances surface reflection and contrast, allowing the spinel to show clean facet crispness and consistent mirror like highlights under normal lighting, which is one reason polished, well proportioned spinels often appear more lively than their rougher cut peers.

When comparing reflective qualities to other gemstones in its category, spinel occupies a distinctive and favorable position. Against corundum varieties such as ruby and sapphire, which have a higher refractive index and therefore slightly stronger brilliance, spinel nonetheless competes very well thanks to its isotropic clarity and typically clean material. The result is a pure, lively sparkle that often reads as more straightforward and less veiled than some heavily saturated corundum stones. Compared to garnet species in the red to purple range, which can display higher dispersion and sometimes a warmer appearance, spinel tends to offer a cooler and more evenly distributed color with fewer internal scattering features, producing a steadier, more consistent play of light. Versus tourmaline, which has a lower refractive index and often exhibits pleochroism that changes color with viewing angle, spinel will generally show stronger surface luster and a more direct, gem like brilliance. In short, a well cut spinel such as this one will deliver a combination of clean, mirror like facet reflections and stable color that educated buyers value for both aesthetic and practical reasons.

For the informed purchaser, the value proposition of this 1.05 carat pinkish purple spinel is supported by several objective factors. The carat weight is meaningful for spinel in this color range, providing presence in a ring or pendant without the logistical compromises of very large stones. The untreated nature and documented origin from Ceylon Sri Lanka add provenance and rarity premium, because untreated vivid to medium intense spinels with clean clarity and a fine cut are less common in the market than heat treated or otherwise enhanced alternatives. Durability is also relevant, spinel scoring an eight on the Mohs scale makes it suitable for daily wearable jewelry while maintaining polish and facet sharpness over time. The clarity and excellent polish contribute to superior light performance and make the gem an excellent setting candidate, particularly in designs that showcase the table and crown facets to best advantage. At The Natural Gemstone Company we are committed to providing clear, technical descriptions and accurate imagery so that buyers with a foundational knowledge of gemological parameters can evaluate the stone with confidence, understanding the interplay of cut, clarity, color, and origin that underpins its value.