1.21 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 1.21 carat cushion shape purple spinel from Ceylon Sri Lanka exhibits precise proportions and a restrained, elegant presence, ideal for collectors and connoisseurs who prioritize cut quality and optical performance. The gem measures 6.76 x 5.46 x 4.03 mm, yielding a depth ratio of approximately 66 percent based on the average diameter, a proportion that balances face up spread with the internal volume necessary for strong return of light. The outline is true to the cushion typology, with gently rounded corners and a slightly rectangular cushion silhouette that enhances the perceived size without compromising symmetry. Origin is Ceylon Sri Lanka, the stone is natural with no enhancement, and the surface finish carries an excellent polish, ensuring crisp facet junctions and uninterrupted pathway for light through the pavilion to the crown.

Faceting is executed in a mixed brilliant style, which for this stone translates to a brilliant facet arrangement on the crown combined with a modified pavilion geometry to maximize scintillation and maintain controlled light leakage. The crown presents well defined kite and star facets radiating from a moderately sized table, which generates a lively balance of larger flashes and fine scintillation. The pavilion shows larger facet planes that act to concentrate return of light into the crown, producing pronounced contrast and a lively pattern of bright and dark areas as the stone moves. Clarity is graded very slightly included evaluated at eye level, with minute, well dispersed inclusions that do not interrupt the overall optical performance when mounted, and which also serve as natural fingerprints confirming the gem is unheated and untreated. Color is described as light in intensity, a soft purple that reads lavender to violet depending on lighting geometry, and the optical isotropy of spinel yields consistent color without pleochroic shifts.

From a practical and design perspective this spinel is engineered to perform as a centerpiece in both classic and contemporary settings, its mixed brilliant architecture delivering excellent brilliance for its size. The combination of a balanced depth ratio, precise facet symmetry, and excellent polish produces a lively, three dimensional appearance that translates into strong table brilliance and lively pavilion return, characteristics that upscale designers and experienced gem buyers seek when selecting a focal gemstone. Spinel offers durability on the Mohs scale of about eight, making it suitable for daily wear in rings and pendants, and the lack of enhancement makes this an attractive purchase for those who prioritize natural state gemstones. The Natural Gemstone Company stands behind the provenance and the description of this 1.21 carat Ceylon purple spinel, and we welcome technical inquiries regarding mounting recommendations, viewing images under specific lighting conditions, or further gemological data for comparative selection.