1.55 Ct. Spinel from Tanzania

This transparent 1.55 carat cushion shape purple spinel is precisely measured at 7.26 x 5.88 x 4.35 millimeters, and it has been cut to a mixed brilliant design to balance color and fire. The cutter has preserved a well-proportioned pavilion depth of approximately 66 percent relative to the average diameter, a proportion chosen to maximize return of light while maintaining color saturation. The mixed brilliant execution pairs a brilliant-style crown with a faceted pavilion that moderates windowing and enhances scintillation, so each facet junction and bezel facet contributes to crisp, lively flashes rather than a washed-out appearance. The excellent polish on all facet planes ensures high luster and clean facet reflections, producing a lively interaction between facets and light across the table and along the cushion’s rounded corners.

Color and clarity define much of this stone’s presence. The spinel exhibits a medium intense purple hue that sits between classic violet and a subtle bluish tone, creating a versatile purple that reads true under both daylight and artificial illumination. Transparency is high, permitting strong light transmission that works in concert with the mixed brilliant facet scheme to produce brilliancy and depth. Clarity is graded very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, indicating minor natural inclusions that do not interrupt transparency or detract from brilliance; these minute internal features are typical of natural spinel and are often used by experienced gemologists to authenticate origin and natural state. There is no enhancement, the color is wholly natural and stable, and the documented Tanzanian provenance places this piece among the desirable East African spinels known for clean crystallography and attractive hues.

From a gemological and lapidary perspective this cushion spinel demonstrates thoughtful craftsmanship. The mixed brilliant cut is intentionally chosen to preserve tone and saturation while delivering controlled brilliance; the crown facet angles and pavilion arrangement reduce light leakage and generate broad, overlapping flashes rather than narrow, needle-like scintillation. The cushion outline with softened corners also allows the cutter to open the table modestly to showcase internal color without producing excessive windowing. Spinel’s inherent toughness, with a Mohs hardness of approximately eight, makes it an excellent candidate for everyday jewelry use, and the absence of surface-reaching fractures combined with the superb polish means this gem will withstand normal wear when set in a protective mounting. The stone’s optical behavior is steady rather than pleochroic, so its medium intense purple reads consistently from multiple viewpoints, an advantage for wearable pieces that move and catch light.

Presenting this spinel as a gift conveys both rarity and refinement. At 1.55 carats the gem offers a substantial presence that photographs and sits on the finger with a confident visual weight, and its cushion silhouette is simultaneously classic and contemporary, adaptable to solitaire settings, halo frames, or bespoke artisan designs. The untreated Tanzanian origin enhances the story behind the gift, providing provenance that discerning recipients appreciate, while the natural hue and excellent polish ensure the gem will create striking flashes when set in white metals for contrast or in warm tones to accentuate its purple depth. For someone who values technical quality and the narrative of a naturally beautiful stone, this piece from The Natural Gemstone Company is an exemplary choice, combining precise cutting, natural color, and durable materiality into a memorable, wearable jewel. Please contact The Natural Gemstone Company for setting recommendations, custom mounting options, or additional gemological documentation to accompany this exceptional spinel.