2.48 Ct. Red Spinel from Burma (Myanmar)

This 2.48 carat cushion shape red spinel from Burma, Myanmar, exemplifies precision lapidary work and material integrity, supplied by The Natural Gemstone Company. The stone measures 10.38 x 7.31 x 4.23 mm, giving a length to width ratio of approximately 1.42, which yields an elegant, slightly elongated cushion profile that reads larger face up than a square cushion of the same carat weight. The cutter applied a mixed brilliant faceting scheme to this transparent spinel, integrating a brilliant style crown with a modified pavilion architecture, to optimize both return of light and maintenance of the stone's intense color intensity. The overall depth is approximately 48 percent relative to the average diameter, a proportion that balances face up spread and internal light performance, and the polish quality is graded excellent, producing crisp facet junctions and mirror like facet planes that minimize scattering and maximize directional light return.

From a gemological perspective this spinel benefits from the isotropic crystallography of spinel and a refractive index in the range typical for gem spinel, which collectively contribute to a clean, undoubled window for color and brilliance. The mixed brilliant cut employed here establishes an interplay between larger crown facets that permit broad flashes of saturated red and a finely faceted pavilion that fractures and redistributes light for lively scintillation. The cutter moderated the table size to allow a generous face up color presence while avoiding excessive windowing or leakage, and the facet angles and alignment were calibrated to the material's optical density so that internal reflections are constructive rather than cancelling. The clarity is described as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, which in practical terms means the gem is effectively eye clean, with only minute inclusions that do not interrupt the light path appreciably. With no enhancement applied to the stone, the intense color is entirely natural, an important factor for collectors and connoisseurs who prioritize untreated provenance and stable optical properties.

In hand and in jewelry the mixed brilliant cushion cut of this spinel translates directly into an attractive combination of saturated face up color, dynamic return of white light, and lively red flashes under movement. The cushion silhouette with softly rounded corners and slightly elongated table fosters a concentrated face up appearance, and the pavilion facet geometry converts incident light into a layered pattern of scintillation and contrast, generating both brilliance and depth of color. The excellent polish amplifies these effects by maintaining facet clarity and enabling consistent facet to facet reflections, while the careful proportioning limits excessive light leakage to the girdle. Origin Burma, Myanmar enhances the appeal from a provenance standpoint, since Burmese spinels are well regarded for their pure, intense reds and stable color saturation. Because this example is transparent, untreated, and precisely faceted, it exhibits a direct, vivid red that is not obscured by interference effects or pleochroism, characteristics that make this piece especially suitable for settings where the color is to be the focal point.

For the knowledgeable buyer seeking a spinel that combines technical excellence with natural material quality, this 2.48 carat cushion red spinel offers a refined balance of cut engineering, color fidelity, and clarity. The mixed brilliant cut ensures an engaging performance under varied lighting, the proportions maximize face up presence while preserving structural integrity, and the very very slightly included clarity at eye level confirms the transparency expected from high grade spinel. Supplied by The Natural Gemstone Company with no enhancement and clear Burmese origin, this gem represents a high caliber option for collectors and designers who value exacting craftsmanship and unaltered optical character.