2.61 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This cushion shape purple spinel weighs 2.61 carat and measures 7.96 x 6.75 x 5.25 millimeters, presenting a balanced silhouette with gently rounded corners and precise outline control. The mixed brilliant cut applied to this specimen employs a deliberate combination of facet styles to accentuate both fire and color saturation, resulting in a gem that reads as transparent and lively under a range of lighting conditions. Geometric faceting is the guiding principle of the design, with facet junctions and proportions engineered to support maximum light play. The table facet has been sized to provide a broad viewing plane without inducing excessive windowing, while the crown facets are arranged to fragment incoming light into numerous return paths. The overall geometry maintains tight symmetry and equalized facet angles across the pavilion and crown, ensuring consistent optical performance when the stone is rotated or set in metal.

The mixed brilliant approach for this cushion spinel is executed with technical precision, combining small brilliant facets on the crown with a graduated arrangement of modified steps and pavillion brilliants below the girdle. This hybrid scheme takes advantage of the efficient light return of brilliant faceting, while the controlled step elements deepen color and create layered optical depth. Facet count and placement are calibrated to the refractive properties of spinel, with pavilion facets designed to redirect light through the crown and avoid stray leakage. Attention to facet junction quality and meeting lines is evident, facilitating crisp scintillation and high contrast patterning. The girdle thickness is consistent along the perimeter, supporting secure mounting without compromising optical pathways, and the excellent polish contributes to unimpeded internal reflection and external brilliance.

Optical performance is where the geometric faceting strategy demonstrates its value. Spinel displays a refractive index around 1.713 and a modest dispersion, therefore maximizing apparent brightness and the breadth of spectral flashes depends heavily on precise facet geometry. In this stone, calculated crown and pavilion relationships minimize light escape and promote multiple internal reflections, translating into strong brilliance and lively scintillation across the table and facet planes. The cushion outline and rounded corners create a dynamic interplay of light, with flashes that move fluidly across the surface as the gem is tilted. Contrast facets are balanced to promote both broad flashes and fine scintillation, offering a complex and pleasing visual signature that reads as both lively and refined. The result is a spinel that delivers exceptional perceived sparkle for its optical class, with geometric faceting optimized for the material characteristics of Ceylon spinel.

Clarity and color characteristics have been assessed with industry precision, with a clarity grade of slightly included, evaluated at eye level, indicating minor internal characteristics that are visible without magnification but do not materially disrupt the faceting geometry or the gem s light performance. These slight inclusions are typical of natural spinel and are contained within the crystal matrix, allowing the piece to remain highly transparent and visually clean when mounted. Color is described as medium light intensity of purple, yielding a balanced hue that is neither deeply saturated nor overly faint, which allows the stone to display both subtle violet tones and lively reflections. The medium light intensity is particularly flattering in mixed faceting, where light return and controlled depth help modulate apparent color under varied viewing conditions. The origin is Ceylon Sri Lanka, a provenance known for producing spinel with elegant tonalities and excellent crystalline quality, and this specimen demonstrates those regional characteristics without any enhancement.

Craftsmanship and provenance are central to the presentation of this spinel, no enhancement. The cutting and polishing have been executed to high standards, with excellent polish and finely finished facet junctions that preserve both durability and optical performance. The precision of the mixed brilliant faceting makes this gem suitable for a range of jewelry applications where geometric light play is desired, from solitaire rings that emphasize table brilliance to halo settings that augment scintillation. For buyers seeking documented source and meticulous workmanship, The Natural Gemstone Company offers this Ceylon spinel as a natural, unenhanced example of expert gem cutting aligned with the optical and structural properties of the material. The piece is ideal for collectors and connoisseurs who value technical cutting detail, true color expression, and the intentional geometry that allows maximum light play.