2.83 Ct. Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 2.83 carat oval purplish grey spinel from Ceylon offered by The Natural Gemstone Company is a study in precise proportion and artisanal cutting, presented in a transparent crystal of exceptional technical merit. The faceted dimensions measure 10.50 by 7.86 by 4.55 mm, yielding a length to width ratio of approximately 1.34, and a depth that corresponds to about 49.6 percent of the average diameter. The shape is a classic oval, elongated enough to read as elegant on the finger while maintaining a broad face up table that amplifies color saturation. The cutting style is mixed brilliant, combining a brilliant crown facet arrangement with a stepped pavilion architecture that is calibrated to enhance both scintillation and color concentration. Clarity is graded as eye clean at standard viewing distance, which means that the stone presents no visible inclusions to the naked eye, while minute internal features impart a unique fingerprint under magnification. Color intensity is intense and uniform across the table, and the polish is graded excellent, delivering crisp facet junctions and optimal light return. There has been no enhancement, and the natural origin of Ceylon imparts provenance that is both historically desirable and gemologically consistent with the inclusion suite this spinel displays.

Under 10 times magnification the inclusion ensemble of this Ceylon spinel is distinctive and diagnostic in several technical ways, giving the stone an unmistakable signature that appeals to connoisseurs and origin specialists. The most characteristic features are microscopic octahedral crystal remnants, arranged in filamentary and clustered patterns along original growth sectors, which appear as faint reflective pinpoints and angular crystals under oblique light. These are accompanied by narrow, planar growth zoning planes that refract light subtly, creating filamentous banding that aligns with the cubic growth morphology of spinel. In addition there are isolated negative crystal cavities filled with minute fluid phases that appear as dark voids only at higher magnification, and a scattering of tiny reflective platelets that produce a soft internal scintillation distinct from surface reflected flash. Where present, healed planar discontinuities exhibit thin, crystalized boundaries that show internal iridescence when viewed at steep angles. Together these features create a reproducible inclusion fingerprint, a microscopic cartography of growth and healing that is consistent with Ceylon spinel genesis and that confirms the specimen as a natural, untreated material. Importantly these inclusions are entirely subvisible in hand worn jewelry, preserving the stone’s eye clean appearance while providing secure identification under gemological examination.

The optical and physical properties of spinel underpin how these inclusions and the adopted cutting strategy translate into the gem’s face up performance. Spinel is isotropic, so the stone lacks pleochroism and displays consistent hue and intensity from all orientations, which makes the decision to use a mixed brilliant cut especially effective for balancing brilliance and color. The refractive index near 1.718, the specific gravity around 3.60, and the hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale together guide the cutter’s choices in facet geometry to maximize durability, light return, and color presentation. The mixed brilliant layout on this oval employs a relatively broad table and shallow pavilion planes, which concentrates color and increases apparent saturation, while the stepped pavilion facets introduce controlled light return pathways that produce flashes of white brilliance and controlled dispersion. The excellent polish ensures minimal light scattering at facet interfaces, so the spinel reads as both lively and intensely colored in a range of mounting styles. For designers and lapidaries focused on precision, the measured proportions and facet architecture allow reliable prediction of performance when set in calibrated assemblies or bespoke settings, and the stone’s natural, untreated status makes it suitable for collectors seeking gems with demonstrable geological integrity.

For buyers who evaluate gems on both gemological criteria and provenance, this 2.83 carat Ceylon spinel from The Natural Gemstone Company represents a rare convergence of technical excellence and natural identity. The inclusion signature described here is both a mark of authenticity and a point of aesthetic interest for those who value stones that tell a geological story under the loupe while remaining visually clean to the eye. Because there are no enhancements, and because the cutting optimizes both face up color and brilliance, this spinel is appropriate for high end bespoke work where natural color and traceable origin are desired. We can provide detailed high magnification imaging, facet maps, and additional measurement confirmations on request to support independent appraisal and design planning. If you would like to evaluate this specimen further, The Natural Gemstone Company can arrange viewing under controlled lighting and magnification, and can discuss mounting options that preserve the optical dynamics established by the mixed brilliant cutting.