3.17 Ct. Greenish Blue Spinel from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This transparent greenish blue spinel weighs 3.17 carats and measures 9.42 x 8.41 x 5.93 mm in an elegant oval outline. It is faceted with a mixed brilliant cut that combines a faceted crown with pavilion facets intended to enhance light return. The clarity is evaluated as slightly included at eye level, which indicates the presence of minor internal features without significant obstruction to transparency. The color registers as dark intensity, providing strong saturation and a deep, even tone across the table. The polish is excellent, and no enhancement has been applied, preserving the natural surface condition and internal character associated with Ceylon origin.

Optically this spinel exhibits lively vitreous brilliance and a clean, focused window when properly oriented under light. Compared with corundum material in the blue green range, such as sapphire, spinel typically shows a slightly lower refractive power, producing a subtly softer but more uniform brilliance rather than the stronger, more scintillating return sometimes found in higher refractive index stones. Against tourmaline specimens of similar hue, this spinel generally offers greater brilliance and crisper facet delineation due to its higher refractive index and single refractive nature. When contrasted with high dispersion gems like zircon or diamond, the spinel displays less spectral fire, favoring pure color and clear light return over pronounced rainbow flashes. The mixed brilliant cut accentuates the stone’s strengths by balancing return of white light with moderate colored flashes, while the dark color intensity tempers overall brightness and emphasizes depth and body rather than maximum sparkle.

From a practical perspective the stone’s size, cut, and natural, untreated origin from Ceylon make it suitable for jewelry designs that favor depth of color and polished clarity. The slightly included clarity grade is consistent with many natural spinels and does not materially diminish its visual appeal, particularly when set to take advantage of the oval shape and mixed brilliant faceting. The absence of enhancements and the Sri Lankan provenance are attributes commonly sought by collectors and manufacturers seeking natural material with reliable optical performance. The Natural Gemstone Company provides this specimen with full disclosure of weight, dimensions, cut, clarity, color intensity, polish, enhancement status, and origin, enabling considered evaluation for use in fine jewelry or private collections.