3.23 Ct. Spinel from Burma (Myanmar)

This specimen is a transparent violet spinel weighing 3.23 carats, presented in an oval outline with precise dimensions of 11.77 by 7.81 by 4.65 millimeters. The length to width ratio is approximately 1.51, a proportion that conveys an elegant elongation suitable for both solitaire and elongated halo settings. The overall depth is approximately 47.5 percent when calculated against the average of length and width, a balanced proportion that supports efficient light transmission while maintaining a substantial face up presence. The cutter selected a mixed brilliant faceting schema, employing a brilliant style crown with carefully aligned triangular and kite facets, and a modified pavilion strategy that combines polished facets to control internal reflection. This hybrid approach preserves scintillation and lively facet contrast across the table and crown, while the pavilion design moderates over dispersion and avoids windowing, producing consistent return of light across the length of the stone.

Optically the gem reads as a true violet, with tonality and hue that respond sensitively to illumination, and while the formal color intensity grade is very light, the combination of hue purity and facet architecture projects a perception of richness and presence that belies the nominal grade. The spinel shows a cool violet lean with subtle blue undertones, and the mixed brilliant cut concentrates color toward the center facets, creating localized areas of deeper saturation that the eye interprets as bold color signatures when the gem is set. Spinel has a refractive index range that supports strong contrast and crisp facet break, and the cutter optimized pavilion angles to exploit this property, enhancing the perceived depth of color without resorting to heavy body tone. The gem has undergone heat treatment, a stable and accepted enhancement in spinel that refines hue and can improve clarity, and this treatment has been disclosed and applied to achieve a cleaner, more even color distribution, a result that is both durable and permanent under normal wear conditions.

Clarity evaluation was performed at eye level, and the stone was graded eye clean, with no inclusions visible without magnification that would interrupt the clean passage of light or compromise structural integrity. The absence of significant internal features allows the mixed brilliant facet pattern to function without interruption, maintaining well defined facet junctions and a consistent contrast pattern. Polish has been assessed as excellent across all facet planes, which is evident in crisp facet edges and mirror like facet surfaces that maximize specular reflection and deliver strong flashes of white light and colored scintillation. These finishing qualities are critical for a spinel with very light body color because they amplify brilliance and impart an impression of saturation that appeals to discriminating buyers. Spinel ranks 8 on the Mohs hardness scale and exhibits good toughness, so the stone is well suited to everyday jewelry applications when set with proper protection at vulnerable points, and the combined attributes of cut, clarity and polish make it ideal for ring centers, pendants, or brooches where the oval silhouette can be oriented to emphasize length and elegance.

Provenance is from Burma, Myanmar, an origin that is historically associated with fine crystalline spinel and a geological environment that often produces exemplary transparency and stable hue characteristics. The Natural Gemstone Company maintains careful chain of custody documentation and discloses treatments, and we present this stone with full transparency regarding origin and enhancement. For the buyer seeking a gemstone that symbolizes personal power and distinction, the visual impact of this violet spinel is noteworthy because its measured very light color intensity is counterbalanced by a disciplined cutting strategy and superior polish, resulting in a gem that reads as refined and assertive in wear. The visual language of violet conveys authority and individuality, and when translated through expert cutting into vigorous light performance, it becomes a wearable emblem of presence. Collectors who prioritize technical parameters will appreciate the exacting proportions, the mixed brilliant faceting that optimizes color transmission, and the eye clean clarity that preserves optical purity.

For professional jewelers and connoisseurs evaluating this piece, considerations for mounting include an open gallery to preserve light entry, selective use of a bezel for protection on finger jewelry, or a four to eight prong setting that secures the stone while allowing crown facet play. The length to width proportion offers favorable finger elongation and balances well with both classic and contemporary head sizes, and the excellent polish ensures strong reflective performance against metal. The Natural Gemstone Company is available to provide additional photographic documentation under daylight and incandescent sources, detailed facet diagramming, and condition reports to support design decisions or insurance appraisal. This violet spinel occupies a unique niche where technical excellence in cut and finish elevates a subtle base tone into a statement of personal power and distinction, a quality that speaks directly to buyers who value provenance, craftsmanship, and the measurable facets of gem performance.