8.99 Ct. Spinel from Burma (Myanmar)

This listing describes a single transparent pinkish purple spinel weighing 8.99 carats, supplied by The Natural Gemstone Company, with dimensions 13.94 x 10.42 x 6.96 mm. The stone has an emerald cut and presents a dark color intensity with eye clean clarity when examined at normal viewing distance. The finish is noted as excellent polish, and the material is natural with no enhancement. The origin is Burma, Myanmar, a locality historically associated with richly colored spinel specimens. These baseline specifications are provided to support objective assessment of the gem for design, appraisal, and archival purposes.

The emerald cut shape is a deliberate choice for a gem of this size and color profile, and it materially enhances the spinels inherent properties of light reflection. The step facets of an emerald cut form broad, parallel planes across the crown and pavilion, creating large reflective surfaces that act like mirrors. These surfaces favor controlled internal reflection and highlight depth of color rather than maximizing dispersed scintillation. In practical terms, the broad table and long step facets allow an immediate reading of the stones body color and saturation, while the well proportioned pavilion depth supports effective light return to the viewers eye. For a dark, saturated pinkish purple spinel, this cut emphasizes the velvety richness of the hue and produces broad flashes of reflected light that delineate the gems geometry.

Spinel is an isotropic gem material with a refractive index in the range of approximately 1.712 to 1.736, and the emerald cut works in concert with these optical constants to produce predictable and even light behavior. Because spinel does not exhibit birefringence, light traverses the crystal without double refraction, so facet orientation and symmetry become the primary determinants of internal reflections. With eye clean clarity at normal viewing distance, internal inclusions do not interfere with the light path, permitting uninterrupted reflections from the pavilion facets to the crown. The excellent polish further refines these interactions by reducing surface scattering and enhancing specular reflection. The resulting effect is crisp facet junctions, defined internal facets, and a surface quality that supports consistent, repeatable light return under varied lighting conditions.

Visually, the emerald cut yields what is often described as a hall of mirrors effect, simplified in this spinel to broad, parallel flashes that accentuate the gems rectangular outline and color zoning or uniformity. At face up orientation the stone presents a concentrated, saturated core of dark pinkish purple that reads as deep and even, with subtle peripheral reflections that lighten to brighter pink or purple tones when the gem is tilted or exposed to directional illumination. The step facets create contrast between dark and light planes, which enhances perceived depth and gives the stone a three dimensional appearance despite its dark color intensity. For designers and end users who prefer color concentration and facet clarity over lively scintillation, the emerald cut provides a measured, elegant presentation that communicates quality through proportionality and finish.

From a practical standpoint the combination of nearly nine carats, clean clarity, excellent polish, and natural provenance makes this spinel suitable for a central mounting in rings, pendants, and bespoke pieces where the emerald cut can be set to display the table and facet planes most effectively. The lack of enhancement confirms that the color and appearance are intrinsic to the material, and the Burma, Myanmar origin situates the gem within a recognized historical context for fine spinel. The Natural Gemstone Company provides this description to assist in technical evaluation and design planning, and to document the stones characteristics for incorporation into a finished jewel or a private collection.