0.90 Ct. Tourmaline from Tanzania

This 0.90 carat oval brownish pink tourmaline from Tanzania is presented with full technical particulars to satisfy discerning buyers. The stone measures 6.71 by 5.04 by 4.00 millimeters, yielding a depth percentage of approximately 68 percent when calculated against the average diameter. The shape is an elegant oval, and the cutting style is a mixed brilliant cut which combines a faceted brilliant crown with a pavilion that is optimized for weight retention and light return. Clarity has been assessed as slightly included at eye level, indicating small internal characteristics that are not structurally compromising and that sit unobtrusively within the facet pattern. Color intensity is medium, providing an even distribution of brown and pink tones across the face up view, and the polish is graded excellent, producing crisp facet junctions and clean facet planes. The piece is natural and unenhanced, with no heat or irradiation reported, and provenance has been confirmed as Tanzania, a source known for producing richly colored elbaite tourmalines. The Natural Gemstone Company provides this detailed specification to allow accurate appraisal and informed setting decisions.

The mixed brilliant cut used on this oval is key to its optical behavior, and deserves close technical attention. A mixed brilliant arrangement typically features a table and crown laid out with triangular and kite shaped facets to maximize brilliance, paired with a pavilion that angles to escape loss of light through overly shallow proportions. With the depth at roughly sixty eight percent, the pavilion is deep enough to avoid excessive windowing, and the crown angle distribution as executed produces lively scintillation across the length of the oval. The polished facet planes are even and well aligned, enabling clean internal reflections and crisp facet defined sparkle when viewed under directional lighting. Slight inclusions as noted do not interrupt the overall light path to any significant degree, they may create minute localized extinction when viewed against a direct white background, but they also can add identifying character without compromising transparency. In practice the combination of competent proportions and an excellent polish allows this tourmaline to perform well in both single stone and multi stone jewelry designs, maintaining a good balance between color presentation and reflective dynamics.

From an optical and material science perspective, tourmaline occupies a middle ground among colored gems, and this brownish pink specimen exemplifies that position. Tourmaline typically displays a vitreous luster and a moderate refractive index, placing its light return between softer gems such as morganite and harder, higher refractive index gems such as corundum or spinel. In relative terms, this means that the gem produces more subdued fire and dispersion than a sapphire, and far less than a diamond, but it compensates with saturated color and often strong pleochroism, which is the exhibition of different hues along different crystallographic axes. In this particular stone the brown and pink components shift subtly as the stone is tilted, creating a dynamic color experience that is distinct from the single tone presentation of many other pink gems. Compared to other tourmalines, the mixed brilliant cut improves face up brilliance and scintillation relative to typical step cuts, and the excellent polish amplifies facet defined flashes. Compared to morganite, this tourmaline shows greater chroma and more lively internal reflection, and compared to spinel or garnet it shows less dispersion but a more complex color interplay, which appeals to collectors who prioritize nuanced color behavior over maximum sparkle.

From a craftsmanship and market perspective, the absence of enhancement elevates its desirability for collectors and designers who seek natural color stability and traceable origin. The Tanzanian source contributes to consistent color zoning and crystal quality seen in the sample, and the cutter has prioritized optical performance by employing a mixed brilliant schema that preserves weight while optimizing light return. Practical considerations for setting include choosing mount styles that showcase the oval face up dimensions and protect the pavilion and girdle, and selecting metal tones that complement the brownish pink balance, with warm rose gold or neutral platinum providing contrasting effects. When compared to other stones in the same inventory category, this gem stands out for its disciplined cutting proportions, its medium color intensity that reads well in both casual and formal lighting, and its polish which maximizes the available brilliance for a tourmaline of this refractive character. The Natural Gemstone Company recommends viewing this stone under both day light and incandescent light to appreciate its pleochroic tendencies and to confirm the tonal balance for the intended design. For clients seeking a technically well executed tourmaline with natural color and robust optical performance, this Tanzanian 0.90 carat oval represents a compelling combination of gemological integrity and aesthetic versatility.