2.42 Ct. Tourmaline from Afghanistan

This transparent 2.42 carat cushion shape green tourmaline measures 7.86 x 7.24 x 6.18 mm, and is cut with a mixed brilliant faceting scheme that combines a brilliant style crown with a carefully proportioned pavilion, offering an optimal balance between scintillation and face up spread. The clarity grade is very very slightly included evaluated at eye level, the color is medium intense green, the polish is excellent, there are no enhancements, and the material is natural Afghanistan origin. At this size and with these proportions the pavilion and crown have been calibrated to the optical properties of tourmaline, allowing efficient light return and strong facet definition, while the cushion outline softens the light transitions and enhances the gem as a wearable center stone. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this piece as an example of precise lapidary control, where facet junctions, symmetry, and polish converge to maximize transparency and clarity presentation.

Technically the mixed brilliant cut used here is designed to take advantage of tourmaline refractive indices, producing large contrast patterns and crisp facet flashes rather than the broad windows that unoptimized cutting can cause. The medium intense green tone is evenly distributed across the table, permitting deep but lively light interaction from table to pavilion. Very very slightly included clarity at eye level means inclusions are minute and do not disrupt the main optical paths, so brilliance and scintillation remain clean and consistent. An excellent polish ensures that facet surfaces operate as highly reflective planes, preserving sharp light return and accurate color transmission, and the lack of enhancement guarantees long term color stability and predictable behavior under different lighting.

Compared to more common green gemstones this tourmaline stands out for its combination of transparency and tailored faceting. Versus emeralds it offers a much cleaner face up appearance and stronger immediate brilliance because emeralds frequently contain dense inclusions that diffuse light. Versus peridot and many green garnets the tourmaline shows a fresher mid green and a more controlled scintillation pattern due to the mixed brilliant geometry, and versus green sapphire the optical character is different, with tourmaline producing a livelier play of light within its RI range and subtle pleochroic shifts that add dynamic interest in motion. For a collector or an installer seeking a technically refined green center stone, this Afghanistan tourmaline is a rare, well cut, and naturally stable choice available from The Natural Gemstone Company.