3.33 Ct. Cabochon Tourmaline from Mozambique

This listing describes one translucent green tourmaline weighing 3.33 carats, with dimensions of 8.96 by 8.95 by 4.94 millimeters, in a round outline and rendered as a cabochon cut. The body color is a fresh green with medium color intensity, showing a balanced tone and moderate saturation that reads evenly across the domed surface. Clarity is graded as very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, and the stone displays natural internal features typical of Mozambique tourmalines, offering modest light diffusion without heavy clouding. The polish is excellent, producing a smooth, reflective dome that enhances surface luster and allows internal characteristics to be observed with clarity. No enhancement has been applied to this material, confirming natural origin and intrinsic color, and provenance is Mozambique, a well recognized source for quality green elbaite. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this gem as a natural, untreated specimen suitable for fine jewelry and collection.

From a cutting and craftsmanship perspective, the cabochon exhibits a well controlled dome height in relation to the diameter, which is critical for a round cabochon to maintain optical depth and to avoid windowing. The cutter has preserved weight while optimizing the curvature to enhance the apparent color, by positioning the pavilion curve to maximize internal light return rather than thinning the stone excessively. The surface shows meticulous smoothing and final polish indicative of a multi step lap sequence, likely progressing through coarse and fine grinding, followed by pre polishing with fine abrasives, and finished with a high gloss compound such as cerium oxide or aluminum oxide on a soft polishing wheel. Because tourmaline is trichroic or pleochroic in many material types, the oriented cabochon profile minimizes color shifts under changing lighting directions, producing a stable green appearance when set. Typical physical properties to consider for handling and setting include a refractive index range near 1.624 to 1.644 for elbaite type tourmalines, a specific gravity around 3.05 to 3.2, and a Mohs hardness near 7 to 7.5, which allows routine jewelry use while advising care to avoid abrasive impacts and prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals.

Practical considerations for setting and design favor bezel or partial bezel mounting to protect the rounded girdle and to secure the cabochon without obscuring the dome, although low prong settings can be used where design requires more visible metal. The translucent character and very slight inclusions give this cabochon a natural, lively appearance under direct and diffused lighting, making it suitable for rings, pendants, and brooches where surface protection can be ensured. For designers and connoisseurs focused on provenance and treatment, the absence of enhancement increases desirability, and the Mozambique origin contributes to traceable supply chain value. Routine care is straightforward, with warm soapy water for cleaning and soft drying, avoiding ultrasonic cleaners when large internal fractures or inclusive planes are present. For those seeking certification, a full report from a recognized gemological laboratory can document the weight, dimensions, clarity observation, color assessment, and treatment status, and The Natural Gemstone Company can facilitate such services upon request. We invite experts and connoisseurs to examine the technical qualities of this cabochon, and to consider it for settings where natural color, thoughtful cutting, and reliable material properties are paramount.