1.05 Ct. Almandine Garnet from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This listing presents a transparent, oval shape almandine garnet, weighing 1.05 carats, with exact dimensions of 8.37 by 4.96 by 2.63 millimeters. The gem has been fashioned to a mixed brilliant cut, combining facets that optimize both light return and color saturation. At eye level the stone is graded as eye clean, showing no visible inclusions to the unaided eye, and it carries an intense red color intensity that reads as a rich, pure red with subtle warmth. The polish on this piece is excellent, contributing to crisp facet junctions and lively reflections, and the stone is entirely natural with no enhancements. The origin is Ceylon, Sri Lanka, a locality known for producing garnets with clear color and pleasing clarity, and this provenance is noted for contributing to the gemological character of the material.

Optically the garnet presents a saturated red that benefits from the mixed brilliant cut, which integrates a brilliant faceting arrangement on the pavilion with step like elements on the crown. This combination enhances both internal brightness and table scintillation while allowing the depth of color to remain dominant. Because the gem is isotropic, light transmission through the crystal is uniform, resulting in consistent color presentation as the stone is viewed from different angles. The eye clean clarity allows light to flow without interruption from visible inclusions, so the internal reflections remain clean and well defined. The excellent polish further intensifies the surface reflections, producing sharp flashes and broad areas of reflected color that emphasize the stone rather than obscuring it with surface texture.

When compared to more commonly encountered gemstones, this almandine garnet offers a distinctive balance of color and brilliance. Diamond, with a refractive index near 2.42 and strong dispersion, produces a level of fire and sharp scintillation that is unmatched, but diamonds tend to present colorless brilliance rather than deep hue. Corundum varieties such as ruby and sapphire have refractive indices in the range of approximately 1.76 to 1.77, which is comparable to garnet, and they can show strong brilliance alongside pronounced pleochroism in some cases. Spinel has a slightly lower refractive index, typically around 1.71 to 1.73, and yields a more restrained sparkle. The almandine garnet sits in a favorable optical position, with a refractive index generally around 1.76 to 1.82, producing lively internal reflections and a dense, warm brilliance that emphasizes hue and saturation rather than high dispersion fire. The result is a red that reads as more intense and uniform than many similarly colored stones, without the color shifting or dichroic behavior that can be present in certain corundum specimens.

From a practical standpoint this garnet offers both aesthetic appeal and reliable wearability. Garnets of the almandine variety commonly reach a hardness near seven to seven and a half on the Mohs scale, which provides adequate resistance to everyday wear when set securely, while standard care will preserve its polish and color. The absence of enhancements and the documented origin from Ceylon, Sri Lanka, add to the gemological transparency of the offering. For settings, a well constructed bezel or four to six prong mount will protect the girdle and showcase the oval outline, and the mixed brilliant cut will present attractive face up brightness in either warm jewelry metals or more neutral settings. Cleaning is straightforward, using warm water, mild detergent and a soft brush, avoiding harsh chemicals and prolonged exposure to extreme heat. This specimen is presented by The Natural Gemstone Company as a natural, unenhanced example of almandine garnet, suited for collectors and jewelry designers who favor saturated color and clear, consistent brilliance.