Gem: Tourmaline
Weight: 3.5 ct.
Dimensions: 14 x 5 x 4.9 mm
Clarity: VVS / Eye Clean
Origin: Rubaya Mine, DRC
Treatments: None
Comments:
I contemplated faceting this gem myself, and enjoying the very cool, stark color contrast in gemstone form.
However, Whenever I have a crystal that is obviously exceptional, I give it a chance to exist in the world as it is, in somebody's collection! Some things nature makes are just too cool to mess with.
Whats particularly interesting about this crystal, is that usually when you have a color change in a tourmaline crystal, it is accompanied by a fracture in the crystal. In my experience, the greater the difference between colors, the more likely the gem is to crack. That means that there are virtually NO opportunities to cut a tourmaline gem with a stark contrast that remains CLEAN.
This must be one strong crystal! The line of color change is SO immediate, that I hevn't really seen any other facet rough quite like it. Forest green and bubblegum pink is quite a combo!
Anyway, this gem has a perfect termination with three roughly equivalent main faces making up the point. They call this a 'chisel' termination. The C-axis is open, but fairly dark.
There is one inclusion at the pink end that dictates that the table must be on that side in order to cut it out, but it will leave you with great proportions for a show-stopping bi-color long emerald cut.
To cut a gem, or to leave it as a crystal, I leave it up to you!