Gem: Vanadium Kornerupine
Weight: 1.98ct.
Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.95 mm
Clarity: Very clean, but with a dislocation at one side, so VS leaning a little towards SI?
Origin: Umba Valley, Tanzania
Faceted by Scott Maier in a design created by Arya Akhavan
Treatments: None
Comments:
I got a chance to try out Arya Akhavan's 'Tesselation #12', which he himself is very fond of.
I'd call the shape 'roval', and the color minty mist. It does hold its color really well in direct / bright lighting, too.
This is an exceptional gem in such a size range. Anything over 1 ct. is considered extremely rare in this gem type. I've spent a lot of time finding, and making the best of the best, and this certainly is one of those.
Despite one stable dislocation, this gem looks nearly eye clean in your hand.
The pattern, and performance of contrast is very well balanced, and carefully considered by the designer (Arya), and the uique faceting deign was tweaked just right to create some really neat optical effects, reminiscent of snowflakes.
All in all, this is an extremely bright, showy gem, worthy of an impressive heirloom piece of jewelry, or as an investment gem. The last find of this quality of kornerupine came in 2019, and was dug out by 2021, and basically nonexistent in the rough or gem market scenarios by 2023 or 2024. There is no way to replace material I have and sell now - I have a bit of a backstock of rough, but when it's gone, it's gone.