A beautiful example of different tone levels of the same pink color displayed by an emerald cut.
When the rough for this beautiful tourmaline came in, it left no doubt about what kind of gemstone needed to be cut. The whole gemstone is pink, but its tone grades from medium dark to a paler pastel as if the chromophore (coloring agent) defused threw its great crystal body. There is even a kind of creamy feel to the light colored end that is delicious. I don’t make steep ends on emerald cuts to try and keep the rich end from effecting the color of the pale end. I think normal angles produce more life in the ends and I just let the color mix as it may. In this stone it worked extremely well.
The emerald cut is large (11.95 carats), eye clean and and has a well balanced color distribution . You could call the color distribution zoning, rather than a bi-color, which is not desirable in some gemstones like amethyst. But in tourmaline I think that color gradation in a crystal, that is handled the right way, just enhance the uniqueness and beauty of the finished gemstone. And this is a beautiful gemstone that has only one other similar rival in the collection.
Bruce
