This standard round brilliant has a small area of the girdle that is visibly included. The stone has a great bright red and is very flashy. It has a flatter crown and weighs 2.42 carats. It has been confirmed to be cuprian.
Some stones I have cut are certainly more memorable than others. This one grabs my eye every time I look at this tray so it is easy not to forget the compromise I made in cutting it.
Two thirds of the rough is eye clean and with fine crystal, while the other third is included. Out of that third there is one small section of the girdle that is quite visible flawed. That is the only area of the stone that brings it down from the high level of being an exceptional gemstone. I knew that I could grind it out while I was cutting the stone, but I couldn’t make it eye clean or even remove the area that was the most flawed, without sacrificing too much weight. And with the weight lose would go the size I needed to have an adequate tone level, to make at least an attempt at being red. I wanted that red to be and accepted the limitations of the rough to get there.
This is a beautiful gemstone with a flatter crown. If it was ever set the flawed area at the girdle could be hidden under a prong. I think the compromise on cleanliness, to get red, was well taken, especially in light of red tourmaline being classified as a normally included gemstone. It weighs 2.42 carats.
Bruce
