Size/Shape

Cutting

Proportions

Colors

Clarity

Origin

Treatment

Weight

9.8 x 9.8mm Round

Modified 'Brilliant' Facet Pattern, No Nicks or Scratches

6.2mm, Full Brilliance, No Windowing

Dark Bluish Violet in Daylight

Dark Purplish Red in Incandescent Light

Unusually Clean, but One Small Pit Near the Girdle

Bekily, Madagascar

Not Treated, 100% Natural

4.94 Carats

Color-Change Garnet from Bekily, Madagascar is prized for its strong 'Alexandrite-like' change of color.  The Vanadium content in these pyrope-spessartite garnets is high, causing the change of color and making them unique gems.  The refractive index is also high, resulting in strong brilliance.  The hardness is 7 to 7.5.

Demand always outweighs supply of Color-Change Garnets from Bekily.

A very experienced American Master Gem Cutter has faceted this Color-Change Garnet with care and precision.  It took several days to complete work on this special stone.  The pattern is unusual and effective, the and the polish on all facets is exceptional.

There are almost no needles in this large round.  There is one small pit, however, which reaches the surface of the crown very near the girdle.  This inclusion was left in the stone, as it can be covered with a prong or bezel setting.  There is also one small veil, and several very thin needles in the stone, all of which are difficult to find without a loupe.  For its size, the clarity of this stone from Bekily is unusually high.

The stone is also unusual in that there is more red than usual in the tone.  Instead of the dark blue daylight tone, this stone shows dark violet.  In incandescent light, instead of purple or reddish-purple, this stone changes to a notably vivid slightly purplish red.

While the recently discovered stones from Kenya can be silky, they are certainly larger than the average Bekily Color-Change Garnet.  This stone from Bekily is special, and is not a gem which is easily replaced or duplicated.