Gray “Spinel Sisters”
At the AGTA show, 100% Natural Ltd. (New York) took center stage with some large, extremely rare gemstones spared of treatments of any kind. Two stones that caught the authors’ attention were a pair of exceptionally cut and nearly loupe-clean gray spinels weighing 69.96 ct (figure 1) and 11.78 ct (figure 2). There has been an increase in demand for gray spinel the past few years (Spring 2019 GNI, p. 130). Supply has remained relatively consistent, but larger, fine-quality stones are still quite rare.
Both of the gray spinels were cut from the same rough, weighing just over 220 ct and mined in Myanmar. Though famed for its rubies, Myanmar also produces equally fine red and pink spinel, as well as a range of other colors, including gray.
Master lapidarist and AGTA Spectrum Award winner David Nassi of 100% Natural Ltd. explained that gray spinel can appear lifeless and overly dark if cut poorly. His decision to create two “spinel sisters” from the same rough resulted from a fissure running through the large piece of rough (figure 3). The 11.78 ct stone provided more of a challenge, as the shape of the rough piece was a bit flat and asymmetrical when sawn from the larger stone. Inspired by a large Mozambique stone he cut many years ago, Nassi expertly fashioned this piece into an antique pear shape, perfectly complementing the larger 69.96 ct antique cushion cut (see video below).
Nassi and the authors agree that gray spinel has been an underappreciated treasure in the trade for a while now. Its presence at the AGTA show gives us hope that gray spinel is gaining the popularity it deserves.
