The 126-ct Cat's Eye Emerald
February 06, 23
(IDEX Online) - A 126-carat "cat's eye" emerald was among the largest ever submitted for grading, said the GIA lab in Tokyo.
The cabochon gemstone - shaped with a convex obverse rather than faceted - shows a pronounced chatoyant - or cat's eye - effect. That's when a band of bright light is reflected by a series of rain-like inclusions aligned within the stone.
"The emerald contained numerous reflective rain-like inclusions creating a chatoyant effect, whitish granular flake-like inclusions, and aggregates of tiny whitish crystals," the lab said in its winter 2022 issue of Gems & Gemology.
The semi-transparent green cabochon measures 31.3mm Ã- 26.2mm Ã- 20.9 mm and the inclusions suggest it originated in Brazil.
Pic courtesy GIA