Pieces: 1
Clarity: VVS
Type: Benitoite
Luster: Excellent
Weight: 1.12 cts.
Origin: San Benito County, California, USA
Size: 8.5 mm x 4.8 mm x 4.0 mm
Color: Dark Blue, Violet
Shape: Marquise Cut
Treatment: None, 100% natural
This is one beautiful benitoite gemstone!
Faceted benitoite gemstones of this size and clarity are not often found for sale on the open market.
Since gem quality benitoite crystals rarely get large enough to cut even a clean 1/2 carat gemstone, having a very eye clean faceted gemstone such as this one is a real prize.
The clarity grade on this beautiful benitoite gemstone is ( VVS ), it is very eye clean.
I grade very conservatively and never grade as flawless, however using 10X magnification I cannot find any internal flaws or inclusions.
The color is a beautiful benitoite dark blue with violet.
This benitoite shows this gems Pleochroism very well, while being well saturated, this beautiful gemstone can appear slightly lighter, darker, violet or even colorless depending on the orientation when viewed.
Approx. Rarity:
Only about 1% of benitoite crystals found are facet grade.
Of that 1%, only about 1% of the facet grade crystals recovered are large enough to cut even a eye clean 1/2 carat stone.
Of that number, approximately 10% might have VVS clarity. Less than .025 % of that number will cut a gemstone over 1 carat in weight.
Now maybe you can understand just how rare a Benitoite Gemstone of this size, cut, and clarity and quality truly is!
For those of you that are not familiar with Benitoite, this gem is a true All American Gemstone! All other species of minerals that gems are cut from, can be found in different places around the world, however Gem Quality Benitoite is ONLY found in one very small area in California, which is also why it is the California State Gemstone!
With the color of the finest Sapphire and more dispersion than diamond, Benitoite has no rival!
This stone is pretty amazing in the sunlight!
These photos just cannot properly express the true beauty of this stone.
All photos are taken at extreme magnification, so that you can see what you are purchasing. Anything on the surface of the stone in the photos is either dust, cotton fibers, or what is known as flea bits.
These cannot be seen with the naked eye.
