Product Description
Grab Small to Medium Deals of Natural Rough Purple Spinel Stones for Faceting
These vibrant rough spinel lots are ideal for professional gem cutters, lapidary artists, and jewelry makers looking for unique purplish tones. Sourced from authentic mining regions, these parcels offer a brilliant mix of clarity, shapes, and saturation—ready to be transformed into stunning faceted stones or cabochons.
Available in 50 to 300-carat parcels, each lot features mixed sizes and shapes, with a good selection of stones having faceting-grade potential.
Key Product Features
- Stone Name: Natural Rough Spinels
- Weight: Total parcel weight – 100 to 300 carats
- Size Range: ~0.70 carat up to 4 carats per piece (approximate)
- Color Range: Rich purple to deep purplish-pink hues with natural zoning
- Transparency: Semi-transparent to translucent; some pieces near eye-clean
- Treatment: Unheated and Untreated (Natural)
- Origin: Most likely from Afghanistan or Pakistan (common for this hue)
- Hardness: 7.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs Scale
FAQs for Lapidary Artists & Gem Cutters
Q1: Are these purple spinels suitable for faceting or only for cabbing?
A: Many stones in the parcel exhibit clean crystal faces and good clarity zones, making them suitable for faceting. However, some pieces with internal veils or fractures may be better used for cabochons or artistic carving.
Q2: What cutting considerations should I keep in mind with this lot?
A: Since the parcel contains irregular crystal shapes, always pre-orient under strong white or fiber-optic light to locate the cleanest axis. High saturation stones should be cut to minimize extinction—opt for shallower pavillions when needed.
Q3: Are there color zoning or clarity variations in this parcel?
A: Yes, this is a natural lot. Some stones show visible zoning, internal silk, or minor surface-reaching fissures. These features can be worked around for calibrated cuts or highlighted in custom designer jewelry.
Cutting & Handling Tips
- For Faceting: Select flatter, windowed pieces with vibrant, consistent color and fewer inclusions.
- For Cabbing: Go for stones with internal silk or included patterns—they make great domed cabochons with character.
- Preforming: Use 600-grit diamond wheels for shaping. Avoid excessive heat build-up.
- Polishing: Finish on tin or ceramic lap with 50k–100k diamond paste. Spinel takes an excellent polish.
- Storage: Keep in individual gem jars or padded trays to prevent chipping.
- Inspection Tip: Use cross-polarized lighting to identify stress lines and to map out clean cutting zones.
✨ Why Choose These Raw Purple Spinels?
These parcels are an excellent blend of value and quality—whether you are faceting for custom pieces, stocking up for a jewelry studio, or experimenting with fantasy cuts and cabbing.