Chrysoberyl-2015-12
Chrysoberyl from India
Chrysoberyl from Orissa, India, 15.13 carats, 17.99 x 14.75 x 7.55 mm. Inventory #22929. (Photo: Mia Dixon)
This featured stone may be hard to sight-ID at first, because this particular color is quite unique for the chrysoberyl family. This 15.13-carat gem shines with an intense, almost neon-like greenish-yellow hue. Pala International's Bill Larson has had this stashed away since he purchased it in the 1970s from the deposit in Orissa, India. Exceptional color, size, and cut from the locality.
In the last few years we have seen more fancy colors coming out of the Merelani deposit. A departure from the classic blues, we have see greens, yellows, pinks, and purples like this one. The fancy colors often come out of the ground with no need of heat treatment, making them much more rare than the common blue hues.