5.5ct Sugilite Cabochon | Natural Untreated Sugilite | Hand cut in California, USA by Pure Gems Minerals and Design | shops 17.4x12.6x4.4

Material: Sugilite (natural and untreated)
Description: This is a gel sugilite cabochon, freeform cabochon cut.

About:
Designed, crafted, and sold by me! Hand-cut by me in California, U.S.A. with excellent craftsmanship and quality. This cabochon was hand cut and the finished cabochon was cut from 100% natural and untreated sugilite.



Sugilite is a very rare mineral with limited quantities ever mined. This cabochon was cut from sugilite out of a collection of old stock sugilite from Wessels Mine, South Africa that I've had in storage for more than 20 years! 



Sugilite grows in a metallic host rock, Manganese, which may include trace amounts of other rare minerals commonly found together such as richterite (blue) and bustamite (brown to orange) with occasionally trace host rock, manganese (though this is rare and uncommon in most my specimens and it is stated and shown).



Bustamite and Richterite are rare minerals in themselves and can create gorgeous top quality rare gems. When coupled or blended with Sugilite they can produce some of the most gorgeous, one-of-a-kind rare finished stones with patterns and depths like no other, and some color combinations, qualities, and varieties of rough with these mixed with sugilite can be the rarest and hardest to find, especially at the top quality. This listing's primary categorical material is listed but very well may have some of these other trace minerals present.



This cabochon can be used in jewelry, as a collector piece, art, palm/pocket stone, and decor item or for wire wrapping, macrame jewelry, and more. 




Photos:

This item was photographed wet in direct LED (daylight lighting - 5300K). Why? I specifically use full-spectrum wavelength 5300K lightbulbs, because they mirror the same wavelength of light and can capture the exact hues of the stone which in the case of sugilite is very important and very hard. I want you to get in hand what you see. I know it's hard to buy online. I do not edit my photos, this means I don't increase exposure or change color saturation or anything. The actual hue of sugilite can translate to a dramatic difference in the price of a finished stone. I cut a lot of sugilite stone and work with all the varieties shops of rough I sell here. I also do close-up photos so you can see the details of the stone and composition. 



Why do I use indoor 5300K lighting over outdoor sunlight? Most of these top gem quality sugilite gels will GLOW so bright in natural lighting sunlight due to the translucency of the gem and intensity of sunlight, like put your sunglasses on but outside of direct sunlight Sugilite looks different so the lower lumens indoors allow you to see the material, natural pattern and intricacies of the gemstone, know the hue and allows you to see the quality. I want you to see the detail as much as possible, the details in the gel stand out more in close-up photos, and in hand, the stone has a high polish (best you'll find on sugilite). Additional photos are available upon request. Please request additional photos, including outdoor photos, and information before purchasing. I can usually accommodate most requests.





Crystal, Mineralogical, and Metaphysical Association:

Many enthusiasts know Sugilite uniquely for its metaphysical and healing properties, and its associated symbolic meanings for love, royalty, success, and positive healing. Sugilite is closely related and often formed with other minerals and elements, including Richterite (blue), Bustamite (Orange), and Manganese (Black when rough but looks Silver Metallic when polished), which is why some Sugilite has beautiful patterns and hues.




Tip:
When shopping for Sugilite cabochons online, consider the weight and pricing of the stone in carats or grams, consider the quality of polish on the stone, treated vs untreated, natural vs simulated, the saturation of color, the hue of the color, percentage of other minerals or metals (like manganese the host rock of sugilite), translucency (gel) or opaqueness (non-gel), the shape of the stone and it's pleochroic nature (defined: “absorbing different wavelengths of light differently depending on the direction of incidence of the rays or their plane of polarization, often resulting in the appearance of different colors according to the direction of view.” - Oxford Languages Dictionary). For sugilite, this means that in one light source it may be like bluish-purple in hue vs the same stone in a different light source it may be reddish-purple in color. Typically you get the most amount of pleochroism in the gel varieties with increasing contrast in the very highest color saturated (natural obviously) grades. This is why I am very particular with my lighting. Don't forget there is a 5x factor between carats and grams, e.g. 10 grams = 50 carats. 



Have questions? Send me a message, I'm happy to help out.

Looking for custom-made pieces? I make custom pieces upon request.

Please ask any questions and review policies and FAQS before ordering.

Please note that on a very very rare occasion a piece will no longer be in stock as these are OOAK and also available in other locations or during shows. Please bear with me, I'll let you know quickly and get you a quick refund if this happens, and thank you very much for your understanding! If you want to check before ordering, send me a message about the piece and I'll try to confirm quickly.


Want to be in the know?:
Want to be the first to know when new cabochons are listed on my Etsy shop, when I'm having a promotion or sale on my Etsy shop, or be sent real-time important updates? Send me an email at purecabs [!at] outlook.com with the Subject Line: “Please add me to your Etsy Shop mailing list - I agree to receive your Etsy shop updates.” I will add you to a no-nonsense email list that will update you right when relevant things happen in my Etsy shop, like new listings going available and promotions occurring. You can request to be removed from this list at any time by email with the Subject Line: “Please remove me from your Etsy mailing list”.

Shipping notice:
Due to limited shipping options at this time, shipping carrier and method are not guaranteed and may change at the discretion of the seller to the best available option for the order which may vary from that selected at checkout. If you need an exact quote on shipping, message me with your order item(s) city, state, country, and zip. Any international order whose shipping options have changed due to changing circumstances or shipping costs significantly exceeding those paid may be canceled and refunded in full by the seller.

All international shipments will be insured for the amount of the items declared and purchased value. Shipping overages, if any, will be refunded automatically at the time of shipment. Most international shipments at this time are costing more than what is listed for the item and destination.

I will combine shipping from my other shops upon request:
PureGemsMinerals (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PureGemsMinerals)
PureJewelry (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PureJewelryDesign)