Untreated African Chrysoprase 0.54 (MCG054)

0.54 Carat
Neon Bluish Green
Transclucent
Free of Inclusions

GRADING REPORT MCG054

- Identification: Natural Unheated & Untreated Chrysoprase
- Carat: 0.54
- Shape: Marquise
- Measures: 8.16x4.15x2.97 (millimeter)
- Color Grade: Excellent
- Tone: MD70
- Color Zoning / Texture: No zoning, smooth texture, liquid silky crystal
- Clarity: Translucent / No inclusions
- Cutting Grade: Very Good+
  - Finish: Very Good
  - Depth: 72%
- Origin: South Africa

Treatment: None

Certificate No: IGI 296721367

Overall Grade: Excellent

Comment: This and another pair of chrysopase arrived hidden in a big mixed parcel of emeralds. Color-wise these gems compete with most emeralds and thus went undetected. Only a closer study of their crystal revealed a very different character. Then, they remind of jade or nephrite though they in fact belong to a sub-variety of chalcedony, sometimes simply called 'prase'. Durable for jewelry, with a history reaching back to the dawn of humanity with many references in ancient literature and science, prase is an honorable gem variety, not a fake or make believe but a perfectly respectable alternative to jade, cabochon emerald or even softly colored paraiba. Note that a half carat gives a full ring-sized gem, 8x4mm of intense yet silky blueish green. The camera loses too much color in the hand-shot while the main image needs some dialing down. The truth, as always, sits in-between: an always visible strong green with a blue tint from a silky crystal. Normally cut in cabochons, these facetted gems are highly visible for ring or pendant.