0.70 ct. Proustite
Color: Dark Red
Clarity: Eye Clean
Origin: Chile
Cut: Rectangular Step
Treatments: None
Measurements: 4.5 x 3.5 mm
One of the great gem rarities, faceted Proustite is almost unheard of outside of institutional collections. A silver sulfantimonide mineral, Proustite is well known for the stunning deep red color of crystals, along with its importance as a silver ore. As such, it is sometimes even referred to as 'ruby silver'. As a gem, it is quite a unique material - the color in many crystals can darken upon exposure to light so that the red can be difficult to see once the stone has been faceted. This makes for a stone that has an intense color but also a metallic luster - an extreme version of the visual effect of Cuprite. This example retains an excellent red bodycolor and is a fine, approachable size. Great polish for this difficult material and, overall, one of the best colors we have ever seen for Proustite.