1.56 Ct. Ruby from Mozambique

This entry from The Natural Ruby Company is a single, transparent ruby weighing 1.56 carat, cut into a pear shape with dimensions 8.20 x 5.86 x 4.24 mm. The cutter elected a mixed brilliant cut, combining a brilliant facet arrangement on the crown with a modified pavilion architecture to balance maximum scintillation with controlled color saturation. The stone displays vivid color intensity and an excellent polish, attributes that enhance both the chroma and the uniformity of surface reflection. Clarity is graded as very slightly included evaluated at eye level, meaning that the inclusions are minimal and do not interrupt the visual purity of the stone in typical wearing conditions. The ruby has been heat treated, a widely accepted and stable enhancement to optimize color and reduce the visibility of some internal features, and it originates from Mozambique, a source known for producing richly saturated corundums.

From a cutting and optical standpoint, the pear outline presented here has a length to width ratio of approximately 1.40, which produces an elegant teardrop silhouette suited to both ring and pendant applications. The mixed brilliant approach concentrates small triangular and kite facets on the crown to generate lively scintillation, while the pavilion exhibits slightly elongated facets that gently channel light back through the table, preserving color depth. The overall height of 4.24 mm yields a pavilion that represents approximately 51.7 percent of the stone length, a proportion that supports substantial internal reflection without inducing excessive windowing. The excellent polish contributes to crisp facet junctions and minimal surface diffusion, so light is returned as sharp flashes rather than as muted wash. Corundum physical constants apply, the refractive index offering strong brilliance, the dispersion remaining low so that color rather than spectral fire defines the visual character, and the near top hardness on the Mohs scale provides practical durability for daily wear.

Color in this Mozambique ruby is best described as an intense, saturated red with a vivid chroma and a medium to slightly deep tone. The heat treatment process present here has been applied with restraint to deepen hue locally while preserving the natural zoning and pleochroic behavior typical of high quality rubies. Under varied lighting the stone displays stable, concentrated red, with subtle internal reflections that enrich the apparent depth when viewed face up. The vivid intensity places this gem in a category where the eye reads strong red as the dominant attribute, rather than pink or brown modifiers, which is a crucial factor for connoisseurs seeking true saturation. Because corundum exhibits pleochroism, the mixed brilliant faceting enhances the perception of color by orienting facets to favor the more desirable red absorption direction, while the excellent polish reduces scattering so that the color reads consistently across the table.

When set in jewelry this ruby’s vivid red interacts differently with skin tone and metal choice, and understanding those interactions permits considered design decisions. On fair skin with cool undertones the stone produces a striking contrast when set in platinum or white gold, which increases perceived brightness and renders the red as a crisp, vivid focal point. For warm undertones and olive complexions a yellow gold setting warms the overall presentation and complements any subtle orangey bias in the stone, producing a harmonious, classic look. Rose gold creates a softer, tonal relationship that mutes high contrast and yields a vintage sensibility while still celebrating the saturation. For medium and deeper skin tones the intense chroma of the ruby reads as a deep, luminous red that integrates naturally with the skin, providing strong presence without appearing flat. From a setting geometry perspective, prong settings maximize light entry and are ideal when the objective is vivid face up color and brilliance. Bezel settings emphasize color saturation by reducing side light leakage, which is useful for designs seeking a more solid, jewel like appearance. A halo of small white diamonds can increase apparent size and perceived brightness, but the diamond halo must be balanced so as not to visually dilute the red by overwhelming it with excessive white contrast. The pear shape by nature elongates the finger when used in rings and creates an elegant drop orientation as a pendant. The Natural Ruby Company discloses the stone’s enhancement and provenance, and our photographic references show the stone on the hand to indicate true scale and face up performance for practical design planning.