Calcite (rough and cut set)

Item Description

Calcite is known from thousands of world localities, but faceted gems are not common due to the soft nature of the material along with perfect cleavages in a few directions. Faceted gems of Calcite are alluring due to the high refractive index of the species, which creates beautiful light return in well-cut stones. This set is all about the gemstone. The specimen is truly a piece of rough, since it is nothing more than a cleavage of Calcite with no actual crystal faces. It is highly transparent with a soft golden-white hue, but not a complete crystal. The gemstone however is a superb example of faceted Calcite with a gorgeous "Modified Rectangle Scissors Brilliant" cut and VVS clarity. As you can see in the photos, the high RI of the gem allows from brilliant arrays of rainbow flash to appear in the gem. Under correct lighting, the stone will burst with color on every side. The real kicker is that this set is from Balmat, New York, which is not the first locality one thinks of when it comes to gem Calcites. A really cool opportunity to purchase a fine gemstone with an appropriately matched piece of rough from this famous locality which is best known for its Magnetites and Sphalerites.