Moonstone (rare "cat's eye" matched pair)

Item Description

Moonstone is a well-known gem, but it's not a species. It is a varietal name given to translucent opalescent Feldspar (typically Microcline or rarely Orthoclase). Typically the stones are polished in cabochons, and here we have a beautiful matched pair of a high dome round cabochons with beautiful internal clarity and nearly colorless hues. The stones show a rare "cat's eye" effect. We haven't had many of these to offer in recent years, - we had some about 15 years ago, and then nothing for a long time, and these are some of the very few we've had to offer in the auctions. The stones show a slight "eye" (best seen with a singular concentrated light source) running over the dome of the gems. When they are viewed in reflected light, the surface of the stone exhibits a slight "sheen". A very attractive and hard to find Moonstone set that I would say is desirable among collectors.