Dark green tourmaline and red rubellite gems can look very black in an emerald cut. Learn how to minimize this effect and show off these rich colors best.
Answer:Emerald cuts tend to make tourmalines with dark colors, like dark red rubellites or green verdelites, appear even darker. Keep the end facets on the pavilion as steep as possible. 70° is good.
Even if the tourmaline stone doesn't have a dark C axis, it tends to look black in the finished gem. Keeping them steep minimizes this.
Donald Clark, CSM IMG
You can find examples of emerald-cut green and red tourmalines in our Gem Photo Gallery, like this 2.12-ct, blue-green tourmaline from Congo and this 3.88-ct rubellite from Nigeria.
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Answer:Emerald cuts tend to make tourmalines with dark colors, like dark red rubellites or green verdelites, appear even darker. Keep the end facets on the pavilion as steep as possible. 70° is good.
Even if the tourmaline stone doesn't have a dark C axis, it tends to look black in the finished gem. Keeping them steep minimizes this.
Donald Clark, CSM IMG
You can find examples of emerald-cut green and red tourmalines in our Gem Photo Gallery, like this 2.12-ct, blue-green tourmaline from Congo and this 3.88-ct rubellite from Nigeria.
