Buying a loose gemstone gives you independence, you get the freedom to make your own choice, your own jewelry design.
A natural 4.25 carat Oval Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl cabochon, completely untreated and now GIA certified (Report #6247017765). Cat's eye chrysoberyl is the best known of the chatoyant gemstones — a phenomenon stone that displays a sharp, single band of light (the cat's eye) that glides across the dome of the cabochon as the stone is rotated. At 4.25 carats, this is a collector-grade specimen: cat's eye chrysoberyl at this size with a sharp, well-defined eye sits at the upper end of what the market offers in this phenomenon category. Chrysoberyl ranks 8.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes it durable enough for regular wear.
Expert Opinion
Ahmed Shareek's Assessment
"What stands out on this 4.25 ct chrysoberyl is how sharp and well-defined the silver eye is — that crispness, combined with a completely untreated stone and a GIA report confirming species and phenomenon, is what puts a cat's eye in the collector tier rather than the commercial one."
Rarity Analysis
A handful of factors combine to make this specific chrysoberyl an uncommon find, even within the cat's eye category:
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Color: A greenish yellow body color of medium saturation, paired with a sharp silver eye — a combination recorded for this individual stone.
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Size: At 4.25 carats, this stone is well above the sizes that make up most of the commercial cat's eye chrysoberyl market.
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Treatment: Completely untreated ("No Enhancement"), which is the natural state for the finest cat's eye chrysoberyl and is not something every stone on the market can claim.
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Phenomenon: Displays chatoyancy as a single, sharp band of light that glides across the dome as the stone is rotated, rather than a soft or diffuse eye.
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Documentation: Backed by a GIA Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl Report (#6247017765) confirming species and phenomenon; the Sri Lanka (Ceylon) origin is the store's own assessment and is not covered by that report.
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Combined effect: A sharp-eyed, untreated, GIA-documented cat's eye chrysoberyl over 4 carats is genuinely uncommon — much of the material offered is smaller, treated, or shows a softer, more diffuse eye.
Buying Guidance
A few practical points to weigh before purchasing this specific stone:
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View it under a single direct light source, such as a flashlight or spotlight, to see the sharp band glide across the dome — diffuse or multi-directional lighting will mute the effect.
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Plan the setting around the cabochon's dome. At 9.63 x 7.55 x 5.41 mm, this is a moderately domed oval cabochon, so a bezel or protective prong setting that leaves the dome unobstructed will show the eye best.
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Ask any seller for the GIA report number when comparison-shopping cat's eye chrysoberyl, and confirm whether the stone is disclosed as untreated — not all cat's eye material sold online carries that disclosure.
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Availability is limited to this single piece. As a natural cabochon, this stone is one of a kind by nature, and the combination of size, sharp eye, and untreated status described above is not something that can be reordered.
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Use the Try Before You Buy option if you would like to see the stone in hand before finalizing the purchase.
Learn More About This Gemstone
Gemstone Data — At a Glance
| Item # |
CG8442 |
| Carat Weight |
4.25 ct |
| Species / Variety |
Chrysoberyl, Cat's-Eye variety |
| Shape / Cut |
Oval Cabochon |
| Dimensions |
9.63 x 7.55 x 5.41 mm |
| Color / Intensity |
Greenish Yellow, Medium saturation |
| Phenomenon |
Chatoyancy (Cat's-Eye), sharp silver eye |
| Treatment |
Untreated (No Enhancement) |
| Origin |
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) — store assessment, not covered by GIA report |
| Clarity |
Not Applicable (graded by chatoyancy quality, not standard clarity) |
| Transparency |
Translucent |
| Hardness |
8.5 (Mohs) |
| Certification |
GIA Report #6247017765 |
Why the Cat's Eye Effect Happens
Cat's eye chrysoberyl's chatoyancy phenomenon is caused by microscopic parallel needle-like inclusions aligned within the crystal — light reflects off these needles as a single sharp band. The finest examples show a strong, well-defined eye and a "milk and honey" effect: when illuminated from one side, half the dome appears lighter and half darker, divided by the moving band of the eye.
Features of this Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl
- SKU: CG8442
- Carat Weight: 4.25 carats
- Dimensions: 9.63 × 7.55 × 5.41 mm
- Gem Type: Natural Chrysoberyl, Cat's-Eye variety
- Cut: Oval Cabochon
- Origin: Sri Lanka (Ceylon) — store assessment, not covered by this GIA report
- Treatment: Untreated
- Color: Greenish Yellow
- Phenomenon: Displaying Chatoyancy — a sharp band of light moving across the dome
- Transparency: Translucent
- Clarity: Not Applicable (graded by chatoyancy quality, not standard clarity)
- Certification: GIA Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl Report #6247017765
- Hardness: 8.5 on the Mohs scale
This Oval Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl was hand-selected for the sharpness of its eye — a crisp, well-defined band on an untreated 4.25 carat cabochon, documented by GIA Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl Report #6247017765.
Care
- Clean with lukewarm water and mild soap using a soft brush
- Store separately to avoid surface contact
- Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners, which can affect the cabochon's polish and chatoyant effect
What's included
- GIA Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl Report #6247017765
- Gemstone packed in a gem sleeve
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