Rubellite Faceting Information

Color: Red/Purple/Pink
Moh's Hardness: 7-7.5
Refractive Index: 1.616-1.652
Critical Angle: 38.23°
Specific Gravity: 3.02-3.26
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Uneven, small conchoidal.
Dispersion: .017
Heat Sensitivity: Not usually a problem
Dichroic: Strong (many color variations)
Birefringence (double refraction): Medium (.014-.024)
Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Treatments

Heat is sometimes used to lighten rough and get rid of undesirable color. Radiation is used on cut stones to improve color, but it is not commonly used on rough (usually stones are cut first and then irradiate).

Rubellite Faceting Comments

Cuts and polishes like any other Tourmaline, usually no problems. Orientation is important, go for the best color. Be careful about over saturation, stones can be dark sometimes.

What I prefer to polishing with: Alumina oxide with a tin lap (scored).

About any Tourmaline design will work well, although I generally prefer a shallow checkerboard on darker rough. Pick a design with the correct depth for the rough you have. Light rough deep design, dark rough shallower design.

Rubellite Faceting: Gem Design Suggestions

Signature #4 - This is good for about any rough
Easy Emerald - This is a classic and works well on poor "c" axis colored stones
Smith Bar - This is a classic and works well on poor "c" axis colored stones