Green Cats Eye Ring Ancient Persian Amulet Chrysoberyl Cats Eye Vintage Gemstone Evil Eye Protection Gem Natural Gemstone Silver Ring 43728

Green Cats Eye Ring, Ancient Persian Amulet, Chrysoberyl Cats Eye Gemstone, Vintage Gemstone, Evil Eye Protection Gem, Natural Gemstone, Sterling Silver Ring Size 7, Sharply Defined Feline Eye, Timeless Treasure Jewelry Gift.

Antique Genuine Natural Lime Green Chrysoberyl (Alexandrite) Cat's-Eye. Contemporary High Quality Sterling Silver Ring (Size 7.5 – Resizing Available).

CLASSIFICATION: Cabochon Green Chrysoberyl Oval "Cat's-Eye".

ORIGIN: The Ural Mountains. 19th Century Gemstone. Contemporary Ring Setting.

SIZE: Length: 6mm. Width: 5mm. Depth: 4mm. All measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: 0.75 carats.

NOTE: Resizing is available. If you would prefer a different setting style, odds are we have many different setting styles available which would fit this stone(s) which could be substituted for no or very little additional cost. 14kt solid gold settings are also available. Write us for pictures and prices.


DETAIL: Known in the ancient Near East in Old Testament times, as well as to the ancient Persians and Romans, chrysoberyl was a highly valued gemstone in the ancient world. The ancient Persians believed that chrysoberyl could render their warriors invisible on the battlefield, and the gemstone was also used in the ancient world to ward off the adverse influences of “the evil eye”, reflecting the ancient belief that some evil sorcerers or witches had the ability to transmit evil with just a glance. Chrysoberyl was also treasured throughout Asia even before the birth of Christ, and was quite well known in Rome no later than by the end of the First Century A.D. Chrysoberyl gemstones (particularly cat’s-eye) originated in ancient India where they were a very important trade good, exported overland via the “Silk Route”.

Celebrating this cultural legacy here's a gorgeous, richly colored natural green chrysoberyl "cat's-eye" semi-precious gemstone from the Ural Mountains. Closely related to alexandrite (which is also a form of chrysoberyl), this gorgeous and much sought after semi-gemstone was hand shaped and polished into this very beautiful oval cabochon by a 19th century artisan, part of an heritage renown for the production of the elaborate gemstones and jewelry of the Czars of Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Europe. The result is an exquisite and beautifully colored semi-precious gemstone with lots of depth and gorgeous tone. The "eye" is very sharply defined, razor sharp, and the color is a very bright pastel lime green with distinct citrus undertones, and which truly gives the impression of a feline eye.

Good quality green cats eye semi-precious gemstones are in high demand, and can be quite costly. In fact, at retail green cats eye chrysoberyl generally costs more than alexandrite cats eye - the main principal differences are less (or no) color change but generally higher quality; chrysoberyl compared to alexandrite. The Southern Ural Mountains have been producing high value, naturally colored green and honey colored chrysoberyl cats eye for well over a century. Siberian green chrysoberyl cats eye was considered for over a century the very best chrysoberyl in the world, but in the past few decades it has become mostly played out. This is a very nice specimen representative of better quality green chrysoberyl. Though it does not change color from green to pink or purple like an alexandrite catseye, the green color and the sharpness of the eye are of the same exquisite quality.

The setting is of contemporary origin. It is a high quality setting manufactured by one of the USA’s leading semi-custom mount producers. It is constructed of solid sterling silver. We do have the ability to have the ring sent out for resizing if requested. There are many other ring styles available, if you would like to see them, just contact us, we would be happy to share them with you (email us for pictures). Most other setting styles in sterling silver are available at no additional cost. Additionally, if preferred, this mounting (as well as a wide variety of ring settings in other appealing styles) are also available in 14kt solid gold.

As might be expected under magnification the gemstone shows the unmistakable, hallmark characteristics of having been hand crafted. The coarseness of the 19th century finish is considered desirable to most gemstone aficionados, and is not considered a detriment, or detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, many believe that such antique hand-crafted gemstones possess much greater character and appeal than today's mass-produced, laser-cut gemstones. Unlike today’s computer controlled machine produced gemstones that approach flawlessness in a perfect finish, the cut and finish of an antique, handcrafted gemstone such as this is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago.

Handcrafted though it may be the gemstone has great luster, and to the eye is without blemish, but that is not to suggest that it is absolutely without flaw. As you can see in the accompanying photo enlargements, there are a number of seams of colorless crystalline material running through the gemstone. Of course it is the alignment of colorless crystals within the gemstone which creates the cat's-eye effect, so it is not unusual to find more prominent crystalline features within the gemstone; and this gemstone, like most chrysoberyl, does display visible colorless crystalline material. However to the cursory inspection of the casual admirer, the gemstone does appear without discernible blemish. And of course if inspected intently, one can see these very slight imperfections within the gemstone, as well as occasional irregularities in the cut and finish.

Naturally these characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished, antique gemstones of natural origin, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even theoretically possible, let alone commonly practiced, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today. Two centuries ago mankind was more or less limited to surface deposits or near surface deposits of gemstones. Higher quality gemstones which today are routinely mined from beneath hundreds of meters, even kilometers beneath the earth's surface, were simply inaccessible then.

It is precisely for these reasons antique, natural gemstones must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones mined from deep beneath the earth's surface were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. However for most, the unique nature and character of these antique gemstones more than makes up for the blemishes found within the gemstones, as well as the cutting and finishing irregularities common to handcrafted gemstones, all of which are by and large are only visible under magnification.


CHRYSOBERYL HISTORY: Chrysoberyl color ranges from a honey-yellow to yellow-green to an apple green to brown. Generally the yellow, green, and yellow-greenish-gold specimens are considered the most valued, the least valued being the brown. Though the largest deposits of this gemstone are in South Africa, with smaller deposits in Australia, Burma, and India; the most valued deposits, almost exhausted, are those from the Ural Mountains, specifically those around the city of Yekaterinburg, in the South Urals.

Some of the more noteworthy specimens include the incredible 563ct Star of India which resides in the American Museum of Natural History, and has a recorded history from the sixteenth century. It was mined in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and circulated among various Indian princes and kings for almost four hundred years, before being acquired by George Kunz, the noted American gemologist. Probably the finest cut chrysoberyl existing is probably the one exhibited in the Mineral Gallery of the British Museum (Natural History). Absolutely flawless and weighing 43 carats, it was formerly contained in the famous Hope collection.

The name Chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words “Beryl”, meaning green and “Chryso”, meaning golden. The two words combined mean “gold colored beryl”. In spite what the name implies, chrysoberyl is not actually a Beryl at all. The gemstone was a very important trade good in ancient India, and was exported to and found enormous popularity in many Asian cultures. Chrysoberyls have long been considered a good luck charm in numerous cultures. It was treasured in Asia before the birth of Christ, was well-known in the ancient Near East in Old Testament times, and became quite well known in Rome by the end of the First Century A.D.

The ancients believed that it would improve eyesight and to protect against evil. The ancient Persians and Arabs believed it could make one invisible on the battlefield. Chrysoberyl cat’s-eye gemstones were also worn in the Near East (as well as elsewhere in the ancient world) as protection against the “evil eye”. There was an ancient belief that some evil sorcerers or witches had the ability to transmit evil with just a glance. Certain items of personal adornment (amulets, talismans, etc.) were thought to protect the wearer from the "evil eye" by the proviso of an always watchful open eye and a chrysoberyl cat’s-eye gemstone was just that, an always open and watchful “eye”. Chrysoberyl was also very popular in Victorian and Edwardian times, when it was often inaccurately referred to as Chrysolite.