19thC Antique Siberia 4.5ct Honey Apatite Cats Eye Pendant Victorian Era Jewelry

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Antique 19th Century Genuine Natural Four and One-Half Carat Hand Crafted/Polished Siberian Honey-Green Apatite Cat’s Eye Semi-Precious Gemstone Cabochon. Contemporary High Quality Sterling Silver Ring (Size 7 – Resizing Available).<br>CLASSIFICATION:<br>Russian Apatite Cat’s Eye Polished Cabochon Oval.<br>ORIGIN:<br>19th century Kola Peninsula, Siberia, Russia.<br>SIZE<br>:  Length:  10mm.  Width:  8mm.  Depth (Thickness):  5mm.  Measurements approximate.<br>WEIGHT<br>:  4.55 carats.<br>NOTE<br>:  Resizing is available.  14kt solid gold setting is also 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.  Write us for pictures and prices.<br>NOTE<br>:  If you would like only the gemstone, and not the setting, we can dismount the gemstone and offer you the gemstone without the setting.  Just let us know, and yes, we’ll discount the price by the cost of the setting.<br>DETAIL:<br>A very uncommon, high quality rutilated cat’s eye apatite from the Koa Peninsula of Siberia.  This particular specimen is a velvety, rich lime green with very distinct honey undertones – a particularly desirable and very rich color for both apatite as well as chrysoberyl cat’s eye.  The color somehow brings to mind the richly brocaded fabrics of 1960’s Chrysler luxury cars.  Renown for the production of the fabled gemstones and jewelry of Russian Czars from the Medieval through Renaissance and Victorian Eras, this gemstone was hand cut and hand polished by a Russian artisan.  Produced for indigenous jewelry in the nineteenth century, apatite gemstones of this size and quality are exceptional.  Apatite is usually found just as small disseminated grains no larger than sand particles. Large well formed crystals whether cats eye or otherwise are rare, though enormous deposits are in the Kola Peninsula, (Siberia) Russia (see<br>here<br>).<br>Apatite is a frequently clear gem that also comes in many colors, including green, yellow, blue, violet, and yellow-green. The name apatite comes from the Greek word "apate" that means, "to deceive", as it has frequently been confused throughout history with other valuable gems such as tourmaline, peridot and beryl.  This particular specimen is exceptionally nice.  There are of course rutile (hair like) inclusions, but these rutile inclusions are what produces the rather pronounced “cat’s eye” effect.  Though the feline “eye” is difficult to capture here with a digital camera, it is very well defined in hand.  The cat’s eye effect, known as “chatoyancy”, is characterized by a distinct band of light across its face which sweeps from side to side.  It is the magnetic alignment of tiny included particles which create the cat’s eye.  This particular specimen is of exceptionally good quality and is absolutely stunningly beautiful.<br>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.  Additionally, if preferred, the mounting is also available in 14kt solid gold.<br>However upon close examination of the gemstone it becomes obvious that the gemstone has been hand shaped and hand finished.  The slight irregularities which are the hallmark of a handcrafted gemstone are generally regarded as appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered detrimental.  Unlike today’s computer controlled machine finished gemstones, the cut and finish of a gemstone such as this is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago.  Such antique hand-crafted gemstones possess much greater character and appeal than today's mass-produced machine-produced gemstones.<br>APATITE HISTORY:<br>Apatite is a fairly uncommon and rare gemstone.  Though apatite itself is an exceedingly common mineral, transparent gemstone quality specimens are no common.  Apatite is the mineral that makes up the teeth and bones in all vertebrate animals, from fish to man to dinosaur as well as their bones.  In fact apatite is an elemental component of every living cell, plant and animal.  Virtually all the phosphorus in the world today has either come from or is locked up in this one mineral, apatite, or what is called phosphate rock.  It is quarried for use as a phosphate fertilizer.  Apatite gemstones are found in a variety of locations worldwide which include Russia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Mexico