The Golden Globe
Cat’s-eye Chrysoberyl, a stone with chatoyant effect that sweeps like a wave across the surface, the presence of microscopic needle-like inclusions of rutile or hollow tubes produces a chatoyant effect visible as a single ray of light passing across the crystal and the rough must be positioned just right to display its best advantage and it has to be cut in cabochon form.
Although other minerals display chatoyancy, cat’s-eye chrysoberyl is the only chatoyant mineral named by gemologist and the jewellery industry. In fine-quality cat’s-eye, the body colour is semi-translucent golden yellow to slightly greenish yellow and the chatoyant band is distinct, straight and silver-white, extending from girdle to girdle.
Cat's eye really became popular by the end of the 19th century when the Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria, gave a ring with a cat's eye as an engagement token; the stone became more popular and being sought-after by connoisseurs since after. The increased demand created an intensified search for it in Sri Lanka; however Cat's eye material is found as a small percentage of the overall chrysoberyl production and many stones are irregular and unsymmetrical for jewellery making.
To be offered in this auction is a 50.40-carat cat’s-eye chrysoberyl and diamond ring (Lot 80), it is nicely proportioned with unusual globe shape, displaying a distinct, correctly oriented chatoyant band in such size, making it very rare and highly sought-after by gem collectors.