Antique Genuine Natural Czechoslovakian Forest Green Five and One-Half Carat Moldavite (Meteorite) Semi-Precious Gemstone Faceted Round.

CLASSIFICATION: Faceted Moldavite Round.

ORIGIN: Moldau River Valley, The Czech Republic, 19th Century. Hand cut and faceted in Russia.

SIZE: Diameter: 12mm. Depth: 8mm. All measurements approximate.

WEIGHT: Approximately 5.55 carats.

NOTES: Upon request we can set your gemstones as a ring, pendant, or as earrings.

DETAIL: An absolutely gorgeous, richly textured and colored green faceted moldavite semi-precious gemstone originally from Czechoslovakia. The gemstone was hand crafted into this sparkling faceted round by a 19th century Russian artisan. Russia, fabled for its production of fabulous Czarist jewelry and gemstones through Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian Europe. High quality, transparent, and at a minimum eye clean, this brilliant, flashy gemstone possesses a rich velvety green color which is uniquely moldavite. Moldavite is the only known gemstone with an extraterrestrial origin. Very rare and found only in a limited area of present-day Czechoslovakia, the gemstones are the fused remains of the outer surface of a meteorite or comet which crashed into present-day Germany some 14.7 millions years ago. Evidence demonstrates that even Cro-Magnon man during the Upper Paleolithic collected the gemstones as long as 30,000 years ago.

This gemstone is absolutely eye clean, and even with a 5x jeweler loupe or in these 500% digital photo enlargements, it is difficult to discern any blemishes. Very high magnification reveals a few very tiny, widely dispersed air bubbles. Well below the size that can be detected with the naked eye, these may only be seen when the gemstone is magnified. The fine bubbles trapped within the gemstone possess the evidence of its extraterrestrial origin (read further below). All moldavite has such tiny little gas bubbles. No gas bubbles and it is not moldavite. The bubbles are the consequence of being formed 25 kilometers above the earth from the molten remains of the meteorite.

The gemstone is exceptionally clean and bright, crystal clear, and nicely colored. Though the photo enlargements here, if you scrutinize them very carefully, will show the presence of diffused bubbles of gas. However such minute bubbles are not considered blemishes or flaws - it is a characteristic of all genuine moldavite. What is important is that the color is an extraordinarily rich green, the gemstone is transparent, and other than the gas bubbles (which cannot be seen anyway except under magnification, is free from inclusions. However the trained eye will easily discern from the photo that the gemstone has been hand-faceted. The coarseness of the 19th century faceting is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment. Unlike today's computer controlled machine processes, the cut and finish of gemstones such as these is the legacy of an artisan who lived two centuries ago. Such antique hand-faceted gemstones possess much greater character and appeal than today's mass-produced machine-faceted gemstones.

This gemstone has great luster and sparkle, and to the eye is completely transparent. However at such high magnification as these images you might be able to detect occasional irregularities in the faceting and finish. However these characteristics are expected of hand-finished gemstones. Antique gemstones are as much appreciated as antiques, with the inherent coarser cuts and finishes as they are strictly as gemstones. While laser cut and machine faceted gemstones might approach flawlessness in a perfect finish, the unique nature and character of antique gemstones such as this more than makes up for the characteristics of a hand cut and faceted gemstone which by and large, are (if at all) only visible under high magnification.

Keep in mind 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. For these reasons antique gemstones must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones routinely mined from deep beneath the earth's surface today were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. You might also notice under magnification occasional irregularities in the cut and finish. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, However for most, the unique nature and character of antique gemstones such as this more than makes up for miniscule blemishes and cutting imperfections which by and large, are only visible under high magnification.

HISTORY: Moldavite is found only in limited areas in the Czech Republic, in the hills, valleys (impact craters) and waters of the Moldau and Vltava rivers. Moldavite is the outer surface of (one or more) meteorites that fused and melted as a consequence of entering our atmosphere. Evidence suggests that there were a series of major meteor impacts in an area stretching from Germany and Austria through Czechoslovakia. Great pressures and heat caused by the collision created a sort of "instant magma", which exploded back into the atmosphere. The most significant strike formed the Ries crater at Nordlingen in southern Germany. In the impact the kinetic energy of the 15 mile a second speed of the meteorite was transformed into thermal energy. The meteorite exploded, and the released heat melted the meteorite which was shot up by the pressure of the explosion into a height of about 50 kilometers.

At the moment of impact the explosion would have been comparable with a multiple hydrogen bomb. The atmosphere would have been torn apart, and moldavite formed in the vacuum bubble. The molten moldavite then fell back to Mother Earth in droplets. A very unique and specific feature of moldavite are the minute round bubbles inside the gemstone material. America's NASA examined the gaseous inclusions and determined that the pressure of rare gasses within the gemstone was equivalent to the atmospheric pressure of roughly 20 - 25 kilometers above the Earths surface, demonstrating that the gemstones were indeed formed miles above the earth's surface as a molten substance.

Known as a tektite, moldavite resembles obsidian. It is a singly refractive glass-like substance with many included minerals (iron, magnesium, aluminum, lime etc.), but is primarily made up of silica (quartz); anywhere from 70% to 80%. The oldest discoveries of worked moldavite goes as far back as the Stone Age, when moldavite was worn as amulets, mostly because of the natural appearance and striking green color. Professor Vladimir Bouska, in his book "Moldavites - The Czech Tektites", states that "The first human being that was interested in Moldavites was a Cro-Magnon man from the:Upper Paleolithic. Several potsherds of green Moldavite glass were found together with the famous statue of Venus of Willendorf, which is about 29,000 years old, at Willendorf in Lower Austria."

Fragments of moldavite have also been unearthed at many other archaeological sites throughout central Europe which yielded relics from prehistoric inhabitants. Moldavite was first described in print more than two hundreds years ago. The first scientific report about these strange stones was published in 1786 when Professor Josef Mayer delivered a paper at the symposium of the Czech Society of Sciences. Moldavite's history in magic and spirituality was also recorded in the Middle Ages. It was believed to be one of the stones in the Holy Grail. Ancient learned men from Babylon and Egypt, as well as astrologers in Middle Ages, attributed a magic power to influence the human body to all green stones. Until today this belief remains strong especially in the countries of East Asia. It is widely believed that moldavite gives energy, removes tiredness, headaches, and is more than any other stone a fitting object for concentration exercises and meditations. It is also believed that the iron inclusions help with anemia and give physical strength, and that it is a great heart healer and can magnify the healing energies in other stones.

Only a few dozen pieces of moldavite have been found outside Czechoslovakia (in Austria and/or Germany). Since the late nineteenth century not only gemstones have been produced from moldavite, but other objects have been decorated with this fabulous gemstone, such as tiaras, combs, rings, earrings, cuff links, and walking sticks. Previously little known due to its rarity, interest in moldavite increased considerably in the 1960's when the government of Switzerland presented Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of her coronation, with a tiara in the centre of which was placed a Czech moldavite in its natural state, surrounded with diamonds and black pearls. Since that time the export of moldavite from Czechoslovakia has been severely curtailed and is highly regulated.

SHIPPING OPTIONS: All purchases are backed by an unlimited guarantee of satisfaction and authenticity. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, you may return it for a complete and immediate refund of your entire purchase price. Most of these antique gemstones were originally part of two collections, one originating in India principally composed of gemstones originally mined in India, Burma, Ceylon, and Siam, and then hand faceted in India. The addition of a second accumulation of antique gemstones originally mined in the Urals in the mid to late 19th century (including alexandrite) completed the collection. These gemstones as well were hand finished. The Urals have been one of the world's major sources of precious and semi-precious gemstones for many centuries. As well, additional specimens are occasionally acquired from other institutions and dealers in Eastern Europe and Asia. These antique gemstones are now in the United States and are available for immediate delivery.

We ship inventory from the USA order fulfillment center near Seattle, Washington. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipping within 48 hours of payment. A certificate of authenticity is available upon request. We prefer your personal check or money order over any other form of payment - and we will ship immediately upon receipt of your check (no "holds"). We will accept PayPal payments. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE".