This 5.575 carat oval tourmaline is a product of the Malkhan pegmatite field in the Transbaikal region of Russia, cut in a fancy checkerboard-faceted style that sets it apart from the standard step- or brilliant-cut ovals typically seen from this locality. The checkerboard pattern across the crown creates a distinctive grid of overlapping squares rather than radiating facets, giving the stone a more architectural, modern optical character and multiplying the number of individual light-return points across the face. The color is a deep, saturated orange-red, warmer and more garnet-like than the raspberry-pink tones typical of Malkhan material, with rich, even saturation throughout. Clarity is fairly good, with a few fine inclusions visible on closer inspection that don't interrupt the stone's overall depth or transparency. In hand it's remarkably juicy and lively, with the checkerboard facets throwing a denser, more textured sparkle than a conventional cut. The color is entirely natural, with no heat treatment applied, confirmed by the accompanying Marianovich Gems Certificate of Authenticity.
