Presented with a SRB of about 2.5 carat, with light behind it shows a bright yellow/orange but without direct illumination it is a dark brownish colour. The owner has been ripped off with a couple of cut and rough stone purchases in the past. I am thinking it is a hessonite garnet, which has been cut with an ineffective pavilion - perhaps too deep for proper refraction (it is obviously not too shallow as there is no possibility whatsoever of windowing). I have just recut a Sri Lankan Blue for him (worst cut stone I have ever seen - managed to recover 1.2 ct from 1.95 ct in a total recut) and he wants me to have a go at this. Now although the R/I for H/Garnet is at 1.73 thus is not that much different to Sapphire - and a good sapphire pavilion angle is around 42 I am wondering if I should lower that angle to around 40 to cut a shallower pavilion for better refraction - appreciate any thoughts.
