This 1.6 carat rainbow andradite garnet from the famed San Pedro Mountains of New Mexico showcases a rare convergence of two optical phenomena—spectral diffraction and chatoyancy—within a single, slender freeform cabochon. Measuring 10.3mm x 5.15mm x 2.75mm, this piece displays a luminous, moving cat’s eye that glides sharply across the surface when tilted under light, surrounded by a cascade of multicolored diffraction lines that shimmer in spectral hues.

The chatoyancy, caused by fibrous or lamellar internal structures, appears as a distinct linear beam that bisects the garnet, while the iridescence—generated by nanoscale twinning planes or exsolution lamellae—produces vibrant flashes of magenta, gold, blue, and green in parallel orientation. This alignment is extremely rare in garnet material, and even more so in examples from the San Pedro locality, where a strong, well-defined eye is scarcely seen.

San Pedro Mountain is known for producing some of the most unique iridescent andradite garnets in the world, but specimens exhibiting chatoyancy are exceedingly uncommon. This cabochon is not only a gemological curiosity—it’s a rare opportunity to own a natural phenomenon in miniature, beautifully polished and ready for jewelry or collection.