0.60 Ct. Greenish Blue Sapphire from Madagascar

Sapphires have been treasured through the ages for their association with royalty, wisdom, and enduring beauty, and this greenish blue sapphire from Madagascar continues that long tradition, standing as a small but potent example of nature transformed by expert hands. At The Natural Sapphire Company we celebrate the stories each stone carries, and this round gem, with its soft sea and sky tones, evokes the calm authority of classic jewelry worn across centuries. Its presence speaks to a love of legacy, the kind of heirloom quality that is chosen with thought and worn with intent, rather than fleeting fashion. The mixed brilliant cut gives the stone a modern touch while honoring historical ideals of symmetry and light, making it equally at home in a period inspired setting or a contemporary design.

This particular sapphire is a transparent 0.60 carat round shape stone, with exact dimensions of 4.70 by 4.76 by 3.50 millimeters, and it has been fashioned in a mixed brilliant cut that maximizes face up presence. The color reads as a greenish blue with medium intense saturation, and the clarity grade is slightly included when evaluated at eye level, a common and honest description for natural sapphires of this size. The polish is excellent, and the gem has been heat treated to enhance its color and stability, a long accepted practice in the trade that helps bring out the most pleasing tone and evenness. Origin is Madagascar, a source that has become synonymous with a wide and beautiful color palette, and the stone is transparent enough that its internal reflections and facet play are clearly visible to the eye.

When comparing its reflective qualities to other sapphires in its category, several points stand out. As a corundum, sapphire has a refractive index that allows for a lively inner brightness, and this mixed brilliant cut has been used because it balances scintillation and color, creating a star like pattern that can be admired under light. Against the velvety blues of Kashmir sapphires, which often display a softer, more diffuse glow due to their rich saturation and silk inclusions, this Madagascar stone reads as brighter and more faceted in its return of light, with sharper flashes rather than the plush glow of Kashmir material. Compared with classic Sri Lankan or Ceylon sapphires, which are often lighter and brisker in tone, this gem sits between those traditions, delivering more depth than the palest Ceylon blues, while keeping a lively table reflection that appeals to those who prefer sparkle alongside color depth. Montana sapphires, with their earthy tones and unique inclusions, tend to show more subtle, directional light play, whereas this stone has a more uniform scintillation because of its mixed brilliant proportions and excellent polish.

If we broaden the comparison to similar gemstones, the way this sapphire reflects light differs from gems like spinel, aquamarine, and tanzanite in predictable but important ways. Spinel, with a slightly lower refractive index, often appears softer but can be very lively when well cut, yet it does not usually exhibit the same durable luster that corundum provides. Aquamarine, belonging to the beryl family, transmits light with a cooler, glassier sheen and shows noticeably less brilliant return because of a lower refractive index and dispersion. Tanzanite offers pronounced pleochroism and a dramatic shift in color with the angle, which can be mesmerizing, but it is softer and rewards gentler handling. This Madagascar sapphire combines a strong, crystalline luster with robust durability, thanks to corundum hardness, and its dispersion is modest, so the beauty comes from concentrated facet reflections and clear, sharp scintillation rather than rainbow fire. The slight inclusions present do not disrupt the overall light performance at normal viewing distances, and the excellent polish ensures that surface reflection is maximized.

In practical terms for a collector or someone commissioning a piece, this 0.60 carat greenish blue round sapphire from The Natural Sapphire Company offers a timeless option that honors historical reverence for the stone while catering to contemporary expectations for sparkle and wearability. Its size and round mixed brilliant cut make it ideal for classic engagement settings, center stone use in a delicate ring, or paired accents in a vintage inspired pendant. Heat treatment and excellent polish provide stability and a refined finish, and the Madagascar origin delivers a character in color that is increasingly sought after for its balance of saturation and clarity. If you value a gem that nods to the long lineage of sapphire use in jewelry, yet performs with the clean, facet driven light return prized today, this stone is a fine example, and we at The Natural Sapphire Company would be pleased to discuss setting options, certification, and how this sapphire can join an enduring piece that may be cherished across generations.