1.00 Ct. Bluish Green Sapphire from Madagascar

This transparent cushion shape bluish green sapphire weighs 1.00 carat and measures 6.26 by 4.52 by 3.58 millimeters, dimensions that correspond to an approximate depth percentage of 66.4 percent when calculated against the mean diameter. That 1.00 carat weight is a critical threshold in the trade and in the mind of many connoisseurs, because at this mass the stone occupies a perceptible optical presence on the finger while still maintaining the controlled proportions required for optimal light performance. In corundum, carat weight translates directly into volume according to the species specific gravity, so a 1.00 carat sapphire represents a compact yet substantial volume of dense material, and measured against face-up dimensions it reflects an efficient material distribution by the cutter. The physical measurements indicate a classical cushion outline with balanced length to width ratio, allowing the pavilion depth to support strong internal reflections without sacrificing table size or face-up spread, and the exact millimeter specifications are useful for designers and setters who must calculate bezel depths, gallery height, and prong placements to accommodate the stone with minimal loss of visible area.

The cutting style is faceted with a mixed brilliant cut, a hybrid approach that places a brilliant facet scheme on the crown and a series of step or modified facets on the pavilion to marry scintillation with controlled color saturation. In practice this mixed brilliant execution gives the table and crown facets broad, scintillating flashes, while the pavilion facets act as color windows that deepen the bluish green tone. The cutter’s decisions regarding facet angles and girdle thickness are evident in the excellent polish and the well-defined facet junctions visible in all viewing directions. The pavilion depth, when combined with the relatively moderate table and the cushion’s softened corners, promotes return of light across a wide angular range, yielding balanced brightness and a measured degree of contrast that accentuates the stone’s core color. Excellent polish is particularly important in a mixed brilliant cushion because even minor surface polish defects will scatter light from the crown and reduce the apparent saturation and brilliance; in this specimen the polish quality allows the facet planes to act as precise mirrors, maximizing both scintillation and the vivacity of the hue.

Color and clarity characteristics define much of this sapphire’s market standing. The stone exhibits an intense color intensity in a bluish green field, a tone and saturation combination that reads as both rich and nuanced rather than flat or overly dark. Bluish green sapphires often show pleochroism, and this piece displays dichroic tendencies with shifts between blue and green depending on orientation, a behavior consistent with the presence of iron and titanium as chromophores in Madagascar corundum. The clarity grade is slightly included when examined at eye level, which indicates that inclusions are present but not detractive to face-up appearance or structural integrity; such inclusions can serve as fingerprints of natural origin and do not impede the gem’s polish or durability. Importantly, the stone is unenhanced, with no heat treatment or diffusion, which materially increases scarcity because the majority of commercial sapphires undergo some form of enhancement. Origin is Madagascar, a source that has produced a wide range of desirable colors in the past two decades, and provenance together with an unenhanced status places this sapphire in a class that commands greater interest from collectors and from buyers seeking natural material with minimal human alteration.

From a valuation and rarity perspective the one carat unenhanced intense bluish green sapphire in a well-executed mixed brilliant cushion cut represents a confluence of attributes that drive both aesthetic appeal and market premium. Weight matters: a full carat is a psychologically and commercially significant milestone, and at that weight the gem transitions from being a small accent to a primary center stone candidate for ring, pendent, or bespoke settings. The unenhanced nature and Madagascar origin, combined with intense color and clean eye-visible presentation, contribute to supply-side scarcity because fewer stones meet all of these criteria without corrective treatment. For designers the measured dimensions and depth percentage inform setting decisions that will preserve face-up spread while protecting pavilion facets and optimizing light entry; for example a low-profile four-prong head with fine crowns will secure the stone and allow unobstructed crown exposure, while a bezel with polished internal surfaces can intensify perceived color for clients seeking a deeper tone. At The Natural Sapphire Company we document these technical parameters so that clients and craftsmen can assess both the visual performance and long-term value implications, and we emphasize that a 1.00 carat, mixed brilliant cushion from Madagascar, unheated and with excellent polish, occupies a special position in both custom jewelry and investment-oriented acquisitions.