1.03 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This cushion shape blue sapphire weighs 1.03 carats and measures 6.01 by 5.68 by 3.45 millimeters. It is transparent, medium intense in color, and originates from Ceylon, Sri Lanka. The stone has been heat treated, a standard and stable enhancement for sapphires that refines hue and clarity, and it has been given an excellent polish. Clarity is described as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, indicating that any internal characteristics are minor and do not materially interfere with the visual appearance or light transmission of the gem. The Natural Sapphire Company presents this stone as an example of classic Ceylon blue, with a balance of saturation and brightness that suits both traditional and contemporary settings.

The mixed brilliant cut employed in this cushion shape is a deliberate choice to exploit the sapphire’s optical properties. A mixed cut typically combines a brilliant-style faceting scheme on the crown with more step-like facets on the pavilion, and in this instance the cutter has optimized crown angles, table size, and pavilion depth to maximize light return. The table and crown facets act to gather incident light and disperse it into broad flashes of blue, while the pavilion facets are angled to reflect that light back through the crown to the viewer. Given corundum’s refractive index, careful facet geometry is essential to achieve strong contrast and controlled scintillation, and the 59 percent depth proportion of this stone is well within the range that promotes efficient internal reflection. The cushion outline with slightly rounded corners softens the pattern of light and produces larger, velvety flashes of color, while the mixed brilliant facet arrangement contributes a pleasing combination of sparkle and even color distribution across the surface.

The relationship between the cut and the sapphire’s inherent optical properties defines how the gem performs in daily wear. The excellent polish reduces surface light scatter, allowing more light to enter the stone and be returned as visible brilliance and saturation of blue, and the mixed cut enhances both face-up brightness and depth of tone. Because the pavilion facets are tailored to the gem’s dimensions, light that would otherwise leak through is redirected, intensifying the perceived color without sacrificing clarity. The cushion shape’s broader table provides a showy, open face that emphasizes the medium intense Ceylon blue, while the controlled facet transitions create a play of larger flashes complemented by smaller pinpoint scintillation when the stone moves. In practical terms, this yields a sapphire that reads vividly blue at arm’s length, while offering lively internal sparkle upon closer inspection.

When considering setting and mounting, the cutter’s approach to the mixed brilliant cushion provides both aesthetic and functional benefits. The rounded corners of the cushion shape reduce the risk of chipping, and the facet architecture supports a variety of mounting styles from bezel to prong work, allowing jewelers to orient the stone for optimal light exposure. The heat treatment applied to this sapphire is stable under normal wear conditions and enhances the uniformity of color across the gem, so the face-up appearance will remain attractive over time with routine care. With its dimensions and clarity, the stone offers versatility for central solitaire designs or as a focal accent in multi-stone compositions. The Natural Sapphire Company supplies this gem with full disclosure of origin, treatment, and gemological characteristics to enable informed design choices and to ensure the intrinsic qualities of the sapphire are fully appreciated in finished jewelry.