1.18 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This cushion shape blue sapphire weighs 1.18 carats, an important threshold in the market that materially affects both its desirability and value, and it measures 5.55 by 5.46 by 4.35 millimeters. The piece is fashioned as a mixed brilliant cut, combining a faceted brilliant crown with a precision-faceted pavilion, and it has been evaluated as very slightly included at eye level, with an intense color intensity and an excellent polish. The origin is Ceylon, Sri Lanka, and the stone has been heat treated, a stable and industry-accepted enhancement that refines color and improves apparent clarity. When assessing sapphires, carat weight is not simply a number, it is the primary driver of price bands, and a transparent, eye-clean stone of Ceylon origin at 1.18 carats occupies a much rarer and more valuable segment of the market than stones under the one carat threshold.

From a proportions standpoint this sapphire exhibits a relatively deep pavilion, with a depth of 4.35 millimeters relative to the average face-up diameter of 5.505 millimeters, yielding an approximate depth percentage of 79 percent. That depth profile is the result of deliberate lapidary decisions intended to retain weight from the rough and achieve the desirable 1.18 carat weight while maintaining optimal optical performance. The mixed brilliant faceting pattern mitigates the visual effect of the deeper profile, using a compact but well-proportioned table and a series of crown facets that promote strong return of blue flashes and lively scintillation. The excellent polish further enhances light return by producing crisp facet junctions and smooth facet planes, reducing light leakage and allowing both brilliance and color to be appreciated at typical viewing angles.

Color is the principal determinant of value in blue sapphires, and this stone’s intense color intensity is a key factor in its rarity. The hue reads as a vivid blue with a balanced tone that reads neither washed nor overly dark, and saturation that is strong enough to command premium pricing while still allowing lively internal reflection. Ceylon sapphires are prized for their clarity of tone and lively, velvety blues, and a heat treated Ceylon sapphire with this level of intensity and an eye-level appearance described as very slightly included is uncommon in this weight class. The mixed brilliant facet architecture has been cut to optimize color distribution and minimize color zoning, enhancing evenness across the table and crown, while the eye-visible inclusions are minimal and do not interrupt the stone’s transparency or its contribution to face-up color.

From a value and practical perspective the 1.18 carat weight delivers disproportionate significance, because price per carat increases nonlinearly at and above one carat for quality Ceylon sapphires with intense saturation and clean appearance. Collectors and designers value the combination of durable corundum chemistry, Sri Lankan provenance, intense color, very slight eye-visible inclusion, and excellent polish, because together they underpin both immediate desirability and long term resale strength. For jewelry use this sapphire’s dimensions and mixed brilliant cutting make it well suited to a bezel or low-prong setting that protects the deeper pavilion, or to a tailored halo design that visually enlarges the face-up appearance while showcasing the stone’s lively scintillation. The Natural Sapphire Company stands behind the provenance and description of this sapphire, and documentation regarding the heat treatment and origin can be provided on request to support appraisal and insurance. This 1.18 carat Ceylon cushion offers a rare convergence of size, intense color, and refinement of cut that makes it a meaningful acquisition for a connoisseur or a setting intended for lifetime wear.