1.24 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This listed gem is a transparent, Other certified Blue, 1.24 carat oval shape blue sapphire, supplied by The Natural Sapphire Company. The stone measures 6.32 by 5.32 by 4.28 millimeters and displays a classic oval outline that balances face up surface area with depth. The cutter executed a mixed brilliant cut, combining brilliant pavilion facets with a modified crown, and achieved an excellent polish. Clarity evaluated at eye level is eye clean, which permits unobstructed light travel across the girdle and through the pavilion, enhancing both brilliance and apparent color. The color is described as medium intense, providing a clear blue presentation that reads neither too dark nor too pale under standard lighting. The sapphire is natural and unenhanced, and its origin is Ceylon Sri Lanka, which influences both hue character and market perception.

Optically this sapphire benefits from three principal factors that determine reflected light performance, namely transparency, cut geometry, and surface finish. Transparency is high, permitting maximal internal reflection rather than absorption or diffusion, and therefore allowing lively specular highlights across the table and crown facets. The mixed brilliant cut creates a pattern of small, contrasting facets, which increases scintillation and contributes to a dynamic play of light as the stone or the viewer moves. The excellent polish minimizes surface scattering and maintains crisp facet junctions, which preserve sharp flashes of white light and colored light. The medium intense color achieves a favorable balance, permitting bright white flashes to contrast against the blue field without the visual damping that can accompany very dark saturation.

When compared with other gemstones in the same category, this sapphire offers a distinct set of reflective characteristics. Relative to heavily saturated, deep tone sapphires from Kashmir or classic Burmese stones, the medium intense Ceylon example typically exhibits greater brightness and faster scintillation because less light is absorbed by the body color. This results in a more lively appearance under a variety of lighting conditions. Compared to heated Ceylon sapphires that have been diffusion treated or filled, a natural unenhanced sapphire like this one maintains consistent internal light behavior without zones of altered refractive index, which can sometimes blunt facet brilliance. Against other corundum family gems such as rubies, blue sapphires generally show similar luster but different color contrast dynamics, meaning the relative prominence of white flashes against color varies with hue and saturation. Compared to visually similar blue gemstones such as spinel or tanzanite, the sapphire has a higher refractive index, producing slightly stronger brilliance and a firmer, more metallic luster, while dispersion remains lower than diamonds and therefore the stone presents primarily as bright white and blue flashes rather than spectral fire.

For practical use and long term appreciation, the combination of attributes in this stone informs setting and care choices. The oval mixed brilliant cut offers secure placement in classic four or six prong settings to maximize table exposure and light entry. For clients seeking maximal brilliance, a setting that allows light from below such as a low profile bezel with open pavilion or a semi bezel will preserve scintillation while providing protection. Routine care involves gentle cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft brush to remove skin oils that can diminish surface reflection, and periodic professional inspection to ensure polished facets remain intact. The Natural Sapphire Company provides origin and treatment information for this stone, confirming no enhancement and Ceylon Sri Lanka provenance, which is a relevant consideration for both optical expectation and valuation. Overall, this 1.24 carat, eye clean, unenhanced Ceylon sapphire presents a refined balance of brightness, color, and craftsmanship, and its reflective character is especially notable among medium intense sapphires for its clarity driven brilliance and lively facet performance.