1.26 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 1.26 carat oval blue sapphire from Ceylon offered by The Natural Sapphire Company is a study in proportion, optical engineering, and traditional lapidary craft. At 6.84 by 5.74 by 3.97 millimeters the stone exhibits an ideal table to depth relationship for an oval of this weight, allowing the pavilion architecture to maximize return while maintaining a pleasing face-up size. The cutter employed a mixed brilliant scheme, combining a brilliant-cut crown with a pavilion that integrates both faceted brilliant elements and controlled step facets. This hybrid approach optimizes scintillation across the table and crown facets while using pavilion steps to concentrate and deepen the sapphire s color, a common technique when working with fine Ceylon material to preserve tone and saturation. The girdle is carefully faceted and proportioned to facilitate secure setting with minimal loss of visible weight, and the excellent polish ensures that facet junctions are crisp, allowing for clean light transmission and minimal surface diffusion.

Color characteristics are central to this stone s appeal, and this sapphire demonstrates vivid color intensity with a classic Ceylon blue hue. The coloration displays balanced saturation and a medium-deep tone that reads richly in both direct and ambient lighting. Slight pleochroic variation is present, typical of corundum, showing subtly different blue directions when the stone is rotated under polarized or directional light. The mixed cut intentionally channels light in a way that enhances the perceived color by increasing internal reflections and selective absorption in the blue spectral range. Clarity has been graded as very slightly included at eye level, indicating only minor natural inclusions that do not interrupt the overall transparency or brilliance. These minute internal characteristics serve as identifiers of natural origin and do not detract from optical performance, in fact they can contribute to the gem s individuality while remaining behind the veil of its vivid face-up color.

Regarding treatment and longevity, this sapphire has been heat treated, a standard and stable enhancement widely accepted in the trade to improve color uniformity and clarity in natural corundum. Properly executed heat treatment for sapphires is permanent under normal wear conditions and does not alter the structural integrity of the corundum crystal. Corundum s inherent hardness of nine on the Mohs scale gives this piece exceptional resistance to abrasion and chipping, ensuring that the polished facets will retain their crisp surfaces through decades of regular use. The excellent polish achieved by the cutter minimizes micro-abrasions that can accumulate over time, and the stone s mixed brilliant architecture aids in maintaining lively light return even after routine wear. With standard professional cleaning and occasional inspection of the mounting, this sapphire will retain its optical properties and continue to display brilliant color and sparkle for generations.

When set, the combination of precise cutting, vivid Ceylon color, and transparent clarity ensures enduring visual impact. In jewelry applications, the oval outline provides a flattering silhouette that elongates and complements many mounting styles, while the stone s cut proportions reduce the appearance of windowing and ensure consistent color from crown to pavilion. For collectors and connoisseurs who appreciate technical nuance, this sapphire rewards close examination, revealing deliberate facet placement, facet symmetry, and a finish that reflect traditional craftsmanship honed to modern standards. At The Natural Sapphire Company we document origin and treatment transparently, and this piece represents a preserved natural beauty that will continue to captivate both at first glance and upon detailed study, maintaining its aesthetic and structural qualities over the years as a reliably brilliant and color-saturated example of Ceylon corundum.