1.35 Ct. Bluish Green Sapphire from Madagascar

This transparent 1.35 carat cushion shape bluish green sapphire from Madagascar offers a rare combination of intense color, fine clarity, and precise cutting that will appeal to an educated buyer seeking both beauty and gemological integrity. The gem measures 6.85 by 5.57 by 3.75 millimeters, and has been fashioned in a mixed brilliant cut that intentionally balances the depth of color typical of corundum with lively light return and scintillation. The clarity is described as very very slightly included evaluated at eye level, which means that under normal viewing conditions the stone appears clean, with only minute internal characteristics that do not detract from transparency or durability. The polish is excellent, and the sapphire has undergone no enhancement, a fact that adds significantly to its value because natural, untreated color in Madagascar sapphires is both sought after and comparatively scarce. At The Natural Sapphire Company we emphasize provenance, and Madagascar is known for producing a wide range of attractive blues and greens, often with vivid saturation and good transparency, characteristics exemplified by this stone.

From a gemological perspective several factors make this sapphire notable. The corundum species to which sapphires belong has a refractive index of approximately 1.762 to 1.770, and a modest birefringence, which together control how light is bent and split as it travels through the crystal. The mixed brilliant cut on this cushion shape has been chosen to optimize those optical properties, creating strong facet contrast and lively scintillation while preserving the stone s intense bluish green hue. Because many green and teal sapphires display pleochroism, shifting between blue and green tones when viewed from different angles, the cutter s orientation is critical. In this example the cutter has oriented the pavilion and crown to maximize the most attractive face up color, while the mixed facet arrangement enhances return of light and sparkles comparable to well cut Ceylon sapphires yet with the deeper, more saturated tone that Madagascar stones frequently display. The very very slightly included clarity grade indicates minimal feature presence, which helps retain high transparency and allows the mixed brilliant faceting to perform efficiently, producing crisp flashes of light rather than washed out or inky reflections.

When comparing reflective qualities to other gemstones within the sapphire category, this Madagascar bluish green sapphire sits in an appealing middle ground. Classic Ceylon sapphires from Sri Lanka are often prized for their lighter, highly brilliant face up appearance, where thin brilliance and lively flashes can give an almost luminous look. Kashmir sapphires, when available, are celebrated for their intense velvety body color and soft diffusion of light caused by microscopic silk inclusions, a look that is beautiful but less sparkling and more opalescent than a mixed brilliant cut. Australian and Montana sapphires sometimes exhibit deeper, inky tones that can reduce visible sparkle, especially in smaller sizes. This particular gem, with its intense color saturation and mixed brilliant cutting, tends to return more pinpoint scintillation than a heavily saturated inky stone, while preserving the depth of color that makes greenish and teal sapphires so desirable. Compared to gem species outside the corundum family, such as spinel or tourmaline, this sapphire benefits from corundum s higher refractive index, which translates to stronger light return and a more convincing brilliance when faceted well. The advantage of an untreated Madagascar sapphire with excellent polish is that the light performance you see is the unaltered optical character of the stone, making it both a visually rewarding choice and a transparent one in terms of valuation.

For the buyer who values documentation and long term desirability, the combination of weight, precise dimensions, mixed brilliant cushion cutting, very very slightly included clarity at eye level, intense color, excellent polish, and natural Madagascar origin makes this piece a strong candidate for an elegant ring or pendant that will maintain its presence in a variety of settings. The hardness and toughness of corundum ensure wearability for everyday jewelry when set thoughtfully, and the stone s eye level cleanliness means less need for obtrusive settings to conceal imperfections, allowing the gem to be showcased cleanly and securely. At The Natural Sapphire Company we can provide additional guidance on mounting styles that preserve the face up color while maximizing light performance, and we stand behind the authenticity and origin of our sapphires. This bluish green cushion sapphire combines the optical sophistication that educated collectors seek, with the rarity and integrity of an untreated Madagascar origin, qualities that together justify both emotional and investment appeal.