1.56 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This cushion shape blue sapphire weighs 1.56 carats, with precise dimensions of 6.71 by 5.54 by 4.26 millimeters, presenting a transparent, eye clean appearance with a clarity graded as very slightly included when evaluated at eye level. The cutting style is faceted, executed as a mixed brilliant cut which marries a brilliant facet pattern on the crown with modified pavilion facet architecture, a combination that optimizes both light return and color saturation. The stone displays intense color intensity, and the polish has been graded excellent, delivering crisp facet junctions and lively facet reflections under both direct and diffuse lighting. Importantly, this sapphire has no enhancement, and its documented origin is Ceylon, Sri Lanka, a provenance known for producing sapphires with lively blue saturation and refined tonal balance.

From a lapidary and optical performance perspective, the mixed brilliant faceting on a cushion outline is chosen to reconcile two objectives, brilliance and color delivery. The crown is cut to disperse light into scintillation and fire, while the pavilion facet array is tuned to control the path length of light through the body of the stone, accentuating blue saturation without deadening scintillation. Using the supplied dimensions, the finished depth is approximately 4.26 millimeters, which corresponds to a depth percentage in the vicinity of 69.6 percent when related to the mean of length and width. This proportional depth supports an intense color appearance, as increased path length through the gem body concentrates hue, while the mixed facet scheme prevents excessive darkening by maintaining multiple internal reflection pathways. The excellent polish ensures minimal light diffusion at facet planes, preserving crisp return and high contrast between light and dark facet areas, a key indicator of quality cutting that benefits both visual appeal and photographic reproduction.

Clarity characteristics described as very slightly included at eye level indicate inclusions that are present but not significantly disruptive to overall transparency and brilliance. Such inclusions are often spatially limited and oriented so that they do not interfere with the pavilion and crown nexus where light interaction is most critical. For the discerning buyer, this clarity grade offers a favorable balance between natural character and optical performance, retaining the integrity of a natural, untreated stone while delivering strong light return. The intense color intensity is the defining attribute of this sapphire, with a saturation that reads as vivid in both direct and ambient light. Because the stone is unenhanced, its color and internal features are intrinsic, which is a decisive factor for collectors and connoisseurs who prioritize natural state and traceable origin. The combination of Ceylon provenance, untreated status, and the cutter's attention to polish and facet symmetry creates a gem that performs exceptionally in both solitary and framed settings.

This cushion sapphire is highly adaptable to a wide range of custom jewelry interpretations, due to its proportion, facet structure, and color profile. As a center stone in a ring, the cushion outline and mixed brilliant cut respond well to both open prong settings that maximize upward light entry, and to semi bezel or full bezel settings that offer enhanced security while allowing the crown to dominate color presentation. Four prong seats provide classic balance, while six prong designs add vintage stability and accentuate the cushion silhouette. In halo compositions, micro pavé diamonds with calibrated contrast can create a luminous frame that heightens apparent size and further intensifies perceived color through reflective interaction. For pendants and solitaire necklaces, a low profile seat with a tapered bail permits vertical light entry to exploit the pavilion reflections engineered by the lapidary. In bespoke earrings, matched stones can be mounted in three prong cups for minimal metal intrusion, or in closed back bezels when a warmer metal tone is desired to subtly bias the blue toward deeper, richer tones.

Material choices and setting techniques directly influence the visual outcome of this sapphire, and are critical considerations during customization. Platinum and white gold settings maximize optical neutrality and allow the stone to exhibit its natural intense blue without color competition, whereas yellow and rose gold settings can provide a complementary warm contrast that can visually enhance the stone in certain lighting environments. For clients seeking a design that emphasizes brilliance and movement, open gallery work and thin prongs maintain maximum light throughput, while clients preferring robustness and daily wearability may opt for thicker, well seated bezels and reinforced prong shoulders. Mounting details such as pavilion clearance, seat angle, and girdle protection are managed during the setting process to preserve the excellent polish and facet edges, securing the stone while keeping the planned light dynamics intact. At The Natural Sapphire Company we can provide technical consultation on metal selection, prong geometry, and halo proportions, along with CAD renderings and virtual previews to ensure the final piece satisfies both aesthetic preferences and practical wear considerations.