1.59 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 1.59 carat oval blue sapphire from Ceylon presents a compact, well measured footprint at 6.72 x 5.84 x 5.04 mm, executed in a faceted, mixed brilliant cutting style, and finished to an excellent polish by expert lapidaries. The mixed brilliant design combines a precise brilliant crown with a deeper pavilion arrangement, allowing for controlled light return and a balance between broad color window and lively scintillation. Clarity has been assessed as slightly included at eye level, meaning that under direct inspection a small number of natural inclusions are present, yet they do not overwhelm the face up appearance. The stone carries a vivid color intensity that reads as an electric Ceylon blue, and the sample has undergone standard heat treatment to stabilize and enhance hue and clarity, a permanent and commonly accepted enhancement in quality sapphires. The Natural Sapphire Company presents this sapphire with full disclosure of its origin, cut, clarity grade, polish quality, and enhancement history, to inform technically minded collectors and designers.

From a proportions and light performance perspective this oval demonstrates deliberate cutting choices that prioritize saturated face up color and contrast. The measured depth of 5.04 mm relative to the length and width produces a depth profile that is noticeably deep, approximately eighty percent when referenced against the average of the length and width, a proportioning that intensifies tone and saturation. A deeper pavilion effectively increases the optical path length for light within the corundum, enhancing perceived color density and rendering the vivid blue more velvety and concentrated when viewed table up. The mixed brilliant faceting on the crown generates broad flashes of light across the table and larger facets near the girdle, while the pavilion facet layout produces complementary contrast and pinpoint scintillation. The excellent polish amplifies these effects by minimizing surface light loss and by sharpening facet junctions, which improves both the quality of return flashes and the crispness of facet reflections.

Color characteristics are the defining asset of this sapphire, the vivid intensity communicates a strong pure blue with subtle secondary undertones typical of Sri Lankan material, a lively medium to medium deep tone that reads bright in daylight and rich under incandescent illumination. Ceylon sapphires are often prized for a vibrant, slightly electric blue that maintains clarity of hue without drifting into overly dark or inky shades, and this example fits that profile. The heat treatment applied in a controlled environment reduces residual brownish masking and can dissolve or reorganize microscopic silk to free up light transmission, while preserving the stone s natural saturation. Slight inclusions, observed at eye level, are consistent with natural growth and may include fine silk or minute crystal features, which can act to diffuse light subtly and contribute to the stone s characteristic velvety texture rather than detract from it. Pleochroic behavior is apparent when the stone is rotated, shifting between slightly different blue tones, a quality that adds dynamic color play once set into jewelry.

When integrated into jewelry designs this sapphire s vibrant color will stand out in any setting, yet the choice of mounting should take into account its deeper pavilion and slightly reduced face up spread. In a solitaire prong setting the vivid blue will be unencumbered and will present strong table up color, while a low bezel can protect the girdle and showcase the deep saturation, albeit with a modest reduction in perceived size. A halo of small white diamonds is an effective strategy to increase apparent scale and to create a complementary brightness contrast, while an open gallery or minimal bezel allows light to enter the pavilion and preserve the saturated face up appearance. For clients who prioritize maximum apparent size, a bezel with a larger top opening or a halo design will deliver a more generous visual effect, whereas designers seeking pure color intensity will favor minimal metal intrusion around the table. The stone s durability is assured by the hardness of corundum, and the permanent nature of the heat treatment means long term stability of the color. The Natural Sapphire Company is pleased to offer this 1.59 carat Ceylon sapphire with detailed imaging and technical description to support design decisions, and our gem specialists are available to advise on mounting options that will best showcase the vivid blue and finely executed mixed brilliant cut.