1.68 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This cushion shaped blue sapphire weighs 1.68 carat, with finished dimensions of 6.11 x 5.47 x 5.68 mm, and it presents a transparent, clean face up appearance. The gem is fashioned with a mixed brilliant cut, combining a briolette influenced crown geometry with a modified pavilion that maximizes light return, and the polish is graded excellent. Clarity is assessed as very very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, these minute inclusions do not interrupt the window of transparency, and they permit the stone to read as clean and vivid under common viewing conditions. The color is vivid in intensity, a saturated medium deep blue with a slightly purplish overtone that is characteristic of fine Ceylon material, and the piece has been heat treated to optimize tone and saturation following industry standard practice. The Natural Sapphire Company presents this gem as a precision cut, trade standardized item, with provenance from Ceylon Sri Lanka, and the combination of weight, proportions, and transparency yields an elegant face up presence suitable for solitaire or three stone designs.

From a faceting perspective the mixed brilliant engineering exploits the best of both worlds in light performance, the crown carries a series of kite and star facets that act to disperse light across the table, while the pavilion incorporates modified brilliant facets that are calibrated to return maximum light to the observer, this interplay produces lively scintillation and controlled contrast zoning. The cushion outline has rounded shoulders and a slightly elongated silhouette on the 6.11 x 5.47 mm plane, this results in an optimal table to depth relationship for a deep blue sapphire, the 5.68 mm total depth maintains a balance between color saturation and brilliance, and the result is a stone that face up presents a vivid, evenly distributed blue that remains lively in motion. Optical behavior typical of corundum is evident, including dichroic tendencies that can accentuate violet or greenish undertones under different orientations, and the cutting style here minimizes windowing while reinforcing the crown facet pattern to enhance return and the perception of depth.

Regarding clarity and treatment, the very very slightly included grade evaluated at eye level indicates inclusions are diminutive, likely represented by fine silk or minute crystals consistent with natural Sri Lankan corundum, these features often act to subtly diffuse light and can contribute to the velvety quality that collectors prize in natural sapphires, the gemstone retains full transparency and the inclusions do not compromise structural integrity or polish. The heat treatment applied is a permanent, stable enhancement performed under controlled conditions to remove brownish overtones and to intensify the intrinsic blue, this is a widely accepted practice among reputable dealers to realize the inherent color potential of Ceylon rough, and when executed and disclosed properly, it yields a stone that is both beautiful and durable for daily wear. The excellent polish demonstrates meticulous lapidary technique, facet junctions are executed with care, facet symmetry supports predictable light performance, and the overall craftsmanship aligns with the standards expected by connoisseurs seeking a high quality natural sapphire.

Beyond the technical particulars there is a romantic provenance story tied to the hue and clarity of this Ceylon blue, imagine a monsoon dusk over the central highlands of Sri Lanka, where rivers and hidden pools gather the last light and the sky melts into a saturated blue with a hint of violet, miners hand the rough to cutters who translate that fleeting twilight into facets, and the resulting 1.68 carat cushion holds within its pavilion the memory of rain washed stone and patient human refinement. The vivid color serves as a metaphor for a deep and enduring promise, the very very slightly included clarity suggests a love that is true and resilient, little signatures within the crystal like small, private vows that prove the gem is natural and lived in, and the cushion shape lends itself to romantic settings that allow light and color to be seen from every angle. If you are considering a setting, a low bezel that protects the girdle while allowing a generous crown view will showcase color, alternatively a four prong cathedral mount will maximize light entry and movement, and our gemologists at The Natural Sapphire Company can assist with custom design choices that respect the optical characteristics and provenance of this sapphire.