1.70 Ct. Greenish Blue Sapphire from Madagascar

This Madagascar origin sapphire from The Natural Sapphire Company is a transparent, one point seven zero carat oval, with exact dimensions of eight point zero one by six point zero six by four point three six millimeters. The stone is fashioned in a mixed brilliant cut, combining a brilliant style crown with a modified pavilion to optimize light return for an oval outline. The color is a greenish blue with intense saturation, the clarity grade is described as very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, and the polish is excellent. There has been no enhancement to this material, the color and clarity are entirely natural, and the balance of weight to proportion produces a stone that reads larger than its carat weight suggests.

The mixed brilliant geometry is the principal reason this sapphire exhibits an unmatched type of sparkle, the brilliant crown facets are precisely proportioned to refract and break incoming light into a multitude of small, high contrast flashes across the table and crown. With a length to width ratio of approximately one point three two the oval outline is classic and elegant, and the pavilion depth of approximately sixty two percent relative to the average girdle diameter is calibrated to reinforce return of light rather than leak it through the base. As corundum the material has a refractive index in the range of approximately one point seven six to one point seven seven, and the cutter has selected crown and pavilion angles that work with that refractive index and the low dispersion characteristic of sapphire to maximize brightness and scintillation rather than relying on fire. The facet junctions are crisp, the girdle is well finished, and the excellent polish allows mirror like facet surfaces that translate every microfacet into controlled flashes of light.

Color and internal structure both contribute to the stone clarity and sparkle, the greenish blue hue is produced by trace iron and titanium within the corundum lattice, and the specific balance of those elements in this Madagascar material yields a vivid, intense tone that maintains saturation under a variety of light sources. The stone displays distinct pleochroism that is typical for sapphire, shifting perceptibly from a deep blue when viewed along one optical axis to a more yellow green or greenish blue on an alternate axis, and that directional color movement enriches the visual complexity when the gem is set and worn. The very slightly included clarity grading at eye level means that inclusions are minor, do not interrupt transparency, and in many lighting situations they add to the three dimensional scintillation by producing additional controlled internal reflections rather than detracting from brilliance.

For jewelry design the stone is exceptionally versatile, the proportions and mixed brilliant cutting make it an ideal center for a close halo or solitaire design where the intense natural color is the focal point. The combination of precise cutting, excellent polish, natural intense color, and unenhanced origin produces a liveliness and depth of field that is rare among greenish blue sapphires, the interplay of facet architecture and intrinsic optical constants of corundum gives this gem a sparkle that is both dynamic and refined, outperforming many stones of comparable weight that lack such considered facet geometry. If you would like additional light performance images, facet maps, or discussion about setting options, The Natural Sapphire Company is available to provide further technical details and certified documentation to assist with design and selection.