13.84 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This listing presents a single, transparent blue sapphire weighing 13.84 carats, with an elegant oval shape and precise dimensions of 16.64 by 12.35 by 7.93 millimeters, cut in a mixed brilliant style to balance table brilliance and pavilion sparkle, clarity graded as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, medium intense color intensity that conveys a vivid yet versatile blue, and an excellent polish that maximizes surface luster. The stone has been heat treated, a widely accepted and stable enhancement that improves color and clarity, and its documented origin is Ceylon Sri Lanka, a source long esteemed for producing richly colored corundum. This sapphire is transparent throughout, without significant cloudiness, and the combination of size, cut, and finish creates a gemstone that reads as both fine and substantial in the hand or in a setting. At 13.84 carats this sapphire occupies a scale where supply becomes markedly more limited, and the oval mixed brilliant proportions provide a practical table size for rings and pendants while retaining sufficient depth to display saturation and internal fire. At The Natural Sapphire Company we present these technical attributes up front so that an educated buyer can assess the gem against objective standards, and so that the visual impression aligns with measurable parameters.

To understand the story of this sapphire is to read a chapter of deep earth history, spanning millions of years when tectonic forces, heat, and pressure converged to form corundum within high grade metamorphic terrains in the ancient geology of Sri Lanka. Corundum is aluminum oxide, and when minute amounts of trace elements such as iron and titanium substitute into the crystal lattice, a blue color results through a charge transfer mechanism between those ions, a process that unfolds as crystals grow in silica poor, aluminum rich host rocks. Over geologic time scales, metamorphism during continental collisions provided the high temperatures and differential pressures necessary for corundum crystals to nucleate and slowly thicken, often within amphibolite or garnet bearing schists, and subsequent erosion liberated these durable crystals into alluvial deposits. The gem you see now is the end result of those protracted cycles, a crystal that endured burial and uplift, transport in ancient rivers, and eventual recovery by miners working saprolite and gravel terraces in Ceylon, where conditions favored the formation of sapphires with clear crystalline structure and appealing color. Heat treatment at moderate temperatures in a controlled environment is then applied by lapidaries to stabilize and enhance the color that nature provided, a process that echoes and refines the thermal history the stone experienced in the earth.

From a gemological standpoint this sapphire’s combination of clarity grade, cut style, color intensity, and origin contributes directly to its market desirability and intrinsic value, and those elements are of primary interest to a discerning buyer. Very very slightly included at eye level indicates that magnification reveals more than the unaided eye, but that to the viewer the stone reads clean, with inclusions that do not distract from the color or brilliance, a quality that becomes increasingly rare at larger carat weights. The mixed brilliant cut is selected to optimize light performance in an elongated outline, balancing scintillation from the crown with depth retention in the pavilion, and the excellent polish ensures that light transmission is not hindered by surface abrasion. Medium intense color intensity is often preferred by connoisseurs for its balance between saturation and adaptability, producing a blue that appears lively in daylight and elegant under artificial lighting, and Ceylon origin carries a provenance premium for its historical association with fine, velvety to cornflower blues. Heat treatment is standard practice in the trade, and when properly disclosed, it is accepted by collectors and investors as a stable enhancement that does not diminish long term value, especially when applied to material that already exhibits superior transparency and crystal integrity. The size of 13.84 carats further elevates scarcity, as large, transparent, well cut sapphires with this color and finish are uncommon in the market.

Practical considerations for purchase and for setting this sapphire emphasize both aesthetics and preservation, and The Natural Sapphire Company is committed to advising customers on optimal choices. Given the substantial face up area at 16.64 by 12.35 millimeters, a classic four or six prong mounting will showcase the table and allow light to enter and exit freely, while a low profile bezel can offer added security without compromising the stone’s presence, especially for an everyday ring. The mixed brilliant cut and excellent polish respond well to white metals for a modern look, and to warmer alloys when a softer contrast is desired, and in a pendant the gem will read larger due to its depth and brilliance, making it suitable as a focal piece. For care the usual guidance applies, avoid harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning only if inclusions or oil treatments are suspected, and regular professional inspection of the setting will preserve both beauty and safety. At The Natural Sapphire Company we provide documentation of origin and treatment, and we are available to supply additional photographs, secure mounting options, and independent certification upon request, so that your purchase is supported by transparency, expertise, and ongoing service. This sapphire represents a convergence of geological provenance, meticulous cutting, and market appropriate enhancement, making it a compelling option for the educated buyer seeking both aesthetic pleasure and long term value.