3.40 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This oval blue sapphire presents a precise combination of measured proportions and refined cutting that will appeal to technically minded buyers. The stone weighs 3.40 carat and measures 10.05 by 7.95 by 4.69 millimeters, yielding a length to width ratio of approximately 1.26 which sits in the classical range for an elegant oval silhouette. The recorded depth of 4.69 millimeters corresponds to about fifty two point one percent of the average diameter, a proportion chosen to balance optical return with durability for everyday wear. The cutter selected a mixed brilliant faceting schema, employing a brilliant style crown to maximize scintillation and a calibrated pavilion faceting plan to control light leakage and enhance face up color. Facet junctions exhibit excellent polish and careful alignment, which contributes to crisp light return and stable overall symmetry. Clarity is noted as very very slightly included at-eye evaluation, in practical terms meaning the gem is essentially eye clean with only minute natural features requiring magnification to detect, and color presents with intense saturation and a lively medium deep tone that reads distinctly Ceylon blue with subtle violet modulation in certain light angles.

The journey from the gravels of Ceylon to the inventory of The Natural Sapphire Company is a sequence of deliberate technical interventions, starting at the point of extraction. This sapphire originated in Sri Lankan alluvial deposits where artisanal miners and small scale operations separate gem bearing gravel through washing and density sorting, with initial hand sorting under daylight to select pieces with promising color and transparency. Rough material that shows deep, consistent blue is then parcelled for orientation mapping by experienced lapidaries who assess pleochroic axes and internal features using oblique lighting and immersion techniques. For this piece the cutter oriented the rough to exploit the dominant blue pleochroism and to preserve weight while opening the optical window across the table. Heat treatment was applied as a standard, controlled thermal enhancement to optimize color uniformity and to relax tiny rutile inclusions that can cause silk, this process being stable and permanent when properly executed. Following thermal enhancement the gem underwent a staged preform, precise pavilion and crown faceting, and final polishing using progressively finer diamond laps to achieve the excellent polish grade. Every dimension, carat weight, and clarity observation was verified with digital calipers and loupe and microscope review, and the stone was logged with provenance and treatment disclosure in our inventory management system.

From a gemological performance perspective this sapphire demonstrates the properties that practitioners and collectors value in Ceylon material. Corundum refractive indices in the stone fall within the expected range for natural sapphire, producing brisk facet contrast and controlled brilliance when set under white light. The mixed brilliant cut fosters scintillation across the crown while the pavilion geometry preserves color saturation face up, making this gem particularly suitable as a ring center where table proportion and depth work together to favor both flash and color. The dimensions make it well suited to a classic four or six prong mounting, where minimal metal allows the oval outline to read cleanly, or alternatively to a bezel with a thin gallery if the client prefers additional security. Because the stone is heat treated, setting and cleaning instructions follow standard corundum care, avoiding prolonged exposure to extreme chemicals, steam, or uncontrolled high heat. The Natural Sapphire Company stands behind the measured specifications and disclosed treatment for this sapphire, and we can provide additional gemological imaging and recommendations for settings that will preserve optical performance while showcasing the intense Ceylon blue. This piece is a technical statement in proportion, cut strategy, and verified provenance, designed for a buyer who appreciates the intersection of lapidary craft and material science.