4.14 Ct. Blue Sapphire from Madagascar

This transparent oval blue sapphire weighs 4.14 carats and measures 9.50 by 8.00 by 6.10 mm, cut in a mixed brilliant style that pairs a faceted brilliant crown with a more structured pavilion to optimize return of light from a dark, saturated material, clarity is graded as very slightly included at eye level, indicating only minor pinpoints or rutile needles that do not affect overall transparency or structural integrity, polish is excellent, and the stone has been heat treated, a stable enhancement applied to improve color homogeneity and remove residual zoning, the mixed brilliant execution produces strong facet contrast, with well defined facet junctions on the crown delivering scintillation, while the pavilion geometry preserves depth of color and minimizes windowing, the result is controlled brilliance with flashes of vivid blue concentrated in the table and crown facets, and deeper inky blue in the pavilion reflections.

Compared with classic sources, this Madagascar sapphire presents a cooler, inky blue with a dark tone and high saturation, while Kashmir sapphires are often celebrated for their medium to medium dark velvety tone and a soft, powdered cornflower blue with silk that diffuses light, this Madagascar stone lacks that pervasive silk and therefore shows crisper facet reflections and more distinct scintillation, compared with Sri Lanka, Ceylon sapphires typically display lighter, brighter cornflower or medium blue hues with more transparency and a generally lighter tone, making them appear more vivid under similar lighting, by contrast this Madagascar example reads darker and more restrained, compared with Australian dark blue sapphires which can take on cooler, slightly greenish overtones, the present gem maintains a pure, cool blue without green modifiers, and compared with Burmese and Thai material which can range from rich royal blue to slightly purple tipped blues, this stone sits firmly in a deep, cool blue category, the effect of the mixed brilliant cut is particularly favorable for Madagascar material because it balances the need to show saturation with the desire for facet brilliance, for designers at The Natural Sapphire Company this sapphire is ideal for a solitaire or halo setting that can lift perceived brightness, a lighter metal and mirrored under gallery will enhance apparent light return, while the excellent polish and very slightly included clarity ensure that the stone will perform consistently under daily wear.