1.21 Ct. Greenish Blue Sapphire from Montana

One transparent 1.21 carat cushion shape greenish blue sapphire is presented with precise dimensions of 6.82 x 5.73 x 4.08 millimeters, a mixed brilliant cut, and an excellent polish. The proportions of this stone are carefully balanced, combining a modest table and a pavilion depth that measures approximately 65 percent of the average width, which contributes to its controlled light return. The clarity grade is very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, indicating that inclusions are minimal and do not detract from the gem at normal viewing distances, while the vivid color intensity ensures a strong and consistent visual presence. The stone has been heat treated, a standard and stable enhancement that optimizes both color and overall clarity, and its origin is Montana, a source known for sapphires with distinctive greenish blue and teal characters.

The material origin of this sapphire is corundum, a crystalline aluminum oxide that possesses optical and physical properties essential to its brilliance. Corundum has a relatively high refractive index, which governs how much light bends upon entering and exiting the gem, and a low but measurable birefringence that subtly affects light splitting and internal reflections. These intrinsic optical constants, together with the hardness of corundum which ranks near the top of the Mohs scale, allow cutters to produce precise, highly polished facets that maintain crisp facet junctions over time. In this example, the mixed brilliant cut leverages both step style facets and brilliant style facets to combine strong internal reflection with lively surface scintillation, creating a dynamic interplay of light and dark that enhances perceived brightness and sparkle.

The mixed brilliant faceting pattern plays a central role in how this sapphire disperses and returns light, producing a sparkle quality that is distinctive and difficult to replicate in other gem types. The crown and pavilion facet angles are oriented to encourage repeated internal reflection, channeling incident light back through the crown rather than allowing excessive leakage through the pavilion. The cushion shape offers rounded corners that modify light flow differently than perfectly round stones, and the precision of the pavilion and crown planes in this stone yields both broad flashes and fine scintillation. The vivid greenish blue tone interacts with these optical effects to create depth and contrast, allowing highlights to appear lively against saturated zones, and this contrast is key to the perception of an intense, three dimensional sparkle.

The Natural Sapphire Company presents this gem with a focus on accurate, technical description, and with attention to the factors that define its visual performance and long term durability. The trade standard enhancement of heat treatment applied to this Montana sapphire is documented, and the stone exhibits an excellent polish that maximizes specular reflection from each facet face. The combination of corundum structure, cutter intent, precise proportions, and vivid natural color is what produces a sparkle that is measured and admired by gemologists and connoisseurs alike. For more information about this specific sapphire, or to discuss setting options that will preserve and showcase its optical strengths, please contact The Natural Sapphire Company.