1.06 Ct. Pink Sapphire from Montana

This transparent 1.06 carat round pink sapphire from Montana, presented by The Natural Sapphire Company, is dimensioned at 5.52 by 5.24 by 4.36 millimeters, and is cut to a mixed brilliant configuration. The mixed brilliant approach combines a faceted brilliant-style crown with a contrasting pavilion structure to optimize both light return and color retention. The stone exhibits a medium intense pink color, evaluated as uniform across the table and crown, and the polish is graded excellent, producing crisp facet junctions and mirror-like facet planes. Clarity is described as very very slightly included when assessed at eye level, indicating an effectively eye-clean material with only minute inclusions visible under magnification, and the sapphire has been heat treated following standard, stable industry protocols to enhance color and clarity while preserving natural character.

From a material science and gem-cutting perspective, corundum inherently delivers strong sparkle because of its optical constants, and this Montana pink sapphire is a textbook example. Corundum has a refractive index in the range of approximately 1.762 to 1.770 and a low dispersion of about 0.018, which produces intense, well-defined brilliancy rather than rainbow fire. The mixed brilliant cut on this gem is executed with proportions that deliberately favor contrast and scintillation, typically achieved through a crown composed of numerous small triangular and kite facets arranged around a well-proportioned table, combined with a pavilion geometry that channels light back through the crown. The pavilion depth of 4.36 millimeters relative to the average diameter of 5.38 millimeters produces a depth ratio of roughly 81 percent, a relatively deep profile that concentrates light within the stone, reduces windowing, and increases the apparent saturation of pink tones when viewed face-up. The excellent polish ensures minimal scattering at facet boundaries, so light is reflected and refracted with high coherence, producing crisp pinpoint flashes and a dynamic scintillation pattern under movement.

The very very slightly included clarity grade, as assessed at eye level, contributes directly to the gemstone’s optical performance. Inclusions at this grade are isolated and small, and their placement does not interrupt the principal light paths created by the cut, allowing uninterrupted returns of white light and selective chromatic saturation. The heat treatment applied is consistent with long-established metallurgical processes used to anneal silk, homogenize color zoning, and improve transparency without compromising structural integrity. For pink sapphires, trace chromium is the primary coloring element, and controlled heat exposure can modify the valence and local distribution of color centers, deepening hue and evening out tone. The result in this specimen is a medium intense pink that reads both lively and stable across varied lighting, with the deep pavilion helping to layer color so that face-up views retain vividness while the crown facets provide bright scintillation.

Craftsmanship and finishing are critical to converting corundum’s intrinsic optical potential into a gemstone with unmatched sparkle, and this round mixed brilliant exemplifies that conversion. Precision in facet angles and symmetry minimizes leakage and maximizes the number of internal reflections, producing a tight, concentrated pattern of brilliance that contrasts with larger, more diffuse flashes found in stones with broader facet planes. The excellent polish elevates the effect by producing high specular reflection from each facet, while the balanced interplay between crown height and pavilion depth creates a micro-environment where light is both dispersed and recombined to favor strong white brilliancy and lively scintillation, without sacrificing color saturation. When set, this sapphire will present as a compact, intensely sparkling focal point, its deep pavilion and exacting facet geometry delivering a visual performance that stands apart from shallower or poorly proportioned pink sapphires, and The Natural Sapphire Company recommends settings with modest bezel or prong profiles that allow crown exposure for maximum face-up brilliance.