1.16 Ct. Pinkish Purple Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 1.16 carat oval sapphire presents a refined combination of size, proportion, and optical purity, measuring 6.94 x 5.49 x 4.02 millimeters. The length to width ratio is approximately 1.26, yielding an elegant oval outline that balances face up presence with wearable scale. The overall depth is approximately 64.8 percent of the average diameter, a proportion that contributes to strong light return while maintaining an even spread of brilliance across the table and crown. The color is a delicate pinkish purple with a very light intensity, and the stone is transparent with a clarity grade of very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level. The mixed brilliant cut, combined with an excellent polish, produces crisp facet junctions and mirror bright facet surfaces, and the material is natural with no enhancement, originating from Ceylon Sri Lanka as supplied by The Natural Sapphire Company.

From a faceting and craftsmanship perspective this sapphire exemplifies the advantages of a mixed brilliant strategy for oval corundum. The cutter has employed a classical brilliant crown with well defined star facets and upper girdle facets that deliver concentrated flashes of white light and controlled color flashes. The pavilion has been fashioned with modified angular mains that act like a precision mirror, returning light through the crown facets rather than leaking it through the pavilion. The table proportion is sized to mediate between maximum scintillation and stable color presentation, while the crown angles and pavilion depths have been optimized to the material density and refractive properties of corundum. Girdle thickness is consistent, providing secure setting options while avoiding unnecessary weight loss. The excellent polish enhances facet transparency and sharpness, so even the smallest facets resolve crisp reflections rather than surface hazing, which is especially important in a very light colored sapphire where surface finish directly influences perceived sparkle.

Optically the sapphire benefits from corundum fundamentals combined with well resolved facet architecture. Corundum has a refractive index near 1.762 to 1.770, and a modest dispersion, and those parameters mean that proportion and facet design determine the gem s perceived brilliance more than dispersion alone. The mixed brilliant configuration capitalizes on internal total reflection to produce intense pinpoint scintillation, and the interplay between star and upper girdle facets generates a dynamic pattern of flashes that shifts with movement. Oval proportions can introduce a bow tie, however the length to width ratio and the moderate depth in this specimen distribute light so that any bow tie is minimal and integrated into the overall scintillation pattern rather than dominating it. In addition, purple and pinkish purple sapphires often exhibit subtle pleochroism, and this stone displays fine variations between cooler violet and warmer pink tones as it is rotated, a property that adds depth and liveliness to the eye visible sparkle. Because the material is untreated, the light behavior is pure to the crystalline structure and facet geometry, creating a sparkle that feels both natural and technically refined.

For practical use and design considerations this sapphire responds well to settings that emphasize its mixed brilliant, oval geometry. A low profile bezel or a four prong head that follows the girdle curvature will preserve the optimized crown angles and allow maximum light entry into the pavilion. White metals will accentuate the stone s white light brilliance, while a subtle yellow or rose gold surround can warm the pinkish components of the body color, increasing perceived saturation without changing the stone chemically. Given the stone s very very slightly included clarity at eye level and its excellent polish, it is suitable for engagement rings and refined daily wear pieces provided the setting protects the girdle and pavilion. The provenance from Ceylon Sri Lanka is a factor for collectors who value classic Sri Lankan color expression and geological traceability. At The Natural Sapphire Company we document origin and treatment status, and we present this sapphire with transparent information regarding its dimensions, cut characteristics, clarity, and color. The combination of careful cutting, well calibrated proportions, and natural, untreated material produces a scintillation and light performance that is technically impressive and visually memorable.