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

For centuries sapphires have lived at the centre of human stories about power, protection, and enduring beauty, and this Ceylon sapphire carries that same thread of heritage into the present day. Mined from the storied soils of Ceylon Sri Lanka, a land whose gem bearing hills have supplied royal courts and sacred treasuries for millennia, this stone belongs to a lineage of corundum that has long been prized for its clarity and color. In ancient traditions sapphires were set into signet rings and amulets to signify loyalty and to mark important life passages, and in more recent history gems from Sri Lanka have been chosen by kings and collectors for their refined hues and lively brilliance. The pinkish purple tone of this sapphire recalls the softer palette favored in classical jewelry, a color that has been associated with romance and refinement in heirloom pieces, and whose appeal has endured across cultures and centuries.

This gem is a transparent oval sapphire weighing 5.13 carats, with dimensions of 10.77 x 8.32 x 6.93 mm, faceted in a mixed brilliant cut to balance scintillation with table openness, and graded eye clean when evaluated at eye level. Its intense color intensity commands attention without overwhelming, offering a vivid pinkish purple that shifts subtly as it catches the light, and its excellent polish renders each facet crisp and lively. The stone has been heat treated, a long established and widely accepted enhancement that refines color and clarity while maintaining the stone’s natural character. Origin certified as Ceylon Sri Lanka, this sapphire carries the patina of place, a provenance that collectors and connoisseurs have prized for generations. At The Natural Sapphire Company we have long worked with Ceylon sapphires because the island’s geology yields stones with a classic balance of saturation and brilliance, and this particular example presents that balance in an elegant oval form that is both stately and wearable.

A gem of this nature invites settings that honor tradition while accommodating modern life, and its durable corundum hardness of nine out of ten makes it well suited for an engagement ring or a cherished everyday piece that will be worn and passed down. Classic prong settings allow the mixed brilliant cut to flash freely, while a low bezel can provide extra protection for the girdle without hiding the gem’s lively color. For those drawn to vintage silhouettes, a gallery with delicate filigree and a simple platinum or warm yellow gold mounting will evoke the antique pieces of royal treasuries, whereas a modern solitaire in rose gold will accentuate the pinkish undertones and create a distinctly contemporary heirloom. When placed in a piece designed to last, this sapphire will take on the quiet role of family touchstone, visible in portraits and photographs, and present in rituals that mark the years. At The Natural Sapphire Company we are committed to helping clients translate the stone’s history and natural beauty into a setting that will become part of their own story, and we welcome the opportunity to advise on design choices, mounting options, and care so that this Ceylon sapphire remains a gleaming legacy for generations to come.