3.54 Ct. Reddish Orange Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

From the riverbeds of Ceylon to the quiet light of a jeweler mesa, this sapphire tells a story that begins in ancient stone and unfolds in human hands, The Natural Sapphire Company guided each step of that journey with a respect for tradition and for the gem itself. Born in Sri Lanka, a place known through the ages as the island of gems, this stone comes from gravels where generations of miners have sifted and sorted in search of color and clarity. The miners who found this piece worked with patience and local knowledge to bring a rough crystal to the surface, a crystal that carried within it a rare, reddish orange hue that caught the eye even before cutting. In Ceylon the appearance of such a vivid warm tone is part of a long narrative that links monarchs and traders, sacred objects and jewelry that were meant to mark significant moments in a life, and when The Natural Sapphire Company selected this rough we honored that legacy by choosing cutters who would reveal the stone rather than impose upon it. No heat, no diffusion, no fracture filling, no enhancement, just the natural beauty of a sapphire that has kept its original character intact from the earth to your hands.

The transformation from rough to this oval 3.54 carat gem involved a cutter who understood how to balance weight retention with optical performance, and the result is an elegant 9.64 by 8.43 by 5.64 millimeter oval with a mixed brilliant cut and an excellent polish. The mixed brilliant cut uses brilliant style facets on the crown to maximize sparkle and scintillation, and more classic pavilion facet arrangements to preserve depth of color and a pleasing visual field, this combination allows the intense reddish orange color to broadcast warmth while also delivering crisp flashes of light as the stone moves. At eye level the clarity reads very very slightly included, meaning that to the unaided eye the stone appears clean and free of distracting material, a level of clarity that complements the intense color rather than competing with it. Because the polish is excellent each facet edge is sharp and lively, so the surface plays with light in a way that enhances both the fiery orange tones and the subtle red undertones that lend richness. This sapphire sits comfortably in a variety of settings, it will glow as a solitaire ring that draws attention to the circumference of the oval, it will integrate beautifully into a halo arrangement to accentuate apparent size, and it will add warmth and depth to a pendant or three stone ring. The dimensions give it a strong presence on the finger while remaining elegant and wearable, and because it is unenhanced collectors and connoisseurs will appreciate that this color and clarity are entirely natural.

When it comes to longevity and everyday wear this sapphire benefits from the fundamental strength of its species, corundum, which rates a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, a natural measure of scratch resistance that places sapphire second only to diamond on that scale. Compared to other popular gems that you may consider for daily jewelry topaz is around 8 on the Mohs scale, quartz varieties sit near 7, and many common gemstones are softer than sapphire and therefore more susceptible to scratching over time, the result is that a sapphire of this quality will resist scratches from most materials it might encounter in normal wear and will retain its polished facets and crisp finish for many years when treated with reasonable care. Despite its hardness sapphire can still crack under sudden, hard blows or through severe thermal shock, so protective settings and occasional professional inspection of prongs and mountings are recommended for active wearers. Cleaning is straightforward, warm soapy water and a soft brush will safely remove everyday oils and residues, professional steam or ultrasonic cleaning is often acceptable for unenhanced sapphires but we recommend discussing cleaning methods with your jeweler to account for any mounting materials, and routine checks will ensure that the stone remains secure. This reddish orange Ceylon sapphire brings together provenance, natural color, and cutting finesse to create a gem that is both a tactile connection to centuries of gem lore and a resilient treasure for modern life, and at The Natural Sapphire Company we are proud to present pieces like this that carry the story of their origin through to the finished jewel, if you would like further details about sourcing, mount options, or advice on how to care for this stone we would be pleased to assist you.