33.98 Ct. Color Change Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This superb example of a color change sapphire is GIA certified, weighing 33.98 carats, and cut in a cushion shape with measurements of 19.38 x 17.02 x 11.46 mm, a scale that places it among the large and rare stones that discerning buyers seek. The stone is fashioned with a mixed brilliant cut, which balances the depth and richness of color with lively facet brilliance, and it has an excellent polish that maximizes light return and surface finish. Clarity is graded as eye clean, evaluated at eye level, indicating that there are no inclusions visible to the unaided eye, a feature that materially enhances visual purity and market desirability, especially at this size. The gem displays vivid color intensity throughout, and as a color change sapphire it exhibits distinct shifts in hue between different lighting environments, a phenomenon that adds both aesthetic intrigue and collectible value. The sapphire originates from Ceylon Sri Lanka, a well respected source known for producing sapphires with lively hues and good crystallographic quality, and it has undergone a standard heat treatment, a stable and widely accepted enhancement that improves color and clarity without compromising long term integrity. The GIA certification provides independent verification of these attributes, giving the educated buyer documented assurance of weight, dimensions, cut type, clarity observations, treatment disclosure, and origin statement.

From a gemological perspective the combination of weight, clarity, and vivid color intensity is exceptional and explains why this stone is valued by connoisseurs and investors alike. At 33.98 carats a color change sapphire of eye clean clarity is statistically rare, and the cushion shape with a mixed brilliant facet arrangement both conserves weight and enhances the visual display of pleochroism and color change, allowing the gem to appear saturated and lively while retaining excellent light performance. The excellent polish is important because it affects how light interacts with the facets, influencing perceived depth and the crispness of the color transition under varying light sources. Heat treatment when properly disclosed is an accepted practice in the trade, it typically improves hue and saturation in Ceylon material by reducing violet or brown overtones, and the result in this example is a vivid, even color distribution without obvious color zoning. Sapphires rank 9 on the Mohs scale, making this stone durable for daily wear when set appropriately, and the combination of durability and size makes it suitable for significant ring commissions, pendants, or museum quality pieces.

When set in jewelry this sapphire offers remarkable versatility and a powerful visual impact across a range of skin tones, because its color change characteristic provides complementary contrasts under different lighting. In daylight or cool natural light the gem typically reads as a blue violet tone that pairs exceptionally well with cooler undertones and fair skin, creating a refined contrast that brightens the complexion, and when mounted in white metals such as platinum or white gold the blue aspects are emphasized for a contemporary, high contrast look. Under incandescent and warmer light the sapphire shifts toward richer purple and magenta tinges, which harmonize beautifully with warm undertones and medium to olive skin, and settings in yellow gold or rose gold will draw out those warm, pinkish facets lending a softer, more luminous appearance. On darker skin tones the deep, saturated color and the color shift produce a luminous contrast that reads as jewel like and dramatic, and designers often choose open settings that allow light to pass through the pavilion to maximize the visible change between light sources. For the educated buyer this stone represents a rare combination of provenance, documented grading from GIA, significant carat weight, vivid color intensity, eye clean clarity, and high quality cutting and polish, attributes that together justify both aesthetic and investment interest, and The Natural Sapphire Company stands ready to assist with bespoke mounting options, secure certification delivery, and detailed lighting evaluations to ensure the gem is showcased to its fullest advantage.