0.53 Ct. Yellow Sapphire from Madagascar

This oval yellow sapphire from The Natural Sapphire Company is a transparent 0.53 carat gem, with exact dimensions of 6.01 by 4.25 by 2.34 millimeters, offering a compact footprint that concentrates color and light return. The stone is cut in an oval outline with a mixed brilliant faceting scheme, combining a modified brilliant crown with a brilliant style pavilion, producing controlled contrast and strong scintillation. Clarity is graded very slightly included, evaluated at eye level, which means inclusions are minimal and do not interrupt the overall transparency or the path of light through the pavilion. Color is described as medium intense yellow, with even saturation across the table and crown facets, and the polish is excellent, providing a mirror clean surface that maximizes incident light transmission. The sapphire has been enhanced by heat treatment, a stable and widely accepted practice for corundum, and the provenance is Madagascar, a source known for well colored and clean yellow sapphires, which we disclose as part of our standard transparency practices.

The mixed brilliant cut is the primary driver of the exceptional sparkle for this specimen, because it optimizes facet geometry for the refractive index and birefringent character of corundum. Natural sapphire has a refractive index approximately between 1.762 and 1.770, with a modest dispersion near 0.018, and a low birefringence in the order of 0.008. Those optical constants favor strong internal reflection and distinct, crisp flashes when a pavilion is faceted to return light efficiently. In this gem, the crown facets are arranged to balance contrast and brightness, while the pavilion facets are angled to produce multiple internal reflections before light exits through the table, creating layered scintillation rather than a single flat flash. The cut proportions, together with the 2.34 millimeter depth, yield an effective depth percentage in the mid forties when measured against the averaged diameter, a geometry that promotes a lively mix of brilliance and fire without sacrificing face up spread.

Color interaction and inclusion characteristics further enhance perceived brilliance, because the medium intense yellow saturation in this sapphire is concentrated enough to create vivid bodycolor, yet not so dark as to dampen light return. The facet junctions and crown angles allow light to penetrate deeply, be scattered by fine internal features, and be returned as sparkling yellow flashes and white scintillation, an interplay that is especially apparent in the oval outline where elongated facet arrays guide light longitudinally. Very slightly included clarity at eye level means the few internal features are typically needle or crystal inclusions that act as additional light scattering centers at the microscopic scale, contributing to lively scintillation without creating opacity. The excellent polish is critical, because even minute surface roughness can trap light at the interface, reducing both brilliance and the clean color presentation, and this stone has been finished to a high mirror standard to ensure optimum light throughput.

For a buyer who prioritizes optical performance and technical craftsmanship, this Madagascar yellow sapphire represents a finely balanced specimen, optimized for both color and light behavior. Its size and oval shape make it suitable for a classic solitaire setting with a modest bezel or prong cluster, or for use as a center stone accented by white gemstones, configurations that emphasize the strong scintillation produced by the mixed brilliant faceting. We disclose heat treatment, and we include origin information and our quality assessment as part of The Natural Sapphire Company commitment to full disclosure and gemological transparency. If you require specific facet diagrams, precise depth and table percentages, or a loupe level photography report to evaluate facet junctions and inclusion orientation, The Natural Sapphire Company can provide detailed documentation and imaging to support your technical appraisal and design decisions.