1.13 Ct. Orangish Yellow Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This 1.13 carat cushion shape orangish yellow sapphire from Ceylon carries with it a lineage that reaches back through centuries of maritime trade and royal collections, a heritage we are proud to represent at The Natural Sapphire Company. Its proportions of 5.93 by 5.89 by 3.72 millimeters and its mixed brilliant cut recall the classic forms that have long been favored for their capacity to marry fire and form, while the warm orangish yellow hue evokes sunlit temples and lacquered treasures from an earlier age. Transparent and evaluated as very slightly included at eye level, this gem shows a clarity that allows light to move freely through its body, and an intense color intensity that reads as both regal and joyful. Enhanced by beryllium diffusion, its color has been deepened in a way that is stable and enduring, offering the saturated tone that collectors and connoisseurs seek when they desire a piece that stands the test of time. The excellent polish on the pavilion and crown facets adds a finished sheen that complements the sapphire's origin in Sri Lanka, a land long synonymous with some of the most sought after corundum in the world.

The cushion shape and mixed brilliant cut work together to create a play of light that is at once modern and rooted in tradition. Where a pure step cut will speak with measured flashes and a cabochon will glow with soft internal light, the mixed brilliant approach blends broad flashes with pinpoints of scintillation, producing reflections that appear lively without being scattered. This orangish yellow sapphire presents returns that feel immediate and clean, with facet junctions that throw sparkles across the table and through the crown as one moves it under light. Compared to deeper blue sapphires, which often show a more velvety, saturated reflection because of stronger selective absorption in the blue, this sapphire offers a brighter, more radiant light return, particularly under daylight and warm incandescent sources. Against the rare padparadscha tones, which balance pink and orange to create a delicate diffusion of light, the orangish yellow presence here reads as more direct and sunlike, with reflections that emphasize warmth and clarity. In contrast with star sapphires, whose long historical appeal rests in asterism and ethereal stripes that seem to float, the mixed brilliant cut here opts for a cut that celebrates facet driven brilliance and a lively surface life.

When placed alongside other yellow and orangish gems, this cushion sapphire reveals distinctive reflective qualities that set it apart. Compared with citrine and yellow topaz, both of which can offer strong color at accessible prices, the sapphire reveals a deeper refractive interaction with light, producing crisper edge reflections and a denser sense of color saturation that persists across lighting conditions. Topaz and quartz family gems often display more dispersion and sometimes a greater tendency for noticeable pleochroism when cut in certain orientations, but their lower hardness and different refractive behavior means their reflections can read flatter in comparison to corundum when viewed side by side. Spinel, a sibling in many jewelry circles for its classic hues and lively fire, sometimes matches a sapphire in brilliance, but spinel generally has a subtly different luster that is slightly more glasslike, whereas corundum offers a richer, more gemlike sheen. This particular orangish yellow sapphire, with its excellent polish and careful cutting, leverages corundum's natural refractive index to create reflections that are firm, well defined, and enduring. The intense color, amplified by beryllium diffusion, also helps the gem to read as more vivid in reflection, because saturated tones can enhance perceived brightness when facets channel light back to the viewer.

Owning a gem of this nature is to participate in a long tradition of jewelry that values both story and material excellence. The Natural Sapphire Company presents this cushion shape orangish yellow sapphire as an object that will wear beautifully now and carry provenance into the future for the next generation. Its dimensions make it versatile for classic solitaire settings, halo designs that will further magnify its sparkle, or bespoke creations where the gem acts as a focal point for a narrative piece. The history of Ceylon sapphires teaches us that locality imparts character, and this stone is no exception, combining Sri Lankan pedigree with modern cutting and treatment to yield a balanced marriage of past and present. If you are considering a gem that offers a luminous personality, historical resonance, and reflective qualities that stand distinct from other stones in its category, this sapphire exemplifies those virtues, and our team at The Natural Sapphire Company is available to discuss settings and certifications to ensure your choice is both informed and enduring.