1.15 Ct. Yellow Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This yellow sapphire began its journey deep within the ancient metamorphic terrains of Ceylon, where heat and pressure coaxed aluminum and trace elements into corundum crystals over millions of years. Miners working small scale operations and family run pits carefully recovered this crystal, a process that respects the land and the lives that depend on it. At The Natural Sapphire Company we trace its provenance to Sri Lanka, a place famed for producing sapphires with both character and clarity. The rough was selected for its transparency and balanced tone, and sent to skilled cutters who revealed the gem you now see. This transparent 1.15 carat round shape yellow sapphire measures 6.10 x 6.06 x 3.78 mm, it carries a mixed brilliant cut that balances table sparkle with pavilion depth, and it is graded very slightly included when evaluated at eye level. Its color presents as medium light intensity, a warm lemon to buttercup hue that reads as sunny yet refined. The polish is excellent, and importantly this stone has no enhancement, so what you receive is nature presented as faithfully as possible, an honest gem with a clear Sri Lankan story.

The manner in which this sapphire returns light is where its personality truly becomes apparent, and where comparison with other gems illuminates its strengths. Corundum has a refractive index around 1.76 to 1.77 and modest dispersion, which means a sapphire tends to show lively brilliance with subtle flashes rather than the riot of spectral fire you see in diamonds. Compared to diamond, which has a higher refractive index and higher dispersion, this Ceylon yellow sapphire offers a softer, more velvety shine that emphasizes pure color and scintillation over spectral fire. Against common yellow stones in the same market such as topaz and citrine, which have lower refractive indexes near 1.61 and 1.54 respectively, this sapphire gives a more vivid and durable brightness, it resists looking flat under cool lighting, and it maintains color under changing light. Versus zircon, which can display strong fire but is less durable, the sapphire wins for wearability and consistent sparkle across viewing angles. Within the family of yellow sapphires, Ceylon material often presents a lighter, more luminous yellow than the deeper golden tones from other origins, and this particular mixed brilliant cut amplifies crown brilliance while preserving the gem hairline clarity, producing clean flashes from the table and lively contrast from the facets. The excellent polish means that light enters and exits the stone with minimal surface distortion, so the visual experience is one of clarity and refined motion, rather than scattered scintillation.

When the rough became this refined 1.15 carat round, cutters at The Natural Sapphire Company consciously chose proportions that would maximize both face up brightness and optical balance, resulting in a gem that feels alive in the hand and elegant on the finger. In jewelry settings this sapphire works beautifully as a solitaire where its lemony brightness can breathe, or as the centerpiece flanked by small white diamonds for contrast, the sapphire hue remaining distinct while the side stones add lively contrast. For metals, warm yellow or rose gold will harmonize with the gem tone to create a vintage sense of warmth, while platinum and white gold will emphasize the gem head on, highlighting its clarity and reflective qualities. Because the stone is unenhanced, simple care with a soft brush, warm water and mild soap will keep it vibrant, and occasional professional cleaning will restore the brilliance that its excellent polish permits. We invite you to consider this Ceylon yellow sapphire as more than a gemstone, it is a chapter of geological time and human craft, responsibly sourced and carefully finished by The Natural Sapphire Company, a piece that will sit comfortably in your life and in your story. If you would like to see additional photos, discuss setting options, or request a viewing in person, we are here to help bring this sunny, transparent gem into the next stage of its life with you.