39.23 Ct. Yellow Sapphire from Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

This exceptional GIA certified Light Yellow sapphire from Ceylon is remarkable for its combination of size, transparency, and natural color, with a weight of 39.23 carats and dimensions of 20.95 x 20.28 x 11.04 mm. The specimen is fashioned into a round shape using a mixed brilliant cut, a deliberate faceting strategy that combines a brilliant style on the crown with modified pavilion facets, optimizing both scintillation and face up presence. The crown faceting is calibrated to open the table and create broad, lively flashes, while the pavilion facet geometry is tuned to return light efficiently in a stone of this large diameter. The measured depth of the stone relative to its average diameter yields an approximate depth of 53.6 percent, a proportion that contributes to a generous face up size and a luminous, open appearance, without sacrificing return of light when set in an appropriately designed mounting.

Clarity and polish are executed to a high technical standard, with an eye clean clarity grade as evaluated at typical viewing distance, and an excellent polish across all facet planes. Eye clean in a stone of this scale indicates that internal features are either absent or confined to positions that do not interrupt optical performance, allowing the mixed brilliant faceting to operate without distraction. Excellent polish enhances the refractive interface between corundum and surrounding environment, promoting crisp facet junctions and maximizing brilliance. The mixed brilliant faceting pattern, when paired with precise facet alignment and tight symmetry, produces a balance of broad flash and small facet scintillation, which is particularly effective in yellow sapphires where the color is best appreciated under soft, diffuse lighting as well as in direct illumination.

Color provenance and geochemistry are central to the value proposition of this sapphire, which is both light yellow in hue and assessed at faint color intensity. In corundum, yellow tones are most commonly produced by the presence of small amounts of iron, which can substitute into the crystal lattice and create chromophore effects that yield warm yellow through golden hues. Ceylon material, especially from the Ratnapura region of Sri Lanka, is renowned for producing sapphires with delicate, sometimes pastel yellow tones, and experienced cutters have long adapted faceting recipes to amplify the depth and purity of these colors without shifting tone. The faint intensity of this piece results in a subtle, elegant color expression that reads as sophisticated in large scale, allowing for light to transmit and disperse across the pavilion and crown, creating a lively, pearlescent brightness rather than a dense block of color.

Origin is a critical component of the gemological and commercial narrative, and Sri Lanka has a documented provenance that enhances desirability and market value. Ceylon sapphires have a historical reputation for producing clean material with a characteristic soft saturation and attractive tone, due to the unique metamorphic and gem bearing deposits found in the island geology. Collectors and connoisseurs place a premium on certified origin, particularly when paired with natural, untreated material, because it provides a traceable link to traditional mining localities and to established lapidary practices that are tailored to the character of those stones. This example is offered with a GIA certificate, confirming both the natural identity of the corundum and the absence of heat or other enhancements, a factor that appreciably increases its rarity and appeal especially in a gem of this size.

At The Natural Sapphire Company we present this sapphire as a collector grade and designer friendly gem, ideal for bespoke commissions where the cutter to setting dialogue can preserve the optical advantages of the mixed brilliant cut. The combination of a large carat weight, eye clean clarity, excellent polish, and verified Ceylon origin, with no enhancement, places this sapphire in a distinct category for investors and high end jewelry designers seeking natural, statement quality corundum. When set, recommendations include open back or low bezel designs that allow the pavilion to interact with light, and engineered settings that protect the girdle while permitting the stone to display its full breadth and scintillation. This piece embodies technical precision in cutting, a trusted provenance, and an unaltered natural color profile, attributes that together define long term value and desirability in the market.