Description
This gorgeous unheated Ceylon sapphire is a beautiful cornflower blue–one of the most desirable hues for a sapphire. Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) is famous for its gemstones, especially sapphires. The government has maintained regulation over mining to prevent large-scale environmentally destructive mining from occurring, encouraging small-scale artisanal mining. This sapphire was acquired directly from a mine owner in Sri Lanka and selected for the color and shape so that we could recut it. This sapphire has excellent clarity, making it bright and scintillating in the hand. There may be tiny inclusions that are visible only with a 10x loupe. There is a slight haze to the gem from undissolved rutile silk, but it gives the gem a soft glow that is quite pleasing and enhances the color in low light. Under a microscope or loupe, the needles of the silk in the gem are amazingly beautiful.
The sapphire was originally cut in Sri Lanka but has been recut in the United States to improve the brilliance. This was faceted by Jeff Hapeman in a modified version of his custom “Helena” brilliant oval, tweaked to fit this particular gemstone. The sapphire weighs 2.20 carats and measures 8.5 x 7.3 x 4.9mm. It would make the perfect gem for a unique engagement ring!